Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing
Year:2017 | Volume:12 | Issue:1|Papers Count:13

Objectives: Because of increasing geriatric population in Iran, the present study aims to plan, prevent, and mitigate the complications among the retired elderly of the Tehran Municipality Pension Organization and then investigate its relation to gender.Methods & Materials: The descriptive and analytic approach was adopted on 300 elderly subjects who were 60 years and older (Mean [SD]: 68.14 [7.11] years). The subjects were selected using random sampling method. All the elderly subjects were retired members of the Tehran Municipality Administration. The data were collected by direct reference to the subjects' home and conducting interviews. The data collection tool included questionnaires with two sections. The first section consisted of the demographic, socioeconomic, and health profiles, and the second section consisted of WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 18.Results: Among the elderly subjects in this study, 175 (54%) had no disability, 125 (46%) were disabled, and 19.13% had mild disability. The average disability rate was 5.6% in females and 4.38% in males; these rates were high compared to the present rate in the society. However, the lowest rate of disability (0.72% in males and 1.07% in females) was related to self-caring and personal health.Conclusion: In conclusion, the retired elderly of Tehran Municipality Administration showed a lower level of disability compared to those of other developed countries. However, there is an increasing need for setting up geriatric cares units as the population pattern of elderly people is rising in Iran. In addition, the rate of disability was found to be higher in females (58.14%) compared to males (53.31%), which shows a significant relation of disability status with gender and age (P<0.001).

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to study the effect of eight weeks of weight-bearing exercise and acute caffeine supplementation on reaction time in elderly women.Methods & Materials: The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design. The study subjects comprised 43 menopausal, inactive women with mean [SD] age of 55.69 [5.88] years who were randomly assigned into three groups of training (15 persons), caffeine (15 persons), and control (13 persons). The training protocol was performed over 8 weeks. The control group was not part of the exercise program. The body composition analyzer and simple and choice reaction time instrument were applied. Dependent t test and 1-way ANOVA test with post hoc Tukey test were applied to analyze the data.Results: The results suggested that weight-bearing exercises had a significant effect on simple reaction time (sound) while it was not significantly different in simple reaction time (voice) (P=0.003, P=0.003, and P=0.09, respectively). It was also found that caffeine intake (2 mg/kg) had no significant effect on reaction time (P=0.12).Conclusion: Weight-bearing training can be effective in improving the reaction time of the elderly.

Objectives: The study aimed at performing a comparative analysis of the aging population in European and Asian countries during 1950 and 2015.Methods & Materials: This study has been conducted through a secondary analysis, and the data for 90 European and Asian countries were derived from the UN Population division. The used statistical method was history of survival analysis. The statistical package of Stata was used to perform statistical analyses of non-parametric methods of estimation of Kaplan-Meier and Nelson- Ellen's survival function, and Cox's semi-parametric proportional hazard model.Results: The study estimates showed that total fertility rates and life expectancy in both Europe and Asia were convergent in nature. The probability of occurrence of aging has a negative relationship with total fertility rate and a positive relationship with life expectancy. Estimation of survival function and cumulative hazard function for the two study areas in 2015 indicated that probability of occurrence of aging was significantly different. Survival function of aging was close to zero for European countries. This means that most European countries have entered the aging process while the likely to survive an accident for Asian countries was more than 0.75.Conclusion: According to the results, during 1950 to 2015, the percentages of aging populations in all regions of the European continent was dramatically higher than that of the Asian countries. In recent decades, although there has been a rapid fall in fertility rate and increased life expectancy among the less developed Asian countries, the process of population aging has increased. This index in Asian countries is believed to outpace the European countries by 2050.

Objectives: Aging and change in the skeletal muscle are certain challenges faced by the elderly. This condition leads to a decrease in the musculoskeletal functions, physical function, and disability compared to the younger individuals. Thus, the current study aimed at examining the exercise of back stabilizer muscles of aged women compared to the young ones in response to resistance training and soy milk supplementation.Methods & Materials: The study had a quasi-experimental design conducted on 27 old women (Mean [SD] age: 69.60 [3.16] years) and 10 young ones. The aged women were randomly divided into back stabilizer exercise plus soy milk, back stabilizer exercise, and control groups (9 subjects in each group). They took part in exercise-nutrition interventions for 10 weeks, 3 sessions per week. The subjects were given soy milk to drink three times in a day with and without exercise. Ultrasonic features of multifidus, ability, back performance, and nutrition status of aged women were measured pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA.Results: Mean (SD) multifidus cross-sectional area of aged women (3.49 [0.908] cm2) was significantly smaller than that of young ones (7.42 [1.52] cm2) during pre-intervention. Following the intervention, it significantly increased in both stabilizer exercise plus soy milk and back stabilizer exercise groups (P<0.05, 5.41 [0.44] and 5.28 [1.18] cm2, respectively), but did not completely modify. Ability and back performance of intervention groups showed significant development compared to control group (P<0.05, -10.2 [3.3] and -11.72 [2.8] cm2, respectively).Conclusion: Ten weeks of stabilizer exercise and consuming soy milk led to an increase in the ultrasonic features of back multifidus muscle of aged women and decreased the age-related muscle changes. On the other hand, improvement in multifidus muscles not only resulted in ability and back performance promotion, but also led to independency and social activity development in the aged women.

Objectives: The decline in muscle mass and strength, which are associated with aging, is called sarcopenia. Resistance training is one of the effective methods to deal with sarcopenia. Correspondingly, this study aimed to investigate the effect of 8-week resistance training on muscle mass, strength, and myostatin concentration in old and young men.Methods & Materials: The present study included 14 old men (age range of 55 to 70 years) and 11 young ones (age range of 20 to 35 years) who were randomly chosen from the volunteers. They participated in a progressive resistance training (gradual increase in training load, 50% of one repetition maximum in the first week to 85% in the eighth week) for 8 weeks, 3 days a week. Daily calorie intake, strength, muscle mass, muscle cross-sectional area (by CT scan), and myostatin concentration were measured before and after the training.Results: The findings of the study indicated that after 8 weeks of training, muscle strength significantly increased in the old group in comparison with the young group (P<0.05); however, total muscle mass significantly increased in the young one (P<0.05). Daily calorie intake did not change in both groups (P>0.05). Quadriceps muscle mean (SD) cross-sectional area of the young group (pretest: 76.03 [12.21] cm2 compared to posttest: 79.16 [11.54] cm2) significantly increased (P<0.05) compared to that in the old group (pretest: 60.03 [10.57] cm2 compared to posttest: 61.93 [10.43] cm2). The myostatin mean (SD) concentration significantly decreased in both groups (P<0.05), but there was no difference between the groups (3.86 [1.89] ng/mL and 3.68 [1.66] ng/mL in elderly and young group, respectively; P>0.05). Also, there was a significant correlation between myostatin concentration with muscle mass in old men (r=0.73, P<0.05).Conclusion: Resistance training was associated with a decline in myostatin level and increase in the muscle mass and cross-sectional area. Hence, the beneficial effect of resistance training may decrease agerelated muscle atrophy and affect elderly health.

Objectives: The study was performed to investigate the quality of the relationship of the elderly with God. The relationship of humans with God is an ancient one and determines human relationships with self, one another, and the universe. Those who have a positive relationship with God, have less anxiety and mental disorders in the face of difficulties.Methods & Materials: We used Grounded Theory to answer the research questions. In this regard, an open-ended questionnaire was designed and administered by means of interview. The study sampling was theoretical and continued to reach the data saturation. The total sample consisted of 18 elderly people aged between 60 and 81 years.Results: The findings revealed 105 concepts, 24 subcategories, and 5 main categories. The categories were analyzed in a paradigm: causal condition; phenomena-content (context); mediator condition; strategy of action/reaction; and consequences. Finally, a model of connection of categories was presented.Conclusion: The final model suggests a wide variation in relation to the quality and quantity of relationship with God. The role of the emotional, cognitive, and social factors in the emergence of this behavior (relationship with God) was clear and in accordance with the mediator conditions and the perceived consequences of the relationship.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with constipation among elderly people. Constipation is a common condition affecting elderly people and may lead to complications such as urinary retention and overflow incontinence.Methods & Materials: This case-control study was conducted on 100 consecutive patients, aged 65 years and older (50 with constipation according to ROME III criteria and 50 without constipation) who were referred to the Gastrointestinal Clinic of Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital. For statistical analysis of the data obtained, SPSS (version 16) for Windows was used.Results: The frequencies of using polypharmacy, calcium channel blocker, anticholinergic drugs, also factors such as immobilization, dehydration, low fiber diet, diabetes, hypothyroidism, stroke, malignancy, renal failure, and Parkinson disease were higher in patients with constipation compared to those without this complaint. There was no significant difference in consumption of opium or having depression.Conclusion: By eliminating the risk factors of constipation, we can reduce constipation and the side effects of using laxatives in the elderly.

Objectives: Old age is a significant period in life and due to the development of science and improvement in health conditions, the number of elderly people is increasing in various societies. To promote the adjustment of the elderly population in the society, it is necessary to pay attention to their life satisfaction. Therefore, the present study aimed at predicting life satisfaction of elderly people based on their spiritual intelligence and psychological capital.Methods & Materials: The research method is descriptive and correlational. The study population comprised 180 people residing in elderly homes in Kashan City, Iran. Of them, 123 subjects were selected based on the Morgan table and simple random sampling. The data were collected using the questionnaires of life satisfaction, spiritual intelligence, and psychological capital, then e obtained data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple regression tests.Results: The mean (SD) values of age, perception and connection to universe, spiritual life, self-efficacy, hopefulness, resiliency, optimism and life satisfaction were 70 (2.5) years, 62.18 (7.14), 51.11 (6.75), 24.14 (4.14), 24.33 (4.11), 21.08 (4.38), 28.33 (5.04), and 21.71 (2.75), respectively. The results showed that the components of spiritual intelligence and psychological capital significantly predicted the level of life satisfaction in the elderly (P<0.01) and the perception and connection to the universe and hopefulness predicted more changes in life satisfaction among the elderly (P<0.01).Conclusion: The results suggest that the components of spiritual intelligence and psychological capital can partially predict life satisfaction in the elderly. Therefore, in order to increase the level of life satisfaction in them, it is necessary to promote their spiritual intelligence and psychological capital.

Objectives: Lower levels of inflammatory cytokines and higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines are associated with increased life expectancy. However, the effects of regular physical activity on these cytokines in postmenopausal women have not been investigated very well.Methods & Materials: Fifteen active and 15 inactive postmenopausal women (aged between 50-60 years) were recruited randomly. The exclusion criteria included chronic diseases, smoking, and surgeries in the past year. Also, more than a year should have passed since all subjects experienced natural menopause. Active postmenopausal women should have regular physical activity included walking, jogging, and resistance exercises and they should have performed these exercises three times a week within the past 6-12 months. After 12 hours of fasting, blood samples were taken in rest. Blood sample was centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 minutes, and the serum was frozen and stored at -80°C until biochemical analyses were performed. Independent t test was used to compare quantitative variables, and α level for statistical significance was set at P£0.05.Results: Regular physical activity brings about a significant decrease in C-reactive protein, significant increase in IL-15 and non-significant increase in IL-10 in active postmenopausal women in comparison to inactive postmenopausal women.Conclusion: Regular physical activity may result in lower incidence of chronic diseases in postmenopausal women via decreased inflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines and could, therefore, play a role in higher life expectancy.

Objectives: With regard to the changes in the Iranian population structure, especially the rise of the elderly population, and the increase in pharmacy clients, this study aimed to evaluate the senior-friendly pharmacies of Shiraz.Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016. The study population comprised all 33 hospital pharmacies in Shiraz. Data were collected by a researcher-made checklist with the aim of evaluating the potential of the pharmacy to transform into a senior-friendly one. Reliability (r=0.85) and validity of the checklist were confirmed. Data were analyzed by c2, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests through SPSS 23.Results: The average score of pharmacies' potential was 50.52, which indicated a moderate ability of the pharmacies to transform into senior-friendly ones. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test did not show any significant relationship with pharmacy type and ownership.Conclusion: Increase in the number of aging population, average level of senior-friendly pharmacies throughout Shiraz City, and the potential of hospital pharmacies to provide geriatric services can be considered as challenging issues. However, these new challenges can be managed through appropriate planning and policy making.