Features of Prodromal Parkinson Disease and Dopaminergic Neurotransmission in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: Parkinson disease (PD) pathology begins years before clinical diagnosis. Identifying individuals in this prodromal period is of high priority because they are candidates for clinical trials. Several characteristics of the PD prodrome have been described, but many are nonspecific.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Community-Dwelling Older Adults Using Mobility Devices: A Cross-National Comparison between the United States and China.

Mobility disability is a significant global issue, particularly affecting older adults in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to mobility devices and national statistics on their use is limited. Additionally, research on mobility device usage often overlooks cross-national and cultural perspectives. This study aims to address this gap by comparing mobility device usage and associated characteristics among community-dwelling older adults in the United States and China, using harmonized, nationally representative data from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Incidence and dynamics of mobility device use among community-dwelling older adults in the United States.

Mobility devices are crucial in enhancing activities and participation for individuals with mobility disability, particularly among the rapidly expanding population of older adults worldwide. This paper explores patterns of mobility device use among a nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling older adults in the United States, using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) waves 1-9 (2011-2019). Our descriptive analysis focuses on the characteristics of incident mobility device use, its influencing factors, and related user experiences, aligning with the NHATS late-life disability framework.

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic integrity in relation to prefrontal cortex activity and gait performance during dual-task walking in older adults.

Background: Walking automaticity facilitates maintenance of gait speed without prefrontal cortex (PFC) resources. Brain aging may cause shifts to attentional gait with greater engagement of the PFC. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic integrity likely facilitates walking automaticity and gait speed during attentional dual-tasks.

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurotransmission and resilience to peripheral systemic risk factors for gait slowing upon transition to uneven surfaces in older adult.

Identifying mechanisms that compensate for slow gait speed in older adults is crucial. Dopaminergic neurotransmission curbs deleterious associations of cerebrovascular disease with gait, but whether it compensates for peripheral systemic risk factors (PSRF) for gait slowing has not been studied. In this cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older adults, we examined the relationship between nigrostriatal dopaminergic terminal integrity and gait speed in individuals with and without ≥ 1 PSRF for gait slowing: obesity, joint pain, or reduced muscle strength.

Sustained impacts of neighborhood investments on sleep health over a 5-year period: Insights from a natural experiment in two urban neighborhoods in the United States.

Study Objectives: Neighborhood disinvestment is a downstream impact of structural racism, especially afflicting minoritized communities. Thus, neighborhood reinvestment may serve as a policy-level intervention to mitigate sleep and other health disparities. This study builds on previous work by leveraging a natural experimental design to evaluate the 5-year effects of neighborhood investments on residents' sleep.

Association between spatial social polarisation and high blood pressure in older adults.

Background: Using data from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, we investigate the association between socioeconomic polarisation and blood pressure outcomes in black and white adults. We also validate previous findings that joint racial/ethnic and income measures of spatial social polarisation (SSP) outperform single domain measures.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using a retrospective cohort combining CHS (recruited 1989-1990 and 1992-1993) and REGARDS (recruited 2003-2007).

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic integrity in relation to prefrontal cortex activity and gait performance during dual-task walking in older adults.

Greater walking automaticity facilitates maintenance of gait speed without prefrontal cortex (PFC) resources. Brain aging may cause shifts to more attentional gait with greater engagement of the PFC. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic integrity likely facilitates walking automaticity and maintenance of gait speed during attentional dual-tasks.

Perceptions About Housing and Neighborhood Characteristics Among Aging Adult Black Americans in Two Predominantly Black, Low-Income Neighborhoods in Pittsburgh: A Multi-Method Analysis.

The life expectancy gap between Black and White Americans has narrowed, but progress remains slow due to the persistent consequences of lifetime exposure to structural and interpersonal experiences of racism and discrimination in various settings, for example, disadvantaged housing, neighborhood, and economic conditions. It is important to understand challenges and facilitators to healthy aging among Black Americans, i.e.

Outdoor Environmental Risk Factors for Falls and Fear of Falling: A Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this systematic review was to determine the outdoor environmental factors that are associated with increased risk of falls and fear of falling in middle-aged and older adults.

Research Design And Methods: PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, APA Psych INFO, and CINAHL electronic databases were searched through August 2024 for studies that included participants 45 years or older, falls or fear of falling as an outcome, and measured the outdoor environment (i.e.

Joint Pain and Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Cross-Sectional Findings From the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Background: Joint pain is common and limits leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in older adults. However, some older adults with pain are also physically active. Psychosocial factors that may indicate external engagement (such as social network) and internal drive (such as feeling able to "get going") are emerging as predictors of LTPA and may explain why some older adults with pain are physically active.

Everyday functioning as a predictor of cognitive status in a group of community-dwelling, predominantly Black adults.

Introduction: We examined whether the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS) and Everyday Cognition Scale-12 (ECog-12) dichotomized cognitive groups in a sample of predominantly Black adults.

Methods: Two hundred forty-six community-dwelling adults (95% Black, age 50+) completed cognitive testing, the PASS, and the ECog. Cognitive groups (probable vs unlikely cognitive impairment) were determined by performance on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination.

Neighborhood physical activity facilities predict risk of incident mixed and vascular dementia: The Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study.

Introduction: Neighborhood environments may promote neurocognitive health in part by providing amenities that encourage physical activity. We examined associations between quantity of walkable facilities, including specifically physical activity facilities (e.g.

What Characteristics Modify the Relation of Neighborhood Walkability and Walking Behavior in Older Adults?

Background And Objectives: Neighborhood walkability can influence walking behaviors in older adults. However, its associations of walkability with walking may differ by demographic, socioeconomic, health, social, and residential characteristics due to factors such as increased vulnerability to environmental factors or increased resilience.

Research Design And Methods: In a sample of older adults ( = 493, median age = 82 [range 78-89], 56% female, 31% Black), a walkability index was derived from audits of Google Street View images of participants' immediate neighborhoods.

An association of cognitive function with mobile metrics of community walking in older cancer survivors: A pilot study.

Introduction: Older cancer survivors have an elevated risk for mobility dysfunction compared to their cancer-free peers. Despite the established link between cognitive function and community walking in older cancer-free adults, little is known about this relationship in older cancer survivors. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the association of performance-based and self-reported cognitive function with mobile metrics of community walking collected by a wearable Fitbit device.

Development of an older adult Nutrition Equity Index (NEI) and association with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) in older Black and White U.S. adults.

Objectives: We developed a novel measure for older U.S. adults called the Nutrition Equity Index (NEI), which includes functional ability.

Higher Striatal Dopamine is Related With Lower Physical Performance Fatigability in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Fatigability in community-dwelling older adults is highly prevalent and disabling, but lacks a treatment. Greater nigrostriatal dopaminergic signaling can ameliorate performance fatigability in healthy young adults, but its role in community-dwelling older adults is not known. We hypothesized that higher nigrostriatal dopaminergic integrity would be associated with lower performance fatigability, independent of cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal energetics and other health conditions.

A Preliminary Analysis of Stress Burden and Cognitive Function and Clinically Adjudicated Cognitive Outcomes in Black American Adults.

Background: The combination of exposure to multiple stressors and psychological distress may contribute to the disproportionate burden of dementia risk among Black Americans. This study estimates the effect of an index of stress and psychological distress (ie, "stress burden") on cognitive function and clinically adjudicated cognitive outcomes among older Black American adults, and examines sleep as a mediator.

Methods: The sample included 204 Black adults (79% female; mean age = 64 years) from Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Activity and Participation Are Associated With Future Falls, Hospitalizations, and Emergency Visits in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objective: Activity and participation are important for older adults as they are associated with well-being and quality of life. Falls, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations are adverse health outcomes that impact older adults. Limited research has investigated whether measurement of activity and participation are related to adverse health events in community dwelling older adults.

Associations between toxicity-weighted concentrations and dementia risk: Results from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study.

Background: Air pollution is a modifiable risk factor for dementia. Yet, studies on specific sources of air pollution (i.e.

Racial, Ethnic, and Geographic Diversity in Population Neuroscience.

In this chapter, we consider lack of racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity in research studies from a public health perspective in which representation of a target population is critical. We review the state of the research field with respect to racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity in study participants. We next focus on key factors which can arise from the lack of diversity and can negatively impact external validity.

Neighborhood Walkability Is Associated With Global Positioning System-Derived Community Mobility of Older Adults.

Background: Neighborhood walkability may encourage greater out-of-home travel (ie, community mobility) to support independent functioning in later life. We examined associations between a novel walkability audit index and Global Positioning System (GPS)-derived community mobility in community-dwelling older adults. We compared associations with the validated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Walkability Index and further examined moderation by clinical walking speed.

Prefrontal cortex activation while walking did not change but gait speed improved after a randomized physical therapy intervention.

Background: Higher prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation while walking may indicate reduced gait automaticity.

Aim: We examine whether PFC activation during walking improves after training in older adults at risk for mobility disability.

Methods: Forty-two adults aged ≥ 65 participated in a randomized clinical trial (NCT026637780) of a 12-week timing and coordination physical therapy intervention to improve walking (n = 20 intervention, n = 22 active control).

Associations of Neurological Biomarkers in Serum With Gait Measures: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

Background: Gait impairment leads to increased mobility decline and may have neurological contributions. This study explores how neurological biomarkers are related to gait in older adults.

Methods: We studied participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort of older Americans, who underwent a serum biomarker assessment from samples collected in 1996-1997 for neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1, and total tau (n = 1 959, mean age = 78.