Introduction Communication difficulties occur in all dementia subtypes. This can affect individuals’ identity, relationships, and quality-of-life of people with dementia and their relatives. Professional guidelines recommend access to communication intervention, for example through speech and language therapy (SLT) services, but anecdotal evidence suggests that the type and availability of this provision

Background Brain glymphatic system is thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective To investigate the relationships between glymphatic function and AD-signature region volumes, plasma biomarkers and disease progression in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Methods Two datasets comprising a total of 229 cognitively unimpaired older adults were enrolled

Aim To examine frailty assessments in older patients admitted to hospital, and explore associations with sex, admission and discharge status. Methodology Worldwide, the prevalence of frailty is increasing. Stratifying frailty can be beneficial at a population level to improve public health and target local services. At an individual level, recognition of frailty can help inform prognosis and advanced

Although the use of direct oral anticoagulants increases in parallel with the increase in atrial fibrillation (AF) with age, none of the bleeding risk scores (HAS-BLED, HEMORR2HAGES, ATRIA nor RE-LY) have been developed in a geriatric population. Our study aimed to develop a bleeding risk score adapted to this specific population and this therapeutic class. Multicentre, longitudinal, prospective, observational

Background Transitions from hospital to home are risky for older people. The role of patient involvement in supporting safe transitions is unclear. Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness of an intervention to improve the safety and experience of care transitions for older people. Trial design Cluster randomised controlled trial. Participants Eleven National Health Service acute hospital trusts

Background Loneliness has detrimental effects on the mental well-being of senior citizens. Reminiscence therapies have emerged as a potential intervention to alleviate loneliness. This study aimed to systematically review and quantitatively analyse the effects of reminiscence therapy on loneliness among older adults. Methods A comprehensive search was performed across 11 electronic databases, meta-analyses

We investigated the association between mobile phone use characteristics and Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk and whether genetic predisposition modified these associations, utilising data from the UK Biobank. Participants using mobile phones for at least one hour weekly had a lower risk of PD compared to those using less than five minutes weekly (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65–0.87). Long-term users of mobile

Background It is unknown whether the relationship between ageing of different organs and cognitive decline varies in older adults. Objectives This study investigated the association of body ageing and organ-specific ageing with cognitive decline, and whether this relationship was strengthened by hearing loss. Methods The study included older adults free from cognitive impairment, drawn from the Chinese

Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) are first-line antihypertensive drugs for many patients, and influencing angiotensin systems may play a role in dementia risk. This study aimed to investigate whether exposure to different antihypertensive drug classes compared with ACEI affects the risk of dementia and pathological dementia subtypes

Background The relationship between body mass index (BMI) changes across the lifespan and cognitive health in later life remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between BMI changes from midlife to late-life and subsequent subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) in women. Methods We analysed data from 5160 women in the New York University Women’s Health Study, a prospective cohort with

Background Sarcopenia, a progressive loss of muscle mass and function, increases health risks in older adults, especially in rapidly ageing populations like Korea. Computed tomography (CT) imaging at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level is a gold standard for assessing skeletal muscle area (SMA) and indices (SMIs), yet age- and sex-specific reference values are limited. This multicentre study aimed

Background Older adults, as a vulnerable population, typically show lower engagement with eHealth technologies. Limited internet access and low use for health information may contribute to poorer health outcomes. Objectives The purposes of this study were to examine differences in socio-demographics and compare healthy lifestyles, health statuses and attitudes toward online health information among

Background Environmental air pollution is increasingly recognised as a potential contributor to frailty. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise existing evidence on the associations between environmental air pollution and frailty in middle-aged and older adults, providing insights into the impact of air pollution on public health. Methods The systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Ambulance services are commonly used by older adults. The scope of services continues to adapt in response to more non–life-threatening calls, often due to the acute consequences of chronic illness. Frailty increases with increasing age, but it is not known how common or severe it is within patients conveyed to hospital by ambulance. Methods Open cohort of people aged ≥50 living in Wales

Background Allied health professionals provide essential healthcare services to older adults with chronic health conditions. However, there are challenges to access and utilisation of these services for rural communities and limited scope of the existing literature. Objective To conduct a scoping review of the literature related to access and utilisation of allied health services for older adults living

Objective Mental Capacity legislation defines when a person lacks capacity and subsequently supports individuals to make as many decisions as possible for themselves. Whilst frameworks exist, care home staff often feel unsupported with insufficient knowledge and training. This review aimed to understand barriers and facilitators of implementing mental capacity legislation in care homes for older adults

Background Given the significant burden and rising prevalence of dementia, it is essential that personalised care is available to people with dementia (PWD) and their family carers. This involves tailoring support to meet individuals’ unique needs and preferences. Effective communication is fundamental to delivering such care, yet dementia impacts communication, posing challenges in meeting individuals’

Background Postoperative delirium (POD) arises among older surgical patients. Screening followed by prevention efforts are recommended. A risk prediction tool called PIPRA plus has been developed, yet its performance and whether adoption into health services is cost-effective are unknown. Objective To estimate the expected change to ‘total costs’ and ‘health benefits’ measured by quality adjusted life

Introduction Time to surgery (TTS) increases mortality risk in old patients with proximal femur fractures (PFFs). Orthogeriatric care pathways reduce mortality and length of stay, but the interaction between TTS and geriatric intervention remains unclear. Objective To identify organisational variables—including geriatric intervention—that are predictive of 90-day mortality and explore their interactions

Background Standardised questionnaires of cognitive symptoms and cognitive-related function can assist in diagnosing dementia. The Standardised Assessment of Global Everyday Activities (SAGEA) is a 15-item questionnaire, developed to measure functional status by capturing cognitive symptoms, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, participation in activites, and mobility. Objective The aim

Background Cognitive impairment, dementia and sarcopenia significantly reduce the quality of life in middle-aged and older adults by impairing daily functioning, making cognitive decline a major concern for healthcare professionals. Objective To estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults with cognitive impairment. Methods Six databases—Embase, Ovid

Cancer disproportionately affects older adults, who account for the majority of diagnoses and deaths globally. However, research and clinical care often fail to adequately address their unique needs. This collection of studies in Age and Ageing highlights challenges and opportunities in geriatric oncology. The rising incidence of cancer in the older population, driven by demographic shifts and socioeconomic

INTRODUCTION Falls and fractures are common among older people. The Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions in older adults with high fall risk (STOPPFall) provides a comprehensive list of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs). This study assesses the association between STOPPFall medications and future falls/fractures among a large cohort of community-dwelling people ≥65 years using The Irish Longitudinal

BACKGROUND Research in long-term residential care settings (or care homes) for older people should address questions and uncertainties that matter most for those receiving and delivering care. Whether research does this effectively is unclear. In part, because the uncertainties and questions of key stakeholders are unmapped. OBJECTIVE To capture and prioritise the uncertainties of older people living

BACKGROUND Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are complex neuropsychiatric symptoms that contribute to caregiver strain, increased rates of institutionalisation and reduced quality of life. Virtual reality (VR) has gained interest as a non-pharmacological approach to potentially reduce BPSD severity. OBJECTIVE This review sought to synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of

BACKGROUND Adult social care in England operates in a two-tier system of self-funded and state-funded residents. It is unclear, however, whether resident funding source impacts care home quality. METHODS We conducted a nationwide retrospective observational analysis of care homes in England (n = 28 239 Provider Information Return entries for 14 444 care homes, representing ~367 653 residents), 2021-23

Background Medication non-adherence is prevalent in older people taking polypharmacy. Several interventions have been employed to improve adherence in this population. However, inconsistencies in outcomes have impeded comparisons of findings. Accordingly, this work aimed to develop a core outcome set (COS) for use in trials aiming to improve adherence to appropriate polypharmacy in older people. Methods

Objective To compare frailty, sarcopenia and their respective components to determine which is more effective in identifying the risk of disability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL, respectively). Methods A longitudinal study involving 3,637 individuals without disabilities concerning BADL and 3,696 individuals without disabilities regarding IADL at baseline. Frailty

Background Chronic conditions often co-occur in specific disease patterns. Certain chronic diseases contribute to incident frailty or cognitive impairment (CI), but the associations of multimorbidity patterns and the order of frailty and CI occurrence remain unclear. Objectives To determine multimorbidity patterns amongst older adults and their associations with the order of frailty and CI occurrence

Background Ageing increases the risk of treatment-related toxicities (TRT) in patients with cancer. This systematic review provided an overview of existing prediction models for TRT in this population and evaluated their predictive performances. Methods A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PubMed, CINAHL and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) databases

Background Hospital-based Special Care Units (SCU) for dementia show promise as effective models of care. However, limited research describes hospital-wide benefits. Objective To describe patient-level outcomes and hospital service-level outcomes of a SCU. Design Pre-post analyses of SCU-patient data and hospital service-unit incident report data. Setting, participants 2-years of SCU-patient admissions

Background Exercise is a highly recommended nonpharmacological intervention for older adults with sarcopenia. Poor exercise adherence is a main factor affecting treatment efficacy. However, evidence for overall adherence to exercise and intervention characteristics affecting adherence in this population remains unknown. Objective To determine whether community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia

Background Orthogeriatric care has been shown to effectively reduce mortality and morbidity and has a potential impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This systematic review and meta-analysis summarises the effects of orthogeriatric care on HRQoL in hip fracture patients. Methods The review protocol was registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42021206280

Background and Aims Poor physical performance (PPP) in terms of weakness and slow walking speed is closely associated with frailty during ageing. We aimed to analyse the associations between modifiable lifestyle factors, inflammation markers (hs-CRP, D-dimer, and fibrinogen), and the odds of PPP and state transitions between normal and PPP in older adults. Methods A total of 3756 participants ($\ge$

Healthy life expectancy is a major challenge in many countries and one of the World Health Organisation’s main concerns for the current decade. With different animal models, from invertebrates to mammals, research into the biology of ageing has identified various biological and physiological processes that alter the quality of ageing. Twelve characteristics of ageing have been defined, and the aim

Background Frailty, characterised by decreased physiological function and increased vulnerability to stressors, was associated with an increase in numerous adverse outcomes. Although the number of digital biomarkers for detecting frailty in older adults is increasing, there remains a lack of evidence regarding their effectiveness for early detection and follow-up in real-world, home-based settings

Despite growing attention to well-being in dementia, few studies have defined meaning-based (eudaimonic) well-being in this population, mainly due to challenges posed by cognitive decline and self-report limitations. We developed and validated a novel tool for measuring meaning-based well-being in individuals with dementia, particularly those receiving residential or home care. The study included two

Background The burden of dementia is increasing dramatically with the population aging. Tinnitus and chronic noise exposure are associated with neuropsychiatric diseases and cognitive decline, but relationships between tinnitus and noise exposure and incident dementia remain unclear. Methods 160 032 participants from the UK Biobank were included. Information on tinnitus, tinnitus severity, noise exposure

Background and aims Delirium carries an eight-fold risk of future dementia. Small vessel disease (SVD), best seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), increases delirium risk, yet delirium is understudied in MRI research. We aimed to determine MRI feasibility, tolerability, image usability and prevalence of SVD lesions in delirium. Methods This case–control feasibility study performed MRI (3D T1/T2-weighted)

Background Predicting hospital length of stay (LOS) can potentially improve healthcare resource allocation. Recent studies suggest that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), specifically measurements of muscle thickness (MT), may be valuable in assessing patient outcomes, including LOS. This study investigates the hypothesis that quadriceps MT and echo intensity (EI) can predict patient outcomes, particularly

Background We hypothesised that morbidity burden was higher in real-life patients with oral anticoagulant-related intracerebral haemorrhage (OAC-ICH) than direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) trial-life patients (pivotal trial participants) and explored if pre-stroke morbidity was comparable (i) in real-life patients on DOAC or vitamin K antagonist (VKA) with ICH, and (ii) in trial-life patients versus

Background We explored how adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) impact psychoactive medication use in older adults. Methods We assessed the cumulative MedDiet adherence and LTPA’s impact on mental health medication initiation in older individuals at high risk of chronic disease. Associations between the cumulative average of MedDiet adherence (per

Background In older syncope patients, medical histories are often less reliable due to retrograde amnesia and cognitive impairment. Therefore, additional tests may be needed to reach a diagnosis. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate positivity rates and safety of head-up tilt testing (HUTT) in these patients. Methods We searched Medline and Embase for HUTT positivity rates and diagnoses in

Background Nature-based interventions (NBIs) may support older adults’ health and well-being, but it remains unclear which interventions are most effective, for whom and in which contexts. The existing Wilkie and Davinson framework explains the pathways between NBIs and health outcomes but underemphasises the effects of environmental qualities. Therefore, the study aims to critically examine existing

Background The association between changes in physical functions and stroke incidence remains uncertain. Methods A total of 7978 participants without stroke from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were recruited in 2011–2012 and followed up until 2020. We assessed annual changes in physical functions from 2011 to 2015, including absolute grip strength, relative grip strength

Background Antidepressants are used by 60% of residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Mirtazapine and sertraline are the most commonly used antidepressants, despite little safety information for their use in LTCFs. Objective To investigate risk of adverse outcomes (falls, fractures, cardiovascular-, dementia-, and delirium-related hospitalisations, all-cause mortality) associated with mirtazapine

Background Physiological age (PA) derived from clinical indicators including blood-based biomarkers and tests of physiological function can be compared with chronological age to examine disparities in health between older adults of the same age. Though education interacts with sex to lead to inequalities in healthy ageing, their combined influence on longitudinally measured PA has not been explored

Background Mirtazapine promotes sleep by blocking serotonin and histaminergic receptors and is often used off-label to treat chronic insomnia. However, its efficacy remains to be demonstrated in a clinical trial. The MIRAGE study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of mirtazapine in older patients with chronic insomnia. Methods This was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in

BACKGROUND The global prevalence of diabetes is rising. Lack of physical activity is a known risk factor, and older adults with diabetes face a higher risk of complications compared to other age groups. Additionally, the risk of mortality increases with longer duration of diabetes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate how meeting physical activity guidelines is associated with diabetes prevalence

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Frailty increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its complications. This study investigated the feasibility and diagnostic yield of an eHealth screening for the detection of new AF, in frail older patients. METHODS Patients referred to the Geriatric Medicine outpatient clinics were eligible. A Frailty Index (FI) was calculated. Patients were screened for AF with electrocardiograms

BACKGROUND Emergency departments (EDs) in England are under significant strain, with increasing attendances and extended wait times, affecting frail older adults. The clinical frailty scale (CFS) has been implemented as a tool to assess frailty in ED settings, but its reliability and predictive accuracy as a screening tool remain debated. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use and variability of the CFS in

BACKGROUND The occurrence of falls in adults 65+ years remains a common and costly issue worldwide. There is current evidence to suggest that falls can be prevented using evidence-based strength and balance interventions, such as the six-month Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme. Perspectives of multiple key partners and providers of the FaME programme could inform future implementation and

BACKGROUND Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults, often linked to gait and balance impairments. OBJECTIVE To compare gait and balance metrics across fall risk levels in community-dwelling older adults and identify principal components predictive of fall risk. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING General community. SUBJECTS Three hundred older adults were stratified