Objectives: To describe the socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of self-rated successful agers among seniors 60 years old above in Quezon City Philippines. Methodology: The sample (N=346) was obtained from a random sampling of voluntary attendees invited to a mental health screening program scheduled in six districts spanning from June to October of 2017. Proposed psychosocial factors of healthy aging were assessed through demographics and the following scales:1)-Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test in Pilipino (MOCA-P), 2) Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale in Pilipino (HADS-P), 3) Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDR-10) and 4) World Health Organization Quality of Life using (WHOQOLBREF). Successful Agers were defined as participants who scored themselves seven or above (:2:7) in the Self-Rated Successful Aging (SRSA) scale. Results: Seventy percent (70%) of the respondents (N=238) considered themselves as successful agers. Among the demographic variables, being female and the frequency of social visits were related to successful aging. Self-reported successful agers (SRSA) had no dementia with (MOCA-P mean of 21). They were not depressed (HADS-D mean 1.8) or anxious (HADS-A mean 3.4); had good quality of life (WHOQOL mean 3.4) and positive perceived health (WHOQOL mean3.3). Successful Quezon City Filipino agers were not as resilient (CD-RISC) with a mean of 27. Conclusion Like most studies in successful aging, quality of life and perceived health and strong family support were related to self-rated successful aging in this group of Filipino senior citizens. There was no relationship with cognitive function and resilience, which may be due to the exclusion of cognitively impaired participants and the lack of a validated cut-off score for the Filipino translated resilience scale used.
Healthy Aging ; Quality of Life

BACKGROUND: When two shapes are presented successively and briefly to normal subjects, the perceived form of the second (test) shape is changed dissimilar to the form of the first (priming) shape, known as the shape distortion effect. To determine differential effects of aging on visual perception, we measured the perception of briefly presented elemen-tary shapes and of shape distortion in healthy volunteers. METHODS: For each trial, a priming rectangle, a gap of 180 ms, a test circle, and a random-dot mask were flashed in succession. The test circle was flashed in each quadrant. The preceding priming rectangle was flashed at the same position or in the contralateral hemifield. In intermixed trials, there was no priming rectangle and the test shape was a circle or an ellipse. After each trial, the percent elongation [(longer diameter - shorter diameter) / shorter diameter X 100] of the reproduced circle or ellipse was computed. RESULTS: The mean percent elongation in response to control circles and ellipses did not vary with increasing age. The shape distor-tion effect decreased significantly with increasing age during both intra- and contra-hemifield trials. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased shape distortion effect in the presence of normal perception of elementary shapes in the elderly suggests a more severe senescent decline of the higher cortical processing of visual stimuli. Age-related functional deterioration may underlie this differential aging effect on the various levels of visual processing.
Aged ; Aging ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Masks ; Visual Perception

BACKGROUND: The elastic properties of skin may be useful indicators of cutaneous diseases and skin aging. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to obtain the normal range of skin elastic properties according to anatomical sites in normal Korean individuals and to show the differences among them. METHODS: Eleven different anatomical sites were measured in 41 healthy volunteers (20 males and 21 females) with a measuring device, Dermaflex-A . Tensile distensibility(TD), elasticity(E), and hysteresis(H) were recorded. RESULTS: TD was decreased in the distal portions (e.g. 2.30 +/- 0.35 in the arm vs 1.62 +/- 0.30 in the palm in males) and in the sites where the subcutaneous tissue was thin (e.g. 3.08 +/- 0.60 in the abdomen vs 1.20 +/- 0.44 in the medial malleolus in males). E was also decreased in the distal portions (e.g. 82.3 +/- 8.5 in arm vs 51.2 +/- 11.1 in the palm in males) and in the sites where the subcutaneous tissue was thin (e.g. 89.3 +/- 8.3 in the abdomen vs 58.8 +/- 13.8 in the medial melleolus in males). In contrast, H had greater individual variations and it showed no definite tendency according to sites. TD and E were generally greater in males than in females, and there were some significant differences between sexes according to sites. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous elastic properties varied according to anatomical sites and sexes. This feature must be considered in future studies measuring elastic properties, such as aging experiments.
Abdomen ; Aging ; Arm ; Elasticity ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Skin Aging ; Skin* ; Subcutaneous Tissue

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of instrument aging on optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements. METHODS: Single eyes of 60 healthy participants (60 eyes) aged 20-30 years were examined twice using a 5-year-old OCT instrument and a new OCT instrument (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA). The measurements and changes in signal strength were investigated using both instruments. RESULTS: The signal strengths of the new and aged instruments were 8.6 ± 0.8 and 5.0 ± 1.0, respectively, which was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). In addition, the central macular thicknesses (CMT) of the new and aged instruments were 201.1 ± 16.1 µm and 210.3 ± 16.0 µm, respectively. The thickness was significantly greater using the aged instrument (p < 0.001). Repeated measurements within the same eye were compared, and the difference in CMT was 3.2 using the new instrument and 10.5 using the aged instrument (p < 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was compared to evaluate the reproducibility of each instrument. The ICC values of nine areas of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study in the aged instrument were 0.371-0.872, indicating low reproducibility. However, the new instrument showed high reproducibility with values of 0.806-0.947. CONCLUSIONS: Higher signal strength and lower CMT were observed using the new instrument compared to the aged instrument. Additionally, there were no differences in signal strength errors between the instruments. However, the error in CMT measured using the new instrument was significantly smaller compared to that using the aged instrument. Therefore, the effect of instrument aging should be accounted for in analyses of OCT measurements.
Aging* ; Child, Preschool ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

This study was accompolished to analyze and compare the number and area of the occlusal contact points in healthy volunteers and athletes with normal occlusion. For this study, 15 athletes(13 amles and 2 females with average age 20) and 21 healthy volunteers(14 mles and 7 females with average age 20.09) were selected. The visual display acquired by scanning of occlusal record in maximal intercuspation was converted into 16 gray value image. Then, using computer program (J &Lee Occlusal Analyser), the pixel which was in definite range of the gray value was recognized, and the numbers of recognized pixel were claculated to area. The results were as follows ; 1. The average numbers of total occlusal contact points were 31.05 in control group, and 34.67 in athlete group. The average area of total occlusal contacts was 100.25mm2in control group, and 127.78mm2in athlete group. 2. In control group, the average numbers of occlusal contact points were revealed in order as follows ; the first molar(8.48), the second molar(8.24), the second premolar(4.71), the lateral incisor(2.90), the first premor(2.43), the central incisor(2.19), and the canine(2.1). The least average in canine(2.1) was similar to the average(2.19) in central incisor and (2.09) in lateral incisor. In athlete group, the average numbers of occlusal contact points were revealed in order as follows ; the first molar(8.87), the second molar(8.47), the second premolar(5.60), the canine(3.80), the lateral incisor(3.33), the first premolar(2.67), and the central insicor(1.93). 3. In control group, the average areas of occlusal contact surface were revealed in order as follows ; the first molar(39.47mm2), the second molar(37.54mm2), the second premolar(9.54mm2) the first premolar(6.18mm2), canine(3.49mm2), the central incisor(3.7mm2), and the central incisor(2.25mm2). 4. With aging in both control and athlete group, there was a decreasing tendancy in average number of occlusal contact point, and was an increasing tendancy in average area of occlusal contact surface. In comparison at each age, both the numbers and area of occlusal contact were greater in athlete group than in control group. It was not significant in the numbers of occlusal contact points beween athlete and control group(p>0.1), but significant in the area of occlusal contact surface(p<0.05). 5. In comparision as to the kind of sports(Gymnastics : 2, Rugby : 3, Soccor : 5, Ice hocky : 5), the numbers of occlusal contact points were the most in ice hocky, and the area of occlusal contact surface was the greatest in gymnastics. With increasing a career in athlete group, there was a decreasing tendancy in average numbers of occiusal contact points and was an increasing tendancy in average area of occlusal contact surface. 6. By T-scan analyzing, the contact numbers on the anterior teeth were greater in control group than in athlete group, and on the posterior teeth were greater in athlete group than in control group. And the results acquired by T-scan were lesser than that caquired by the silicone bite records. It was not significant in the posterior teeth, but significant in the anterior teeth. In T-scan records, the numbers of occlusal contact points on second molar were the greatest, but in the silicone records, the numbers on first molar were the greatest.
Aging ; Athletes* ; Female ; Football ; Gymnastics ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Ice ; Incisor ; Molar ; Silicones ; Tooth ; Volunteers*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate cognitive reserve in Korea using Korean version of Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (K-CRIq) and to investigate the effects of gender and age on cognitive reserve. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-eight healthy subjects aged 25–85 years old in one community participated in the study. K-CRIq was developed and administered to all subjects to assess the effects of gender and age on cognitive reserve. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were administered to subjects over 65 years old to test concurrent validity. RESULTS: Age and gender as well as their interaction significantly affected Cognitive Reserve Index (CRI) score. Men had higher cognitive reserve than women over 45 years old, but at younger ages there was no gender difference in cognitive reserve. CRI score and sub-scores were strongly associated with the MMSE and MoCA. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the gender effect on cognitive reserve is disappearing in the young generation in Korea. Scores in neuropsychological tests are predicted well by the CRI score.
Aging ; Cognitive Reserve* ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Methylenebis(chloroaniline) ; Neuropsychological Tests

PURPOSE: Late-onset hypogonadism(LOH) in the aging male is a clinical and biochemical syndrome characterized by a decline in levels of serum testosterone, and results in various physical and mental disabilities. We aim to evaluate the relationship between serum testostosterone levels and symtpoms of LOH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of an andropause screening program, we examined ADAM questionnaires, IIEF-5 scores, and total serum testosterone levels among healthy volunteers aged over 40 years. RESULTS: The mean age of the 409 men was 59.8 years(range 40~89), and the mean serum testosterone level was 471.5+/-180.2 ng/dl. The serum testosterone level decreased significantly in correlation with age. There was a 92.5% positive response on the ADAM questionnaire. Among patients whose serum testosterone was less than 350 ng/dl, the ADAM questionnaire was positive in 23.7%(n=97). The mean serum testosterone level for men with a positive or negative ADAM questionnaire was 469.2+/-181.8 or 489.2+/-170.5 ng/dl, respectively; this difference was not statistically significant (p=xxx). There was also no significant correlation between IIEF-5 scores and serum testosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Among men over 40 years of age, 23.7% met the clinical and biochemical diagnostic criteria for late-onset hypogonadism, and there was no relationship between serum testosterone levels and symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism.
Aging* ; Andropause ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hypogonadism* ; Male* ; Mass Screening ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Testosterone*

OBJECTIVES: Suppression head impulse paradigm (SHIMP) in video head impulse test is now newly used to test vestibular function. The aim of this study was to analyze normative values of SHIMP for healthy Korean subjects in each decade of life. METHODS: SHIMP and HIMP responses were measured with the video head impulse test in 70 healthy subjects. Vestibulo-ocular reflex gain and anticompensatory saccade were analyzed and compared at each decade of life. RESULTS: All subjects produced anticompensatory saccades in SHIMP. Gain values did not vary significantly with age. Gain values in SHIMP were lower than gain values in HIMP. The gain values of rightward impulse were higher than the gain values of leftward impulse. CONCLUSIONS: Gain values and anticompensatory saccades in SHIMP were consistently equal in each decade of life. Normative values of SHIMP seems largely unaffected by aging.
Aging ; Head ; Head Impulse Test ; Healthy Volunteers ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Saccades

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The built environment or physical environment consists of surroundings and conditions constructed by human activity. It includes urban design, neighborhoods, transportation, and smaller scale structures like the design and layout of rooms within buildings. The built environment can affect the physical, social, and functional wellbeing of older adults, both within their own homes and in the neighborhoods in which they live, and additionally plays a part in promoting healthy aging. This narrative review of the literature aims to present the ways in which the built environment can influence the functional ability of community-dwelling older adults, and affect their ability to live independently and age in place.

Narrative literature review and inductive thematic analysis.

Forty-five full-text, English language publications from peer-reviewed sources were selected for this review, with the majority (35) presenting quantitative research findings and originating from North America (28). Older adults in rural and developing countries were underrepresented in the literature, despite acknowledgement that health of the aging population is a worldwide problem. Three major themes emerged. First, the built environment affects older adults in the most fundamental way at home through design considerations, modifications, and technological advances promoting aging in place and accessibility. Secondly, built environments outside the home can affect older adults’ physical activity and overall function with regard to mobility, transportation, and activities of daily living. The majority (22 of 45 publications) focused on this theme. Finally, the built environment in neighborhoods can affect older adults’ perception of social support, their social participation, and quality of life.

As the built environment is created by humans and can be substantially modified, it possesses considerable potential for enhancing functional ability, social participation, and overall quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. It is possible to design a better person-environment fit, promoting safety, independence, optimal health, and quality of life. In order to support healthy aging, improvements in the built environment need to be accompanied by appropriate health and social policies, systems, and services. These changes require political will, as well as material resources that may not be readily available especially in the global South. A socioecological approach with adequate resources directed to older adults’ health and healthcare is necessary in order to achieve the ultimate goal of healthy aging in this population.

In recent years, great effort has been made in the promotion of healthy aging in China. The core indicator of a country's healthy aging is the level of body health, mental health, social adaptation and quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. This paper summarizes the concept and the progress in the research of healthy ageing and the leading role of geriatric epidemiology. Articles on column "Pay attention to function and health of elderly" analyze the basic conditions affecting the QOL of the elderly, such as disability, comorbidity and Alzheimer disease prevalence, in the elderly in China and related risk factors to describe the severity of different health problems affecting the QOL of the elderly in different areas of China and provide essential data for developing effective health approaches and conducting targeted intervention foe healthy aging.
Aged ; Aging ; China ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; Geriatrics/trends* ; Health Status ; Healthy Aging ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Research/trends*