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Middle-aged Adults (middle-aged + adult)
Selected AbstractsThe Stories We Keep: Autobiographical Memory in American and Chinese Middle-Aged AdultsJOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2004Qi Wang They each recalled 20 memories from any period of their lives. Memory content was analyzed as a function of culture (U.S. and China), life period (childhood, youth, early midlife, and peak midlife), and gender (female and male). Across the four life periods, Americans provided more memories of individual experiences and unique, one-time events and focused on their own roles and emotions. In contrast, Chinese were more inclined to recall memories of social and historical events and placed a great emphasis on social interactions and significant others in their memory narratives. Chinese also more frequently drew upon past events to convey moral messages than did Americans. In addition, memory content evidenced age-related increases in both autonomous and social orientations. Findings are discussed in light of the self-definitional and directive functions of Autobiographical memory in the context of culture. [source] Shift in the burden of cancer towards older people , a retrospective population-based studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 6 2007S. Ahmad Summary Cancer is age-related. However, oncology and palliative medicine services focus on the needs of younger and middle-aged adults. This study examined trends in cancer deaths across age in Wales over the last 20 years. All Wales death certificates from 1981 to 2001 were examined for total and cancer deaths. Place of death and age were noted. Total deaths decreased from 35 015 in 1981 to 32 966 in 2001 while cancer deaths increased from 7369 (21.1% of all deaths) to 8292 (25.2%). Deaths due to cancer increased in the over 85 years from 9.1% to 13.1%, 75,84 years (17.1,25.2%), 65,74 years (25,35.7%), 45,64 years (33.5,40.4%) and fell from 18.3% to 16.1% in those under 44 years. Cancer deaths over 75 years increased from 33.6% of cancer deaths in 1981 to 50.1% in 2001. Cancer deaths in the community decreased from 2713 in 1981 to 2153 in 2001 and increased in hospital from 4398 to 5185 and care homes from 258 to 954. The increase in hospital cancer deaths is mainly because of 75,84 year olds (1207,1840), and the over 85 years (294,740). Half of all cancer deaths are now in those over 75 years. Cancer deaths have shifted from the community to hospital and care homes mainly because of cancer in older people. Services need to be developed to target this population. [source] Homocysteine, the MTHFR 677 C,T polymorphism and family history of premature cardiovascular diseaseJOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 3 2009A. Carey Background:, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of premature death in the UK and accounts for 36% of all premature male deaths and 27% of female deaths every year (British Heart Foundation, 2006). Although many risk factors for CVD are known, family history has been identified as being of particular importance in premature CVD (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2004). Recently, it was suggested that an elevated homocysteine (tHcy) may be associated with premature CVD (Homocystiene Studies Collaboration, 2002). The main genetic determinant of tHcy is the common 677 C,T polymorphism, in the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which is prevalent in approximately 10% of the UK population. Relatively few studies have examined the association between tHcy and premature CVD and hardly any have considered the role of this polymorphism. The aim of this study therefore was to examine the relationships between the MTHFR 677 C,T polymorphism, tHcy and a family history of CVD in patients with established premature CVD. Methods:, An analysis was conducted on medical, lifestyle and family history data collected from patients and age-sex matched controls, recruited through the GENOVIT study in 2003. This case,control study involved n = 404 premature CVD patients and a similar number of age-sex matched controls, all of whom were screened for the TT genotype. A subset of patients (n = 196) and controls (n = 167) provided a blood sample, from which the tHcy concentration was established. Independent sample t -tests were used to determine differences between patients and controls and differences among genotype groups were examined using a one-way analysis of variance, followed by a Tukey's post hoc test. Results:, Plasma tHcy was significantly elevated in patients with a family history of CVD (compared to those without) (P = 0.013). A nonsignificant trend towards higher tHcy (compared to those without) was observed in patients with the TT genotype (P = 0.419). Furthermore, specifically in those with the TT genotype, those with a family history of CVD (compared to those without) showed significantly higher tHcy concentrations (P < 0.005). Those with the TT genotype who smoked had significantly higher tHcy (P < 0.05) than the CC and CT genotypes. Discussion:, The findings presented provide evidence to support an association between the MTHFR 677C,T polymorphism, elevated homocysteine and family history of premature CVD. Given that dietary levels of riboflavin have been shown to lower homocysteine specifically in individuals with the TT genotype (McNulty et al., 2006), these results have implications for the dietary management of premature CVD in those individuals with a genetic predisposition for elevated tHcy. In conclusion, further research in larger cohort numbers, regarding the correlation between family history, tHcy and the MTHFR polymorphism, would be beneficial for establishing their cause and effect relationship. References British Heart Foundation (2006) All Deaths and Deaths Under 75 by Cause and Sex, 2005, England, Wales, Scotland, N Ireland and United Kingdom. Available at http://www.bhf.org.uk/research_health_professionals/resources/heart_statistics.aspx. Homocystine Studies Collaboration (2002) Homocysteine and the risk of ishaemic heart disease and stroke. JAMA288, 2015,2022. Llyod-Jones, D.M., Nam, B.H., D'Agostino, R.B., Levy, D., Murabito, J.M., Wang, T.J., Wilson, P.W. & O'Donnell, C.J. (2004) Parental cardiovascular disease as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in middle-aged adults, a prospective study of parents and offspring. JAMA291, 2204,2211. McNulty, H., Dowey le, R.C., Strain, J.J., Dunne, A., Ward, M., Molloy, A.M., McAnena. L.B., Hughes, J.P., Hannon-Fletcher, M. & Scott, J.M. Riboflavin lowers homocysteine in individuals homozygous for the MTHFR 677C->T polymorphism. Circulation113, 74,80. [source] Age and gender differences in body composition, energy expenditure, and glucoregulation of adult rhesus monkeysJOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2000Jon J. Ramsey The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of age to body composition, glucoregulation, activity, and energy expenditure in male and female rhesus monkeys. The animals were studied in three groups, young adults (YA, 7,9 years), middle-aged adults (MA, 13,17 years), and older adults (OA,>23 years) adults. OA had a lower ( P<0.05) lean body mass than the YA and MA. OA also had the lowest values (P<0.06) for energy expenditure (kJ/minute). Age-related differences (P<0.05) were observed in time spent resting and moving. The OA spent the most time resting and the least time in vertical movement. There was a trend towards an age-related decrease in acute insulin response to glucose, while other glucoregulatory parameters were not changed with age. These results are similar to findings in humans, providing further evidence that the rhesus monkey is an appropriate model of human aging. [source] Risk factors of new-onset asthma in adults: a population-based international cohort studyALLERGY, Issue 8 2010J. M. Antó To cite this article: Antó JM, Sunyer J, Basagaña X, Garcia-Esteban R, Cerveri I, de Marco R, Heinrich J, Janson C, Jarvis D, Kogevinas M, Kuenzli N, Leynaert B, Svanes C, Wjst M, Gislason T, Burney P. Risk factors of new-onset asthma in adults: a population-based international cohort study. Allergy 2010; 65: 1021,1030 Abstract Background:, The occurrence of new-onset asthma during adulthood is common, but there is insufficient understanding of its determinants including the role of atopy. Objective:, To assess the risk factors for the development of new-onset asthma in middle-aged adults and to compare them according to atopy. Methods:, A longitudinal analysis of 9175 young adults who participated in two surveys of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) conducted 9 years apart. Findings:, We observed 179 cases of new-onset asthma among 4588 participants who were free of asthma and reported at the beginning of the follow-up that they had never had asthma (4.5 per 1000 person-years). In a logistic regression, the following risk factors were found to increase the risk of new-onset asthma: female gender (OR: 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.38,2.81), bronchial hyperresponsiveness (3.25; 2.19,4.83), atopy (1.55;1.08,2.21), FEV1 < 100 % predicted (1.87;1.34,2.62), nasal allergy (1.98;1.39,2.84) and maternal asthma (1.91;1.13;3.21). Obesity, respiratory infections in early life and high-risk occupations increased the risk of new-onset asthma although we had limited power to confirm their role. Among the atopics, total IgE and sensitization to cat were independently related to the risk of new-onset asthma. The proportion of new-onset asthma attributable to atopy varied from 12% to 21%. Conclusion:, Adults reporting that they had never had asthma were at a substantial risk of new-onset asthma as a result of multiple independent risk factors including lung function. Atopy explains a small proportion of new-onset adult asthma. [source] Neuroticism, extraversion, stressful life events and asthma: a cohort study of middle-aged adultsALLERGY, Issue 10 2009A. Loerbroks Background:, Stressful life events can trigger asthma exacerbations, but could also contribute to the development of incident asthma. However, only few studies have investigated the association between stressful life events and adult asthma prospectively. Likewise, stress-related personality traits (e.g. neuroticism and extraversion) may increase asthma risk, but this has been examined in only one prospective study. We therefore aimed to investigate the association between neuroticism, extraversion, stressful life events and incident asthma. Methods:, A population-based sample of 5114 middle-aged adults completed questionnaires between 1992 and 1995. Among those alive in 2002/2003, 4010 (83%) were followed-up by questionnaires. Exposures of interest included neuroticism, extraversion and three stressful life events (unemployment, having broken off a life partnership and death of a close person). Associations with incident asthma were estimated by multivariable risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Poisson regression. Results:, High vs low neuroticism predisposed to developing asthma (RR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.71,5.48), but high extraversion did not (RR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.79,2.15). Having broken off a life partnership significantly increased asthma risk (RR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.20,4.21) in contrast to death of a close person (RR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.64,1.75) or unemployment (RR = 1.65, 95% CI = 0.72,3.78). Conclusions:, High levels of neuroticism may increase the risk of asthma in middle-aged adults. Having broken off a life partnership was the only stressful event, which was associated with incident asthma. Synthesized with evidence from earlier studies, this could reflect that interpersonal conflicts may increase asthma risk, possibly along an immunological pathway. [source] Oral and maxillofacial manifestations of familial adenomatous polyposisORAL DISEASES, Issue 4 2007MA Wijn Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) develop multiple premalignant colorectal adenomas. Untreated, one or more of these polyps will progress to colorectal carcinoma in middle-aged adults. Extra-intestinal manifestations of FAP are frequently observed and this combination has been called Gardner's syndrome. Oral and maxillofacial symptoms of FAP include an increased risk of jaw osteomas, odontomas and supernumerary or unerupted teeth. Early diagnosis of FAP is crucial and may be life saving. As oral signs usually precede gastrointestinal symptoms, the dentist may play an important role in the diagnosis of FAP. [source] Smoking-Related Morbidity and Mortality in the Cardiovascular SettingPREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY, Issue 2007William B. White MD It is estimated that during the 20th century, 100 million people died of tobacco-related illnesses worldwide. The outlook for the future is grim as this number is expected to increase 10-fold during the 21st century. Many of these deaths will occur in middle-aged adults and, while most tobacco-related deaths currently occur in men, female mortality is expected to increase markedly due to increased rates of smoking in women, especially in developing countries. The risk of coronary heart disease is strongly associated with smoking in both developed and undeveloped countries. In addition, other forms of tobacco exposure (chewing, inhalation through water, and secondhand smoke) have also been documented to be important causes of coronary disease worldwide. Fortunately, the news is not all bad. Recent large-scale studies show that much of the excess risk associated with smoking is attenuated 1 to 2 years after quitting, depending on the level of smoking during an individual's lifetime. These latest findings should stimulate efforts of health care workers to become more aggressive toward cessation of smoking in our practices. [source] Unwanted Infants: Psychological and Physical Consequences of Inadequate Orphanage Care 50 Years LaterAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2003John J. Sigal PhD Studies of the effects in middle-aged adults of institutionalization at birth or early childhood are rare. The results of this study show that members of a randomly selected, middle-aged group of orphans, most of whom were institutionalized at birth, were significantly more psychosocially dysfunctional and had significantly more chronic illnesses that could be stress related than a randomly selected, matched community sample. [source] Auricular surface aging: Worse than expected?AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 4 2006A test of the revised method on a documented historic skeletal assemblage Abstract This study presents results and recommendations arising from a blind test of the revised age estimation method for the auricular surface as proposed by Buckberry and Chamberlain (2002 Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 119:321,329). Auricular surfaces of 167 individuals from St. Bride's, London, a documented skeletal assemblage spanning the late 17th to early 19th century, were analyzed for the following traits: transverse organization, surface texture appearance, macroporosity, microporosity, and morphological changes to the apex. Composite scores of trait expressions were found to generally correlate with age and to show a positive association with known chronological age (P < 0.01). However, when composite scores were combined to define auricular surface phases, which ultimately assign age estimations, only three distinct developmental stages, compared with seven suggested by Buckberry and Chamberlain (2002 Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 119:321,329), could be identified and statistically supported, all showing a considerable degree of individual variation in age. The most well-defined stage in the St. Bride's assemblage was the new stage III, where the majority of individuals were older than 60 years, whereas middle-aged adults displayed a large variation in composite scores. These results provide little hope for a promising application of age-at-death estimation of auricular surface morphology traits with higher resolution, but rather suggest indications of broad stages of life. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Visceral fat is associated with lower brain volume in healthy middle-aged adultsANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 2 2010Stéphanie Debette MD Objective Midlife obesity has been associated with an increased risk of dementia. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Our aim was to examine the cross-sectional association of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and computed tomography (CT)-based measurements of subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue with various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of brain aging in middle-aged community adults. Methods Participants from the Framingham Offspring cohort were eligible if in addition to having measurements of BMI, WC, WHR, SAT, and VAT, they had undergone a volumetric brain MRI scan with measurements of total brain volume (TCBV), temporal horn volume (THV), white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), and MRI-defined brain infarcts (BI). All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and time interval between abdominal CT and brain MRI. Results In a sample of 733 community participants (mean age, 60 years; 53% women), we observed an inverse association of BMI (estimate by standard deviation unit ± standard error = ,0.27 ± 0.12; p = 0.02), WC (,0.30 ± 0.12; p = 0.01), WHR (,0.37 ± 0.12; p = 0.02), SAT (,0.23 ± 0.11; p = 0.04), and VAT (,0.36 ± 0.12; p = 0.002) with TCBV, independent of vascular risk factors. The association between VAT and TCBV was the strongest and most robust, and was also independent of BMI (,0.35 ± 0.15; p = 0.02) and insulin resistance (,0.32 ± 0.13; p = 0.01). When adjusting for C-reactive protein levels, the associations were attenuated (,0.17 ± 0.13; p = 0.17 for VAT). No consistently significant association was observed between the anthropometric or CT-based abdominal fat measurements and THV, WMHV, or BI. Interpretation In middle-aged community participants, we observed a significant inverse association of anthropometric and CT-based measurements of abdominal, especially visceral, fat with total brain volume. ANN NEUROL 2010 [source] Independence and self-provision in old age: how realistic are these goals?AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, Issue 3 2004Rob Ranzijn Objectives:,The aim of the present paper was to examine the relationship between perceived choices in work and retirement in middle age and financial security and confidence about the future in old age. Methods:,A qualitative study of 30 middle-aged adults in Adelaide and Whyalla in South Australia, either presently employed, unemployed or retired, were interviewed about their work histories, the factors in their work changes, their perceived options concerning future work and retirement, and their anticipated financial security and sources of income in retirement. Results:,In general, participants with a history of continuous stable employment believed they were in a good financial situation and were confident about their future, but many of the participants had a history of precarious employment, no financial security, and expected to rely primarily on government support in their old age. Conclusion:,A substantial proportion of older adults may not be able to provide for themselves in later life without public policies which are more interventionist. [source] Cefuroxime-induced pemphigus erythematosus in a young boyCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2009A. Baroni Summary Pemphigus erythematosus (Senear,Usher syndrome) is a variant of superficial pemphigus with features of both lupus erythematosus and pemphigus. It affects mainly middle-aged adults, and is rarely observed before the age of 20 years. The case of a 14-year-old boy who showed cutaneous lesions suggestive for pemphigus erythematosus is described. Not all laboratory and histopathological investigations confirmed the hypothesis, so a diagnosis of clinical pemphigus erythematosus was made. Systemic steroid therapy was effective in controlling the disease. This case is interesting because of the rare occurrence of pemphigus erythematosus in adolescence and the possibility of another drug being added to the list of pemphigus inducers. [source] | ||||||||||