Project description:Background and aimsMany economic factors are associated with diet, yet the evidence is generally cross-sectional. Older people are considered especially vulnerable to poor diets from negative changes to varied economic factors. This review extends current knowledge on known correlates to decipher actual economic determinants of diet in older adults.MethodsEight bibliometric databases were searched between May and December 2012, supplemented by hand-searches, with no restrictions on publication date or country. Longitudinal studies, or reviews, were eligible when examining diet as a function of change in an economic factor in non-institutionalised adults ≥60 years. Data were extracted using a standardised evidence table and quality assessed before narrative synthesis.ResultsWe found nine original studies for inclusion, of which eight examined change from work to retirement and one evaluated a food price intervention. Designs were generally pre-post without controls and varying in follow-up. Studies reported mixed impact on food spending and/or food intake. Retirement was shown to both reduce and have no impact on food spending and to have either positive and negative, or positive and no impact on food intake. Subgroup differences were observed, especially between men and women.ConclusionsDespite ample research on economic correlates of older adults' diets, little is still known about actual economic determinants of diet in this population. Studies of retirement suggest divergent effects in some but not all older people. Robust high-quality longitudinal studies to decipher economic drivers of diet must be prioritised in research and policy as firm conclusions remain elusive.
Project description:Ageism is a widespread phenomenon and constitutes a significant threat to older people's well-being. Identifying the factors contributing to ageism is critical to inform policies that minimise its societal impact. In this systematic review, we gathered and summarised empirical studies exploring the key determinants of ageism against older people for a period of over forty years (1970-2017). A comprehensive search using fourteen databases identified all published records related to the umbrella concept of "ageism". Reviewers independently screened the final pool to identify all papers focusing on determinants, according to a predefined list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. All relevant information was extracted and summarised following a narrative synthesis approach. A total of 199 papers were included in this review. We identified a total of 14 determinants as robustly associated with ageism. Of these, 13 have an effect on other-directed ageism, and one on self-directed ageism. The quality of contact with older people and the positive or negative presentation of older people to others emerged as the most robust determinants of other-directed ageism; self-directed ageism is mostly determined by older adults' health status. Given the correlational nature of most studies included in this review, inferences on causality should be made cautiously.
Project description:IntroductionEthiopian students' academic achievement goes beyond just cognitive ability. It is interwoven with psychological and social factors. This analysis examines how these interconnected dimensions, including behaviour, emotions, and mental well-being, influence academic attainment. By revealing the multifaceted factors that shape student well-being and success, this review highlights their critical role in the higher education landscape.MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to contribute to the academic literature by exploring the psychosocial factors affecting the academic achievement of Ethiopian higher education students. It leveraged a diverse array of scholarly databases, and adherence to recommended reporting guidelines ensured methodological rigor and transparency throughout the investigation.ResultThis systematic review synthesizes findings from 14 high-quality Ethiopian cross-sectional studies assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The overall pooled mean grade point average of respondents was 3.04, [(95 % CI: 2.75, 3.32), I2 = 0.00 %, P < 0.001)]. The pooled odds ratio psychosocial predictors of academic achievement was 0.47, [(95 % CI: 0.46, 0.48), I2 = 0.00 %, P = 0.001)]. The study explored factors affecting academic achievement, including psychological (sleep, stress, self-esteem) and sociological factors (social media, financial hardship, social support). The review found that these factors emerged as significant influences, highlighting the multifaceted nature of academic success.ConclusionThis synthesized study champions a holistic approach to education, urging the integration of academic progress and student well-being. It emphasizes interventions in mental health, social support, and resource access, and acknowledge their multifaceted impact on learning. In addition, it would be better to build inclusive environments with the involvement of educators and policymakers to optimize the academic success of higher education students.
Project description:IntroductionMonitoring daily activities in older adults using sensor technologies has grown significantly over the past two decades, evolving from simple tools to advanced systems that integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) for predictive monitoring. Despite these advances, there is still a need for a comprehensive review that addresses both technological progress and its impact on autonomous aging.ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review of sensor technologies used to monitor the daily activities of independent older adults, focusing on sensor types, applications, usage contexts, and their evolution over time.MethodologyA search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar databases, covering studies published between 2000 and 2024. The 37 selected studies were assessed in terms of methodological quality and organized into four chronological stages, allowing for an examination of the progressive development of these technologies. Each stage represents an advance in sensor type, technological application, and implementation context, ranging from basic sensors to intelligent systems in multi-resident homes.ResultsFindings indicate a clear progression in the accuracy and applicability of sensors, which evolved from fall detection to predictive interventions tailored to each user's needs. Furthermore, the taxonomic classification of studies shows how sensors have been adapted to monitor physical, cognitive, and social dimensions, laying the groundwork for personalized care.ConclusionSensors represent a promising tool for promoting the independence and well-being of older adults, enabling proactive and personalized interventions in everyday settings. However, the lack of standardization in key parameters limits comparability between studies and highlights the need for consensus to facilitate the design of effective interventions that promote autonomous and healthy aging.
Project description:BackgroundFrailty is a geriatric syndrome that affects multiple domains of human functioning. A variety of problems contributes to the development of this syndrome; poor nutritional status is an important determinant of this condition. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine recent evidence regarding the association between nutritional status and frailty syndrome in older adults.MethodsPubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus electronic databases were searched using specific key words, for observational papers that were published during the period from 2005 to February 2017 and that studied the association or relationship between nutritional status and frailty in older adults. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement was followed to assess the quality of the included articles.ResultsOf the 2042 studies found, nineteen met the inclusion criteria. Of these studies, five provided data on micronutrients and frailty, and reported that frailty syndrome is associated with low intakes of specific micronutrients. Five studies provided data on macronutrients and frailty, and among those studies, four revealed that a higher protein intake was associated with a lower risk of frailty. Three studies examined the relationship between diet quality and frailty, and showed that the quality of the diet is inversely associated with the risk of being frail. Two studies provided data on the antioxidant capacity of the diet and frailty, and reported that a high dietary antioxidant capacity is associated with a lower risk of developing frailty. Finally, seven studies evaluated the relationship between scores on both the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and the MNA-SF (Short Form) and frailty, and revealed an association between malnutrition and/or the risk of malnutrition and frailty.ConclusionsThis systematic review confirms the importance of both quantitative (energy intake) and qualitative (nutrient quality) factors of nutrition in the development of frailty syndrome in older adults. However, more longitudinal studies on this topic are required to further understand the potential role of nutrition in the prevention, postponement, or even reversion of frailty syndrome.
Project description:Background Although a high proportion of older adults suffer from common mental disorder symptoms and psychosocial problems, only a small number of older individuals seek psychological treatment. Internet-based interventions have the potential to bridge this treatment gap. However, while there is extensive literature on internet-based treatments in younger to middle-aged adults, research on older individuals is lacking. Objective We aimed to summarize narratively and empirically the existing literature on the efficacy of internet-based interventions for the treatment of common mental disorder symptoms and psychosocial problems (loneliness, stress) in older individuals. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021235129). Systematic literature searches were conducted in PsycInfo, Ageline, Medline, CINHAL, and Psyndex. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they a) focused on older adults, b) assessed the efficacy of an internet-delivered psychological intervention, c) included a control condition and d) assessed common mental disorder symptoms or psychosocial problems as outcomes. Meta-analyses were conducted based on studies that included a passive, minimally active or placebo control condition to estimate pooled effects on overall symptom severity as well as on specific psychological outcomes. Results 11 Studies met inclusion criteria, with the majority of interventions focusing on depression or anxiety symptoms and being based on CBT principles. Significant large effect of internet-based interventions for older adults were found for overall symptom severity (depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress) as well as for depression symptom severity. No significant effects were found for anxiety symptom severity. Discussion Our findings provide preliminary support that internet-based interventions might be a feasible and effective intervention method for the treatment of common mental disorder symptoms and stress in older adults. However, research in this area is still at an early stage. More studies are needed to shed light on the role of various treatment and patient characteristics in the efficacy of internet-delivered treatments. Highlights • This review summarized the efficacy of internet-based treatments for older adults.• Eleven studies were included in this systematic review.• Meta-analyses revealed positive effects on overall and depression symptom severity.• Research on internet-based interventions for older adults is at an early stage.• Internet-based interventions can help bridge the treatment gap among older adults.
Project description:Background and objectivesProsociality refers to voluntary behaviors that intend to benefit others. Most of the existing literature suggests that older adults tend to act more prosocially compared to younger adults, whereas some studies show that older adults might not be that prosocial under certain conditions. The current study aimed to summarize the mixed findings and quantify the age difference in prosociality by conducting a qualitative systematic review and a quantitative meta-analysis.Research design and methodsLiterature search was conducted based on 5 databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed and this review was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022333373).ResultsBased on the qualitative synthesis of 51 studies, older adults (n = 109,911) were more prosocial than younger adults (n = 68,501). The meta-analysis of 46 studies further supported this age effect (Hedges' g = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [0.24, 0.37]), and this age effect might be moderated by the types of prosociality. We discovered a moderate age effect in sharing (Hedges' g = 0.53), but a nonsignificant age effect in helping (Hedges' g = 0.11), comforting (Hedges' g = -0.20), or mixed prosociality (Hedges' g = 0.15). Additionally, the age effect was only significant when older adults had higher socioeconomic status than younger adults.Discussion and implicationsFuture research should develop more comprehensive measures of prosociality, examine more variables that influence aging and prosociality, and investigate the neural mechanism(s) of prosociality to achieve a thorough understanding of the age difference in prosociality.
Project description:BackgroundHypertension is the leading driver of cardiovascular disease deaths in Africa. Its prevalence is highest in older populations. Yet, this group has received little attention in many African countries. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration: CRD42017056474) to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in older adults living in Africa.MethodsWe searched grey literature and major electronic databases including PubMed and Embase for population-based studies and published between 1 January 1980 to 28 May 2018 reporting the prevalence of hypertension for adults aged ≥50 years living in Africa. We employed a random effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence across included studies.FindingsWe screened 10,719 articles and retrieved 103 full-text articles to evaluate for inclusion in the review. Thirty-four unique studies providing 37 data points on 43,025 individuals in 15 African countries were analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension ranged from 22.3% to 90.0% from the individual studies while the overall pooled prevalence was 57.0% (95% CI 52%-61%). The prevalence was not statistically significantly different by sex, residence, or African sub-region. In individual studies, older age and overweight/obesity were independently associated with hypertension. Twenty-nine (78%) data points were deemed to be of low- or moderate-risk of bias. Eliminating high-risk bias studies made little difference to the pooled estimate of hypertension. Sensitivity analyses, omitting one study at a time, identified three studies with significant but relatively small impact on the pooled estimate. We observed substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 98.9%) across the studies which was further explored by meta-regression analyses. Overall, the GRADE assessment suggested moderate quality evidence in the results.ConclusionThe persistent high prevalence of hypertension among older adults in Africa, even in rural populations warrants more attention to the cardiovascular health of this group by public health authorities.
Project description:Prospective memory (PM), which enables one to remember to carry out delayed intentions, is crucial for everyday functioning. PM commonly deteriorates upon cognitive decline in older adults, but several studies have shown that PM in older adults can be improved by training. The current study aimed to summarise this evidence by conducting a qualitative systematic analysis and quantitative meta-analysis of the effects of PM training in older adults, for which systematic searches were conducted across seven databases (Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus). Forty-eight studies were included in the qualitative analysis, and 43% of the assessed PM training interventions showed positive gains in enhancing PM. However, the methodological quality varied across the studies, with 41% of the non-randomised control trials (non-RCTs) rated as having either serious or critical risk of bias. Therefore, only 29 RCTs were included in the subsequent quantitative meta-analysis. We found a significant and moderate immediate efficacy (Hedges' g = 0.54) of PM training in enhancing PM performance in older adults, but no significant long-term efficacy (Hedges' g = 0.20). Two subgroup analyses also revealed a robust training efficacy across the study population (i.e., healthy and clinical population) and the number of training sessions (i.e., single session and programme-based). Overall, this study provided positive evidence to support PM training in older adults. Further studies are warranted to explore the mechanisms by which PM training exerts its effects, and better-quality RCTs are needed to provide more robust evidence supporting our findings.