[Global demographic problem and active aging (literature review)].

The article presents an overview of foreign sources devoted to the problems of population aging as a significant phenomenon that has become the most important medical and socio-demographic challenge in the world. The review provides global data on this problem and shows the need for elaborating and implementing active aging strategies, optimizing opportunities for health, participation and safety in order to improve the life quality as people age. The paper employs the method of content analysis of scientific publications retrieved in PubMed database by keywords - «aging¼, «population aging¼, «demographic trend¼, «longevity¼, and «life expectancy¼. Scientific publications for the period 2018-2023, WHO and UN materials, statistical data, and popular scientific publications have been studied. The purpose of the review was to analyze trends and global nature of aging based on scientific publications and open sources, and to highlight the most promising areas of the demographic policy on the older adults. In the time of rapid demographic changes, it is extremely important to use all available opportunities that maximize healthy aging with the participation of the older adults. We should remember that aging is a natural process and it is better to accept it, both psychologically and physically, rather than ignore. Healthy aging should become and has become the main principle of life, suggesting a longer healthy life of the older adults, who, in turn, should understand how to accept and implement this principle in their lives.

Global changes explain the long-term demographic trend of the Eurasian common lizard (Squamata: Lacertidae).

The demographic trend of a species depends on the dynamics of its local populations, which can be compromised by local or by global phenomena. However, the relevance of local and global phenomena has rarely been investigated simultaneously. Here, we tested whether local phenomena compromised a species' demographic trend using the Eurasian common lizard Zootoca vivipara, the terrestrial reptile exhibiting the widest geographic distribution, as a model species. We analyzed the species' ancient demographic trend using genetic data from its 6 allopatric genetic clades and tested whether its demographic trend mainly depended on single clades or on global phenomena. Zootoca vivipara's effective population size increased since 2.3 million years ago and started to increase steeply and continuously from 0.531 million years ago. Population growth rate exhibited 2 maxima, both occurring during global climatic changes and important vegetation changes on the northern hemisphere. Effective population size and growth rate were negatively correlated with global surface temperatures, in line with global parameters driving long-term demographic trends. Zootoca vivipara's ancient demography was neither driven by a single clade, nor by the 2 clades that colonized huge geographic areas after the last glaciation. The low importance of local phenomena, suggests that the experimentally demonstrated high sensitivity of this species to short-term ecological changes is a response in order to cope with short-term and local changes. This suggests that what affected its long-term demographic trend the most, were not these local changes/responses, but rather the important and prolonged global climatic changes and important vegetation changes on the northern hemisphere, including the opening up of the forest by humans.

Trends of Epidemiological and Demographic Indicators of COVID-19 in India.

INTRODUCTION: This study was planned to assess the trends of epidemiological indicators and demographic determinants related to the COVID-19 in India. METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive analysis of the COVID-19 cases and their outcomes between 1st March to 31st May 2020 in India. Unpaired t-test and ANOVA were used to determine the statistical differences. Linear regression models were prepared to estimate the effect of testing on the fatalities. The Infection Fatality Rate (IFR)/Case Fatality Rate (CFR), doubling time, and Basic Reproduction Number (R0) per week were calculated. RESULTS: Two-thirds of the cases were between 21-50 years of age, while three-fourth of deaths were among people above 50-years of age. The mean age of people infected with COVID-19 was declining throughout the study period. The mean age of infected males and females was significantly different. The male-female ratio of both infection and deaths due to COVID-19 was near about 2:1. IFR/CFR was 3.31 (95% CI = 3.13-3.50) in April, which reduced to 2.84 (95% CI = 2.77-2.92) in May. An incremental trend was observed in the recovery rates (9.42% to 48.18%), tests conducted / million population (12 / million to 2708 / million) and doubling time (3.59 to 17.71 days). The number of tests was significantly influencing the fatalities (ß = 0.016, 95% CI = 0.012-0.020). The overall R0 was found to be 1.72. CONCLUSIONS: Public health interventions were likely effective in containing the spread of COVID-19. There is a need to further improve the testing capacity. The high-risk category of individuals being prioritized for hospital admission should be redefined to include individuals older than 50 years.