by Aditi Gupta  , Bor-Jang Hwang  , Daniel Benyamien-Roufaeil  , Sara Jain  , Sophie Liu  , Rex Gonzales  , Robert A. Brown  , Michal Zalzman  and A-Lien Lu

Received: 22 July 2021;  Published: 02 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2202196

Telomeres consist of special features and proteins to protect the ends of each chromosome from deterioration and fusion. The telomeric DNA repeats are highly susceptible to oxidative damage that can accelerate telomere shortening and affect telomere integrity. Several DNA repair factors including MYH/MUTYH DNA glycosylase, its interacting partners Rad9/Rad1/Hus1 checkpoint clamp, and SIRT6 aging regulator, are associated with the telomeres. MYH prevents C:G to A:T mutation by removing adenine mispaired with a frequ [...]

by Terence Seedsman

Received: 01 August 2021;  Published: 15 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201195

While increases in life expectancy along with extended longevity can be seen as a success story, there remains the central issue surrounding the health and quality of life for increasing numbers of older people. As populations live longer the idea that older people should be empowered to remain active and productive citizens will be paramount. Questions concerning the meaningfulness, purpose and desirability of living longer present an existential challenge for all and sundry. It is clear, that the speed of populat [...]

by Lotte Gerholt  , Casper N. Bang  , Eva Gerdts  , Anne Cecilie Larstorp  , Sverre E. Kjeldsen  , Stevo Julius  , Kristian Wachtell  , Peter M. Okin  and Richard B. Devereux

Received: 20 December 2021;  Published: 09 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201194

It remains unknown whether left atrial systolic force (LASF), a measure of left atrial function, can be used as a predictor of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF). Furthermore, the effect of the treatment with atenolol and losartan on LASF is unclear. A total of 758 patients without atrial fibrillation at baseline were enrolled from the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint (LIFE) reduction in hypertension echocardiography sub-study. Participants of the LIFE study were randomized to either atenolol-or losartan-based [...]

by Pietro Gareri  , Antonino Maria Cotroneo  , Giuseppe Orsitto  , Nicola Veronese  and Salvatore Putignano

Received: 12 September 2021;  Published: 08 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201193

Certain previous studies have demonstrated the benefits of the addition of citicoline, a cholinergic precursor, to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AchEIs) or memantine in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study showed the effectiveness of oral citicoline plus AchEIs plus memantine in outpatients with AD. This was a retrospective case-control study involving 169 patients aged 65 years old or older having AD (mean age: 78.7 ±4.9 years). In addition, 84 patients were treated with AchEIs plus [...]

by Fabio Robusto  , Giovanni Colucci  , Maria Zamparella  , Enrico Maria Pellegrini  , Brigida Martucci  , Pasquale Iacovazzo  , Enza Colucci  , Martino Minardi  , Cristina Giliberti  , Vito Bossone  , Vito Lepore  and Stefano Ivis

Received: 08 September 2021;  Published: 04 March 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201192

Frailty is a chronic condition that increases the vulnerability to stressogenic factors and prevents the patient from returning to the preceding condition of homeostasis. This increases the risk of negative outcomes and progressively brings the patient toward disability, leading to higher use of healthcare resources. Clinical risk stratification systems can generally be useful for identifying frail patients from the standpoint of a healthcare system, though General Practitioners (GPs) assume a key and irreplaceable [...]

by Tatsuya Nogami  , Makoto Arai  and Koh Iwasaki

Received: 12 January 2022;  Published: 28 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201191

Several countries have entered the super-aging era. In Japan, the recently reported average life expectancy is approximately 90 years. Kampo medicine (a form of traditional Japanese medicine) is a part of the official medical service in Japan and is widely used for treating various illnesses of older people. However, although general physicians often prescribe Kampo preparations, most Japanese general physicians do not have an intimate understanding of the iatrology of Kampo. Kampo is based on traditional Chinese m [...]

by Takeshi Hatta  , Taketoshi Hatta  , Junko Hatta  , Akihiko Iwahara  , Kazumi Fujiwara  , Kimiko Kato  and Yukiharu Hasegawa

Received: 15 October 2021;  Published: 24 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201190

In the present study, we identified the factors of cognitive and physical performances predicting self-rated health perception (SRH) using an SRH questionnaire in 660 (298 men and 362 women) upper-middle-aged community dwellers. In addition, neuropsychological test battery and physical ability tests were applied. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using the forced entry method; digit cancellation test (D-CAT1), logical memory test, verbal fluency test, back strength, timed-up and-go (TUG), balancing test, [...]

by Darcy A Hille  , Sverre E Kjeldsen  , Stevo Julius  , Kristian Wachtell  , Peter M Okin  and Richard B Devereux

Received: 30 December 2021;  Published: 24 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201189

We aimed to assess some readily available patient characteristics such as urinary albumin excretion as predictors of a primary composite event of myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, and cardiovascular death among patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, and develop risk algorithms for the outcomes. A “Cox proportional hazards” model identified the baseline variables that significantly affected the occurrence of the composite endpoint in 9193 elderly hypertensive patients with lef [...]

by Alexander Peller  , Lara Suarez  , Ashleigh Trapuzzano  , Matt S. Stock  and Nicole Dawson

Received: 16 November 2021;  Published: 15 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201188

Gait speed has been correlated to quality of life and has been called the sixth vital sign. The purpose of this study was to understand the factors that comprise fast and comfortable gait speed. 90 older adults provided demographic, cognitive, and functional performance data. Hierarchical linear regression models revealed predictors for comfortable gait speed to be lower-extremity strength ( B = 1.13, β = 0.233, P< .05), comorbid health ( B = −2.95, β = −0.22, P < 0.05), and gender( B = [...]

by Andreea L. Seritan

Received: 26 November 2021;  Published: 24 January 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2201187

Older adults’ mental health needs significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Geriatric psychiatry is an area of extreme workforce shortage globally. A novel curriculum was developed to educate healthcare providers on COVID-19-related geriatric and geropsychiatry topics. Monthly lectures were presented from November 2020 to June 2021. Evaluations were collected after each lecture via an anonymous survey. Overall lecture quality and relevance for the participants’ clinical practices were rated on a 1-3 Lik [...]