bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Daily Affective Experiences across the Lifespan during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Jiang Da , Liu Shuang 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Objectives Older adults are considered one of the most vulnerable groups to COVID-19. However, previous studies on emotion and aging have found that older adults report better well-being than younger adults in global survey and daily report. To better understand older adults’ well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak, we examined age differences in daily affective experiences in this study. Method A total of participants from mainland China aged 18 to 85 were recruited to participate in the 14-day daily diary study, after a pretest. Their trait affect and demographic information were measured in the pretest. Their daily affect and stress levels were measured in the daily assessments. Results We found that older adults reported a higher level of low arousal positive affect (e.g., calm) and lower levels of high arousal negative affect (HAN; e.g., anxiety), low arousal negative affect (LAN; e.g., dullness), and perceived stress related to COVID-19 in daily life, compared to younger adults. Discussion These results provide initial evidence of daily affective well-being across different age groups in adulthood during the COVID-19 outbreak. Such information is important for developing interventions to promote better well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Implementation of Remote Interventions in Older Adults: Lessons Learned During COVID-19 Isolation
Authors: Rincker Jamie , Wallis Jessica , Fruik Angela , King Alyssa , Young Kenlyn , Tucker Thoma , Bales Connie , Starr Kathryn Porter 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Recommendations for older adults to socially isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic will have lasting impacts on body weight and physical activity. Due to the pandemic, two in-person RCT weight-loss interventions in obese older adults with prediabetes, Veterans Achieving Weight Loss and Optimizing Resilience-Using Protein (VALOR-UP, n=12) and the Egg-Supplemented Pre-Diabetes Intervention Trial (EGGSPDITE, n=7), were converted to remote formats and weekly nutrition (EGGSPDITE and VALOR-UP) and exercise (VALOR-UP only) classes were delivered using synchronous videoconference technology (Webex); classes were accessed via tablet/desktop/laptop or smart phone. Steps taken to transition participants to remote formats included technology training, implementation of staff tech-support, and delivery of nutrition education, tablets, scales, and exercise bands. The time to successfully transition participants was 1 week for early adopters (n=10) and up to 4 weeks for those with significant technology barriers (n=9); their difficulties included internet access, camera and microphone access and use, and electronic submission of weight and food records. Even with these challenges, in the first 3 months of remote delivery, participant dropout rate was low (10.5%, n=2), attendance was high (87.6% nutrition class (n=19); 76.4% exercise class (VALOR-UP, n=12)), and weight loss was successful (&gt;2.5% loss (n=13); &gt;5% loss (n=8)), showing that lifestyle interventions can be successfully adapted for remote delivery. Remote interventions also have potential for use in non-pandemic times to reach underserved populations who often have high drop-out rates due to caretaker roles, transportation limitations, and work schedules. These barriers were significantly reduced using a virtual intervention platform.
Loneliness during Covid-19: Does Living Situation or Ability to Access Information about Social Activities Matter?
Authors: Parker Patti , Menec Verena , Newall Nancy 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Social isolation is deleterious for both mental and physical health (Coyle & Dugan, 2012; Hawkley et al., 2006). Conversely, social participation has mental and physical health benefits (Novek et al., 2013). In light of the current Covid-19 pandemic requiring social distancing, the present study examined whether living situation and ability to access information about social activities are associated with older adults’ loneliness during the pandemic. Specifically, we surveyed ninety-one adults aged 60 years or older in May and June of 2020, at a time when social distancing measures were still in place. We tested whether their living situation and having access to information about social activities was associated with loneliness. OLS regression analyses revealed living alone was associated with higher loneliness (b = .43, p = .050); and having access to information about social activities was associated with lower loneliness (b = -.18, p = .027) amidst the pandemic. The analyses controlled for participants’ age, gender, and education. Our findings highlight that during Covid-19, older adults’ living situation and access to information about social activities matter and may impact their social behavior. Thus, at this difficult time, it is recommended organizations that offer social activities find creative ways to reach those living alone who will benefit most from having access to such activities.
Long-Term Care Registered Dietitians’ Initial Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Beitel Julie , Cammer Allison 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
At the outset of the global pandemic, long-term care (LTC) homes in Canada were captured in media reports as the centre of Canada’s COVID-19 epidemic. An estimated 80% of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada were associated with LTC outbreaks as of May 25, 2020. Infection control measures have swiftly changed the environment in many LTC homes for residents, workers, loved ones, and other supports. Registered Dietitians (RDs) are among the many care professionals working in LTC affected by these changes. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the roles of RDs in supporting LTC residents during the initial phases of the pandemic. RDs faced remote practice, redeployment to address pandemic priorities, or cohorting to a sole practice site, yet were responsible for resident nutritional health. In-depth, web-based, semi-structured interviews with thirteen RDs working in LTC in a prairie province of Canada were used to explore the changes to work, challenges faced, impact on residents, and innovations in practice. The findings from this study capture nutrition and wellness-related implications of the COVID-19 pandemic within LTC homes. Examining the initial response of LTC RDs to the COVID-19 pandemic can help in planning for opportunities to support or enhance delivery of nutrition care in LTC homes, both in the context of the ongoing pandemic as well as future practice.
Modern Ubasute: Public Discourse and Sentiment about Older Adults and COVID19 Using Machine Learning
Authors: Xiang Xiaoling , Lu Xuan , Halavanau Alex , Xue Jia , Sun Yihang , Lai Patrick Ho Lam , Wu Zhenke 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This study examined public discourse and sentiment on social media regarding older adults in COVID-19. Twitter data (N=82,893) related to both older adults and COVID-19 and dated from January 23rd to May 20th, 2020, were analyzed. Classification of tweets involved supervised machine learning. Latent Dirichlet Allocation was used to identify dominant themes in public discourse using, accompanied by a qualitative thematic analysis. Sentiment analysis was conducted based on the NRC Emotion Lexicon. The most common category in the coded tweets was “personal opinions” (66.2%), followed by “informative” (24.7%), “jokes/ridicule” (4.8%), and “personal experiences” (4.3%). More than one in ten (11.5%) tweets implied that the life of older adults is less valuable or downplayed the pandemic because it mostly harms older adults. A small proportion (4.6%) explicitly supported the idea of just isolating older adults. Almost three-quarters (72.9%) within “jokes/ridicule” targeted older adults, half of which were “death jokes.” The daily average of ageist content was 18%, with the highest of 52.8% on March 11th, 2020. We extracted 14 themes, such as perceptions of lockdown and risk. A bivariate Granger causality test suggested that informative tweets regarding at-risk populations increased the prevalence of tweets that downplayed the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and intensified ageism in our society. Information about COVID-19 on Twitter influenced public perceptions of risk and acceptable ways of controlling the pandemic. Public education on the risk of severe illness is needed to correct misperceptions.
The Impact of COVID-19 Safety Recommendations on Adults Age 60 and Older: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Emerson Kerstin , Kim Deborah , Mois George , Beer Jenay 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In March 2020, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began recommending social distancing and sheltering in place, in particular for older adults. This resulted in many older adults staying at home for long periods of time in relative isolation. Because there is little prior evidence of the emotional impact that this has on older adults, we conducted an exploratory qualitative study on how older adults felt during the first three to five weeks of the CDC recommendations. We fielded a web-based cross-sectional survey. Our analytic sample consisted of 673 respondents aged 60 and older who respondent to the prompt: “How are you feeling during this time of social distancing?”. We used a thematic bottom-up qualitative analysis, via MAXQDA, to analyze segments into general affect codes and detailed emotion subcodes, as well as coping mechanisms. Results showed that while many older adults reported neutral (9%) or positive (9%) affect, a larger proportion reported negative affect (42%) or reported mixed affect (35%). The most common negative emotions mentioned were anxiety and loneliness/boredom, while the most common positive emotions mentioned were optimism and feeling grateful. The most common coping mechanisms reported by participants included making life adjustments, keeping busy, prayer/spirituality, and mediation/mindfulness. This study provides an initial understanding into how older adults experienced and coped with the first stages of restricting social interactions. If social distancing continues to be a recommended disease-containment strategy, information about how older adults are coping can be critical for public health interventions. Implications will be discussed.
Predictors of Precautionary Actions by Older Adults During COVID-19: A Daily Diary Study
Authors: Hughes MacKenzie , Coblenz Clara , Smith Emily , Neupert Shevaun , Pearman Ann 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Slowing the spread of COVID-19 depends on public adherence to precautionary actions, such as wearing masks. The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock, 1974) suggests the likelihood of using precautionary measures depends on perceived susceptibility, the severity of a disease, and whether effective measures can be taken to reduce the perceived threat of a disease. This daily diary study focused on identifying predictors of daily precautionary behavior in older persons. Between April 1 and June 26, 2020, 261 adults ages 55-79 (M = 64.29, SD = 5.20) completed up to 30 consecutive days of online diaries. We examined whether perceived risk, COVID-19 knowledge, fake news beliefs, information seeking, disruption to routine, in-person interactions, and leaving the house predicted the number of daily precautions participants engaged in. Multilevel modeling was used to examine within-person fluctuations in precautions as well as change in precautions from one day to the next. People who reported higher education, scored higher on the COVID-19 knowledge quiz, had lower fake news beliefs, and perceived a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 endorsed more precautions. At the daily level, increases in the number of in-person interactions, leaving home, and disruption to daily routine were each associated with decreases in precautionary behaviors. Concurrent day and lagged models showed significant interactions between information seeking and perceived risk, suggesting increases in information seeking are related to increases in precautions for those who consider their risk to be low. Findings highlight potentially intervenable factors that influence older adults’ daily decision making related to precautionary actions.
Type of Cooking Fuel and Mortality Among Oldest-Old in China
Authors: Yao Yao , Gu Danan , Chen Huashuai , Zeng Yi 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Studies have reported that elder adults are susceptible to the indoor pollution. However, evidences on the mortality risk of household air pollution (HAP) on the elderly, especially on vulnerable oldest-old population, are scarce. We aimed to estimate the association between HAP exposure from solid fuel combustion and 7-years all-cause mortality using a nationally representative dataset of oldest-old population in China. We used data from wave 2011 to wave 2018 of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Household cooking fuel were dichotomized as solid fuel (including kerosene, charcoal, coal, wood, and biomass) and clean fuel (including electricity, solar, natural gas, and coal gas). The cohort contained 6,167 participants, totaling 21,357 person-years. There were 3,836 deaths between 2011 and 2014. About half of the participants (53.8%) used solid fuel for cooking. In the fully adjusted model, the mortality hazard ratio (HR) for solid fuel users was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.03-1.18). We observed significant interaction between HAP and urban/rural residency but not between HAP and gender. Our study showed exposure to HAP from solid fuel combustion was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality in the male and female oldest-old population. This adverse effect was more pronounced in urban residence who use solid cooking fuels, suggesting attention should be paid on reducing HAP, particularly on susceptible population.
Age and Sex Differences of Comorbidities in Medicare Older Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Le Tham , Simoni-Wastila Linda 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Although comorbidity varies by sex and age, comorbidity variation among individuals with specific primary conditions is less well-understood. We sought to quantify chronic comorbidities in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using representative Medicare claims data. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study consisted of individuals aged 65+ with a COPD diagnosis identified in a 5% Medicare sample enrolled between 1/1/2012-1/1/2015. We quantified the prevalence of 40 comorbidities and sex and age variation (≥ or ≤ 85 years). RESULTS: Of 461,268 eligible beneficiaries, 60% were female, 86% were white, with mean (SD) age of 79 (8) years. The majority (89.2%) had at least 5 comorbidities; 50.4% had ≥ ten comorbidities. Most prevalent conditions included: hypertension (92.6%), hyperlipidemia (86.4%), anemia (74.9%), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (68.0%), congestive heart failure (CHF) (49.6%), diabetes (46.7%), depression (43.7%), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (42.9%), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (38.6.) Male patients had higher prevalence of CHF, diabetes, CKD, atrial fibrillation (AFib), AMI, cancer, tobacco use disorder, and liver disease, while females had higher prevalence of hypertension, anemia, RA, depression, asthma, osteoporosis, pain, hypothyroid, obesity, dementia, and glaucoma. Compared to patients under 85, those aged ≥85 years had higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, depression, musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, dementia, glaucoma, and CKD; but lower prevalence of asthma, anxiety, and metabolic disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with COPD encounter a high prevalence of comorbidities. Comorbidity patterns differs across age and sex spectrum, highlighting the significance of age and sex in developing individualized clinical care and epidemiological research.
DPP4 Gene Polymorphism Associates With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults
Authors: Alves Elisa , Tonet-Furioso Audrey , Bastos Izabela D , Moraes Clayton , Nóbrega Otávio 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Genetic variations of the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 enzyme (DPP-4) have been associated with glycemic disorders, especially among older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of a single nucleotide polymorphism on the DPP4 gene with the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a sample of older community-dwelling patients. Clinical, anthropometric and physiological characteristics as well as biochemical data related to lipidemia, glycemia and hormonal factors and variables related to the lifestyle were analyzed among 338 individuals aged 60 years and older from two general geriatric outpatient clinics in the Federal District, Brazil. Genotypes related to the polymorphism rs3788979 (A/G) of the DPP4 gene of these patients were determined by conventional polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic restriction, whereas the serum levels of DPP-4 were assessed by colorimetric immunoassay. Among the results obtained, there was clear variation in the glycemic levels both in terms of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin according to DPP-4 genotypes, with increased levels between homozygotes for the G allele. However, no association was found between genotypes and occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients. No other clinical, biochemical or anthropometric variables were influenced by the polymorphism. In our conditions, there was no association between genotypes and DPP-4 levels. Considering that DPP-4 is involved in the metabolism of incretins and directly interferes with glycemia in organisms, our result corroborates that genetic variations of this enzyme can affect glycemic homeostasis, despite not being determinant for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Late-Onset Intermittent Fasting Decreases Aging-Related Frailty
Authors: Henderson Yoko , Bithi Nazmin , Link Christopher , Yang Jie , Hine Christopher 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Global average life expectancy continues to rise. As aging increases likelihoods of exhibiting geriatric syndromes (a.k.a. frailty), there is a need for effective anti-aging treatments. Multiple studies have shown the positive effects of dietary restriction (DR) on lifespan in various model organisms. However, DR is not widely implemented in older adults due to issues with patient compliance and the overall lack of understanding on the effects of DR initiated later in life. Thus, the present study tested whether late-life DR, specifically Every-Other-Day (EOD) fasting, attenuates aging-related frailty using a modified and simplified frailty index in mice. Briefly, 20-month old male and female C57BL/6 mice (human equivalent of 65 years) that had been on a control chow diet ad libitum during adulthood were placed on EOD fasting or ad libitum feeding for 2.5 months. Their frailty index was identified using an indirect calorimeter, glucose tolerance test, novel object place recognition test, forelimb grip strength meter, and rotarod. We found that late-life EOD fasting decreased overall caloric intake in males but not in females. In addition, EOD fasting significantly improved metabolic, musculoskeletal, and cognitive endpoints in male mice, but enhanced only some of these in female mice. Furthermore, EOD fasting improved hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production capacity and its associated sulfhydration signaling in tissues, which positively correlated with improvements in frailty measures. We conclude that EOD fasting implemented late in life can have therapeutic potential in the clinic. We are currently investigating the necessity of H2S production for DR mediated benefits and longevity.
Elevated Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Is a Biomarker of Sarcopenia in Older Adults
Authors: Kim Miji , Won Chang Won 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is associated with disease progression, mitochondrial dysfunction and mortality. Elevated GDF-15 level was recently reported to be associated with poorer physical performance in healthy community-dwelling adults. However, the relationship between serum GDF-15 concentration and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults has not been well characterized. We analyzed 929 participants (mean age 75.9±8.9 years, 48.0% men) from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study who underwent assessment of serum GDF-15 concentration and sarcopenia. Participants with an estimated glomerular filtration rate &lt;60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were excluded from this analysis. Sarcopenia status was determined as per the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 guidelines. As per the AWGS 2019 algorithm, 154 (16.6%) participants in the study population were classified as having sarcopenia. Median serum GDF-15 concentration was elevated in the sarcopenic group vs. the non-sarcopenic group (920 vs. 793 pg/ml, p&lt;0.001). In the multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders, the highest GDF-15 tertile (≥1245 pg/ml) was associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia vs. the lowest tertile (&lt;885 pg/ml) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15–3.31). This association remained unchanged (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.14–3.23) after further adjustment for potential biomarkers (myostatin, dehydroepiandrosterone, and insulin-like growth factor-1). The OR per unit increase in log-transformed GDF-15 concentration was 3.59 (95% CI 1.21–10.70). To conclude, our results suggest that higher circulating GDF-15 concentration was independently associated with a greater risk of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. Serum GDF-15 concentration can be a promising biomarker for sarcopenia
Exosomes Derived From Senescent Cells Promote Cellular Senescence
Authors: Mao Genxiang , Xu Xiaogang 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Exosomes are one type of small-cell extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which together with the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) mainly constitute the senescent microenvironment and perform remotely intercellular communication. However, the effects of senescence on exosomes biosynthesis and secretion and its role in the cell senescence are still obscure. Here, we used human fetal lung diploid fibroblasts (2BS) passaged to PD50 to construct the senescent cells model in vitro, which were confirmed by senescence-related β-galactosidase staining, cell cycle distribution, and intracellular ROS levels. PD30 2BS was used as young control. We evaluated the exosomes derived from senescence and young control group respectively and investigated their regulation of senescence. We found that exosomes released from 2BS had typical sizes and cup-shapes morphology and their surface presented typical exosome-associated proteins. The number of exosomes secreted by senescent cells was significantly higher than that of young cells. Moreover, exosomal markers Alix, TSG101, and CD63 were all more expressed than young cells. Furthermore, we treat young cells with exosomes secreted by senescent cells, which can induce senescence-like changes in young cells, including increased SA-β-Gal activity, up-regulated p16 protein expression, and activation of the Notch signaling pathway. The above results imply that exosomes derived from senescent cells can promote cell senescence. The ﬁndings expand the current knowledge on exosomes-mediated aging and provide a novel understanding of the relationship between SASP and senescence. This study is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81771520 and 31702144).