Declining melatonin levels and older people. How old is old?
- Graham, D., McLachlan, Angus
- Authors: Graham, D. , McLachlan, Angus
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Neuroendocrinology Letters Vol. 25, no. 6 (2004), p. 415-418
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- Description: Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether melatonin levels in older cohorts within the 'aged' population were significantly lower than in younger 'aged' individuals and hence point to a possible confound in cross-sectional studies which group individuals over 55 in one category. Setting and design: Melatonin levels of 35 North Queensland residents over 55 years of age living in an aged-care facility, a retirement village or the general community were compared across three age groups. Methods: Subjects were ten 56-65 year olds, eighteen 66-75 year olds and seven over-75 year olds. Information was obtained on sleep, awakening, medical conditions and medications, with subsequent exclusion of those with known medical conditions and/or medications. Melatonin was collected by salivary samples at 2200 hours and concentrations were determined by immunoassay. Results: Mean melatonin levels were significantly lower (p=.03) in the 'oldest' (over 75 yrs) group compared to the 'youngest' (56-65 yrs) group. Main findings: The results of this preliminary study indicate that within the older population, melatonin levels appear to decline significantly with age. Conclusions: Future studies of melatonin and ageing may benefit from a longitudinal approach, with older subjects sampled across time. Copyright © Neuroendocrinology Letters.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Graham, D. , McLachlan, Angus
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Neuroendocrinology Letters Vol. 25, no. 6 (2004), p. 415-418
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- Description: Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether melatonin levels in older cohorts within the 'aged' population were significantly lower than in younger 'aged' individuals and hence point to a possible confound in cross-sectional studies which group individuals over 55 in one category. Setting and design: Melatonin levels of 35 North Queensland residents over 55 years of age living in an aged-care facility, a retirement village or the general community were compared across three age groups. Methods: Subjects were ten 56-65 year olds, eighteen 66-75 year olds and seven over-75 year olds. Information was obtained on sleep, awakening, medical conditions and medications, with subsequent exclusion of those with known medical conditions and/or medications. Melatonin was collected by salivary samples at 2200 hours and concentrations were determined by immunoassay. Results: Mean melatonin levels were significantly lower (p=.03) in the 'oldest' (over 75 yrs) group compared to the 'youngest' (56-65 yrs) group. Main findings: The results of this preliminary study indicate that within the older population, melatonin levels appear to decline significantly with age. Conclusions: Future studies of melatonin and ageing may benefit from a longitudinal approach, with older subjects sampled across time. Copyright © Neuroendocrinology Letters.
- Description: C1
Ageing and time : Multidisciplinary perspectives
- Authors: Guse, Ilonka
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Journal on Ageing Vol. 27, no. 2 (Jun 2008), p. 107-108
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- Description: C1
- Clemson, Lindy, Donaldson, Alex, Hill, Keith, Day, Lesley
- Authors: Clemson, Lindy , Donaldson, Alex , Hill, Keith , Day, Lesley
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Vol. 61, no. 5 (2014), p. 325-334
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- Description: Background/aims: Despite evidence of the effectiveness of home safety interventions for preventing falls, there is limited uptake of such interventions within community services. Therefore, as part of a broader translational project, we explored issues underlying the implementation of an evidence-based home safety fall prevention intervention. Method: We conducted in-depth interviews with eight occupational therapists and two programme coordinators engaged to deliver a home safety fall prevention intervention. Six community health centres within two metropolitan regions of Melbourne, Australia participated. The RE-AIM framework and Diffusion of Innovations theory underpinned the interviews which examine the enablers and barriers to implementing a home safety fall prevention intervention and integrating it into routine community preventive practice. Analysis involved thematic and content analysis. Results: Investment in the home safety for fall prevention intervention was supported and valued by coordinators and therapists alike, and a number of themes emerged which influenced implementation of this intervention. These included issues of: compatibility with organisational processes, individual practitioner practices and skills, a prevention approach, and client expectations; relative advantage in terms of flexibility of the process, client engagement and regional capacity building; complexity of implementing the intervention; and observability related to the invisible nature of fall prevention outcomes. Conclusion: Implementation of this home safety fall prevention intervention was influenced by a range of interrelated organisational, practitioner and client related factors. The findings from this project provide insights into, and opportunities to increase the sustainable implementation of the home safety fall prevention intervention into practice.
One session of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) every 5 days, improves muscle power but not static balance in lifelong sedentary ageing men : A randomized controlled trial
- Sculthorpe, Nicholas, Herbert, Peter, Grace, Fergal
- Authors: Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Herbert, Peter , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Medicine (United States) Vol. 96, no. 6 (2017), p. 1-8
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- Description: Background: Declining muscle power during advancing age predicts falls and loss of independence. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may improve muscle power, but remains largely unstudied in ageing participants. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated the efficacy of a low-frequency HIIT (LfHIIT) intervention on peak muscle power (peak power output [PPO]), body composition, and balance in lifelong sedentary but otherwise healthy males. Methods: Thirty-Three lifelong sedentary ageing men were randomly assigned to either intervention (INT; n=22, age 62.3±4.1 years) or control (n=11, age 61.6±5.0 years) who were both assessed at 3 distinct measurement points (phase A), after 6 weeks of conditioning exercise (phase B), and after 6 weeks of HIIT once every 5 days in INT (phase C), where control remained inactive throughout the study. Results: Static balance remained unaffected, and both absolute and relative PPO were not different between groups at phases A or B, but increased significantly in INT after LfHIIT (P<0.01). Lean body mass displayed a significant interaction (P<0.01) due to an increase in INT between phases B and C (P<0.05). Conclusions: 6 weeks of LfHIIT exercise feasible and effective method to induce clinically relevant improvements in absolute and relative PPO, but does not improve static balance in sedentary ageing men. Abbreviations: ACSM = American College of Sports Medicine, CON = control group, GP = general medical practitioner, HIIT = high-intensity interval training, HRR = heart rate reserve, INT = intervention group, LfHIIT = low-frequency high-intensity interval training, PAR-Q = Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, PPO = peak power output, rPPO = relative peak power output, rPPOFFM = rPPO relative to fat free mass, VO2 max = maximal oxygen uptake. © 2017 the Author(s).
- Authors: Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Herbert, Peter , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Medicine (United States) Vol. 96, no. 6 (2017), p. 1-8
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- Description: Background: Declining muscle power during advancing age predicts falls and loss of independence. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may improve muscle power, but remains largely unstudied in ageing participants. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated the efficacy of a low-frequency HIIT (LfHIIT) intervention on peak muscle power (peak power output [PPO]), body composition, and balance in lifelong sedentary but otherwise healthy males. Methods: Thirty-Three lifelong sedentary ageing men were randomly assigned to either intervention (INT; n=22, age 62.3±4.1 years) or control (n=11, age 61.6±5.0 years) who were both assessed at 3 distinct measurement points (phase A), after 6 weeks of conditioning exercise (phase B), and after 6 weeks of HIIT once every 5 days in INT (phase C), where control remained inactive throughout the study. Results: Static balance remained unaffected, and both absolute and relative PPO were not different between groups at phases A or B, but increased significantly in INT after LfHIIT (P<0.01). Lean body mass displayed a significant interaction (P<0.01) due to an increase in INT between phases B and C (P<0.05). Conclusions: 6 weeks of LfHIIT exercise feasible and effective method to induce clinically relevant improvements in absolute and relative PPO, but does not improve static balance in sedentary ageing men. Abbreviations: ACSM = American College of Sports Medicine, CON = control group, GP = general medical practitioner, HIIT = high-intensity interval training, HRR = heart rate reserve, INT = intervention group, LfHIIT = low-frequency high-intensity interval training, PAR-Q = Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, PPO = peak power output, rPPO = relative peak power output, rPPOFFM = rPPO relative to fat free mass, VO2 max = maximal oxygen uptake. © 2017 the Author(s).
A mixed methods case study exploring the impact of membership of a multi-activity, multicentre community group on social wellbeing of older adults
- Lindsay-Smith, Gabrielle, O'Sullivan, Grant, Eime, Rochelle, Harvey, Jack, van Uffelen, Jannique
- Authors: Lindsay-Smith, Gabrielle , O'Sullivan, Grant , Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Geriatrics Vol. 18, no. 1 (2018), p. 1-14
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- Description: Background: Social wellbeing factors such as loneliness and social support have a major impact on the health of older adults and can contribute to physical and mental wellbeing. However, with increasing age, social contacts and social support typically decrease and levels of loneliness increase. Group social engagement appears to have additional benefits for the health of older adults compared to socialising individually with friends and family, but further research is required to confirm whether group activities can be beneficial for the social wellbeing of older adults. Methods: This one-year longitudinal mixed methods study investigated the effect of joining a community group, offering a range of social and physical activities, on social wellbeing of adults with a mean age of 70. The study combined a quantitative survey assessing loneliness and social support (n = 28; three time-points, analysed using linear mixed models) and a qualitative focus group study (n = 11, analysed using thematic analysis) of members from Life Activities Clubs Victoria, Australia. Results: There was a significant reduction in loneliness (p = 0.023) and a trend toward an increase in social support (p = 0.056) in the first year after joining. The focus group confirmed these observations and suggested that social support may take longer than 1 year to develop. Focus groups also identified that group membership provided important opportunities for developing new and diverse social connections through shared interest and experience. These connections were key in improving the social wellbeing of members, especially in their sense of feeling supported or connected and less lonely. Participants agreed that increasing connections was especially beneficial following significant life events such as retirement, moving to a new house or partners becoming unwell. Conclusions: Becoming a member of a community group offering social and physical activities may improve social wellbeing in older adults, especially following significant life events such as retirement or moving-house, where social network changes. These results indicate that ageing policy and strategies would benefit from encouraging long-term participation in social groups to assist in adapting to changes that occur in later life and optimise healthy ageing.
- Authors: Lindsay-Smith, Gabrielle , O'Sullivan, Grant , Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Geriatrics Vol. 18, no. 1 (2018), p. 1-14
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- Description: Background: Social wellbeing factors such as loneliness and social support have a major impact on the health of older adults and can contribute to physical and mental wellbeing. However, with increasing age, social contacts and social support typically decrease and levels of loneliness increase. Group social engagement appears to have additional benefits for the health of older adults compared to socialising individually with friends and family, but further research is required to confirm whether group activities can be beneficial for the social wellbeing of older adults. Methods: This one-year longitudinal mixed methods study investigated the effect of joining a community group, offering a range of social and physical activities, on social wellbeing of adults with a mean age of 70. The study combined a quantitative survey assessing loneliness and social support (n = 28; three time-points, analysed using linear mixed models) and a qualitative focus group study (n = 11, analysed using thematic analysis) of members from Life Activities Clubs Victoria, Australia. Results: There was a significant reduction in loneliness (p = 0.023) and a trend toward an increase in social support (p = 0.056) in the first year after joining. The focus group confirmed these observations and suggested that social support may take longer than 1 year to develop. Focus groups also identified that group membership provided important opportunities for developing new and diverse social connections through shared interest and experience. These connections were key in improving the social wellbeing of members, especially in their sense of feeling supported or connected and less lonely. Participants agreed that increasing connections was especially beneficial following significant life events such as retirement, moving to a new house or partners becoming unwell. Conclusions: Becoming a member of a community group offering social and physical activities may improve social wellbeing in older adults, especially following significant life events such as retirement or moving-house, where social network changes. These results indicate that ageing policy and strategies would benefit from encouraging long-term participation in social groups to assist in adapting to changes that occur in later life and optimise healthy ageing.
A mixed-methods case study exploring the impact of participation in community activity groups for older adults on physical activity, health and wellbeing
- Lindsay-Smith, Gabrielle, Eime, Rochelle, O'Sullivan, Grant, Harvey, Jack, van Uffelen, Jannique
- Authors: Lindsay-Smith, Gabrielle , Eime, Rochelle , O'Sullivan, Grant , Harvey, Jack , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Bmc Geriatrics Vol. 19, no. 1 (2019), p. 1-15
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- Description: Background Regular physical activity (PA) has many health benefits but declines with age. Community multi-activity groups offering volunteer-led socially-oriented activity programs could provide an opportunity for older people to maintain or increase PA levels and promote their health. The aim of this study was to examine the potential effect of becoming a member of an existing community activity group on PA levels, physical and mental health-related quality of life (HR QoL), comparing any impacts associated with participation in physical activity or social activity programs. Methods This mixed-methods case study, combining a longitudinal quantitative-survey with qualitative focus groups to contextualise the survey results, focused on an Australian community organisation called Life Activities Clubs (LACs). LACs provide various physical activities (e.g. walking, cycling, dancing) and social activities (e.g. book groups, dine-outs, craft). Data were collected using a self-report survey administered at baseline, six and twelve-months after joining and group differences between participants of PA programs (PA group) and social programs (social group) were analysed using linear mixed-models. Two focus groups with LAC members were held, one representing each activity type and analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results 35 people (mean age 67) completed the surveys and 11 people participated in the focus groups. PA levels and physical health-related QoL were maintained over 1 year in the PA group, and declined between baseline and 12-months in the social group. Focus groups suggested social aspects of PA programs increased motivation to maintain regular attendance and do more PA than participants would on their own and that physical activities provided health benefits. Mental HR QoL did not change in either group, focus groups suggested this was because the social aspects of both types of program provide benefits relating to mental health including stress relief, enjoyment and adapting to major life events, to prevent a decline in QoL. Conclusions Community PA programs appear to maintain PA levels and physical HR QoL in older adults, and both social and PA programs may maintain mental HR QoL. Incorporating both types of program into one organisation may also encourage less physically active members to try physical activities.
- Authors: Lindsay-Smith, Gabrielle , Eime, Rochelle , O'Sullivan, Grant , Harvey, Jack , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Bmc Geriatrics Vol. 19, no. 1 (2019), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background Regular physical activity (PA) has many health benefits but declines with age. Community multi-activity groups offering volunteer-led socially-oriented activity programs could provide an opportunity for older people to maintain or increase PA levels and promote their health. The aim of this study was to examine the potential effect of becoming a member of an existing community activity group on PA levels, physical and mental health-related quality of life (HR QoL), comparing any impacts associated with participation in physical activity or social activity programs. Methods This mixed-methods case study, combining a longitudinal quantitative-survey with qualitative focus groups to contextualise the survey results, focused on an Australian community organisation called Life Activities Clubs (LACs). LACs provide various physical activities (e.g. walking, cycling, dancing) and social activities (e.g. book groups, dine-outs, craft). Data were collected using a self-report survey administered at baseline, six and twelve-months after joining and group differences between participants of PA programs (PA group) and social programs (social group) were analysed using linear mixed-models. Two focus groups with LAC members were held, one representing each activity type and analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results 35 people (mean age 67) completed the surveys and 11 people participated in the focus groups. PA levels and physical health-related QoL were maintained over 1 year in the PA group, and declined between baseline and 12-months in the social group. Focus groups suggested social aspects of PA programs increased motivation to maintain regular attendance and do more PA than participants would on their own and that physical activities provided health benefits. Mental HR QoL did not change in either group, focus groups suggested this was because the social aspects of both types of program provide benefits relating to mental health including stress relief, enjoyment and adapting to major life events, to prevent a decline in QoL. Conclusions Community PA programs appear to maintain PA levels and physical HR QoL in older adults, and both social and PA programs may maintain mental HR QoL. Incorporating both types of program into one organisation may also encourage less physically active members to try physical activities.
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