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Feb 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-24-4967
Nikkhah AkbarCorresponding author
This editorial aims to propose and delineate that disciplined open-air exercise can slow down aging in humans. The aging process may be slowed down by outdoor physical training (e.g., mountaineering, climbing, running, swimming, walking, jogging) mainly because of fresh air inhalation and psychological calmness. However, for outdoor exercise to be a healthy asset, it should be performed in unpolluted and uncontaminated environments. Advanced public education policies must be developed to persuade people to maximize their outdoor physical activities. This is to ensure achieving peace and serenity for both body and psych. Integrated social activities may also be encouraged with open-air exercise. As such, stress in the third millennium can be pragmatically attenuated and managed. As a result of slower aging process, human life quality may improve worldwide.
Jan 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-24-4890
Marks RayCorresponding author
Knee joint osteoarthritis, a chronic condition resulting in considerable disability, particularly in later life, not only impacts life quality significantly and severely, but is also strongly associated with the persistence of intractable pain, depression, helplessness, and a high falls injury risk. This narrative overview synthesizes the knowledge base regarding painful knee osteoarthritis and what is known about Tai Chi exercise participation in the context of reducing knee joint disability and its associated risk of one or more injurious falls, as well as pain and depression. To this end, all relevant articles published in the English language on the topic were sought. While most reports rely on Eastern observations, rather than Western medicine studies, collectively, these data reveal that Tai Chi practiced widely in Asia for many centuries may have an enormous positive impact on reducing distress and increasing function and autonomy among older adults living in the community and diagnosed as having knee osteoarthritis. They specifically suggest the increasing numbers of older adults diagnosed as having knee osteoarthritis can safely practice selected Tai Chi exercises with the expectation that consistent applications will enhance mobility, reduce pain and depression, plus instability and possible injurious falls, while reducing fatigue, even if surgery is forthcoming.
Aug 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-23-4730
Marks RayCorresponding author
Background Osteoarthritis and depression are both key barriers to healthy aging and greatly heighten the risk for many negative health issues that seriously impact life quality. When combined what are the implications? Aim This mini review examines 2023 data pertaining to osteoarthritis and depression and older adults and a possible theoretical framework of stress that may direct our approaches in the future. Methods and Procedures Articles published between January 1 and August 15 2023 that addressed the current topic of interest and that were extracted from PUBMED, PubMed Central, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were carefully read and their key points arepresented in narrative form. Results As in the past, very few tangible theory-based prospective analyses that employ valid measures of depression and examine any association of any form of osteoarthritis longitudinally and in a consistent manner prevail. Several reports use the same or similar large cohort to draw upon, and find various degrees of clinical implications, but this may not embrace the need for more inclusivity, sampling strategies, control and diversity issues, as well as embracing the role of cognitions positive and negative. Conclusion Without efforts to develop sound research designs of diverse and carefully differentiated osteoarthritis substantive samples it is impossible to delineate the origin or implications of the osteoarthritis-depression linkage reported currently or arrive at a deep understanding of its relevance, to life quality and public health costs. What is needed to protect against or minimize either or both these clinically related disabling correlates in the aged population warrants timely study.
Jan 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-23-4432
Marks RayCorresponding author
Background Many older adults remain vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. They are also often at risk for frailty and poor health outcomes. Aim This exploratory review examines the correlates of long COVID and frailty and their association insofar as the older adult’s wellbeing may be jeopardized. Methods and procedures Articles that emerged between January 1 2022 and 2023 in major electronic data bases that addressed the current topic of interest were sought using the key words: Long COVID and Frailty. Those deemed relevant were duly downloaded, analyzed and summarized in narrative form. Results A high proportion of older adults can be expected to remain vulnerable to COVID-19 long term impacts, plus new variants of infection, along with frailty as both an outcome and mediator. Many too are at risk for persistent long COVID-19 complications and a low life quality if more concerted preventive and rehabilitation efforts to avert frailty early on are not forthcoming in a timely manner. Conclusion Prompt and continuing frailty assessments of older adults at risk for COVID-19 or recovering from this disease, especially those with long COVID manifestations who are frail or may become frail are strongly indicated.
Nov 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-22-4354
Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Columbia University, Teachers College New York, USA.
Background Osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease and one affecting a large number of older adults is not always amenable to the use of passive interventions such as surgery or pharmacologic interventions, but even then, to maximize any desirable intervention approaches, a trustworthy and supportive partnership with the sufferer is strongly indicated. Complicating this process are emerging equity and persistent health literacy issues, as well as post COVID-19 service associated ramifications and persistent disease risks. Aim This mini review was designed to examine what current data reveal as regards the presentation of osteoarthritis and its pathology among the older adult as of the current post COVID-19 pandemic period in 2022, and how health literacy and equity issues are likely implicated in some degree with the disease presentation and its outcomes and will be likely to continue, unless remediated. Methods Peer reviewed published articles on this topic were sought from multiple data bases using the key words- osteoarthritis, health equity, health literacy, prevention, and intervention. Results As in prior years, osteoarthritis continues to induce considerable physical disability and consistently impedes the attainment of a high life quality for many older adults. Although not studied to any degree, attention to health equity and literacy issues appear to pose additional osteoarthritis intervention challenges, especially among the long COVID affected older adults and those with low income and educational levels. Conclusions Many behaviourally oriented and necessary osteoarthritis management approaches and interventions may fail to reduce the functional disability and pain experienced by older people with any form of osteoarthritis to any meaningful degree if a) the provider does not tailor their recommendations in light of possible prevailing health literacy, economic, and educational challenges; b) the patient does not understand how their health behaviours impact joint disease as well as COVID-19 risk status, and are not empowered to undertake these.
Oct 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-21-3979
Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Background Aging, a state often associated with poor emotional health status greatly impedes life quality and independence for many. Aim This mini review examines the potential of the concept of positive psychology as an active approach to fostering successful or more successful, rather than suboptimal aging. Methods and Procedures Articles that addressed the current topic of interest and were located in the PUBMED, Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Google Scholar electronic data bases were carefully sought and analyzed and presented in narrative form. Results Various forms of positive psychology appear to provide a safe efficacious evidence based approach for purposes of ameliorating various degrees of anxiety and depression and for improving cognition, life quality, and health well-being in diverse subgroups of older adults Conclusion More research to examine who might benefit most from this highly promising form of intervention, and in what respect appears to have considerable merit in light of the growing populations of older adults and few intervention options to help them to age optimally and as successfully as possible.
Aug 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-21-3935
Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Background Anxiety and depression are key barriers to healthy aging and greatly heighten the risk for many negative health issues that seriously impact life quality. Aim This mini review examines the potential of low level laser treatments or photobiomodulation therapy for ameliorating severe anxiety and depression in older adults. Methods and Procedures Articles that adressed the current topic of interest extracted from PUBMED and Google Scholar were carefully and presented in narrative form. Results Photobiomodulation therapy appears to be a safe efficacious modality for ameliorating various degrees of anxiety and depression and for improving cognition, and is supported by several well established mechanisms of action at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Conclusion More research to examine who might benefit most from this form of therapy, and in what respect in this area of growing global concern and few intervention options is strongly warranted.
Feb 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-20-3201
Carolina Garcia de las Ballonas Campolina AnaCorresponding author
Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition of chronic and widespread pain, with several associated symptoms. Previous studies suggested that gluten could influence the severity and frequency of FM symptoms. This work aimed to assess the impact of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in the symptoms and severity of this disease. Fourteen patients with previous FM diagnosis were kept on a gluten-free diet for eight weeks (Phase 1). After that, they were held on the gluten-free diet and received capsules of isolated rice protein (placebo) for seven days, followed by capsules containing 8.4g/day vital gluten for additional seven days (Phase 2). Questionnaires evaluating the number and severity of FM symptoms, the impact of FM on daily routine as well as inflammatory blood markers were assessed in each phase. Results showed that after eight weeks of GFD, we observed a reduction in the impact of FM on daily routine and number of symptoms and sensitive points. However, a seven days challenge with 8.4g of gluten did not worsen these symptoms or the inflammatory markers compared with the placebo challenge. We concluded that the gluten-free diet was associated with the attenuation of main symptoms and improvement of life quality in FM patients. Nonetheless, gluten challenge had no impact on those parameters, suggesting that gluten is not the major dietary component responsible for these improvements. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between gluten intake and fibromyalgia.
Sep 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-18-2295
Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Program in Health Education, Columbia University, Teachers College, and School of Health and Professional Studies, Department of Health, Physical Education & Gerontological Studies and Services, City Univers
Background: Osteoarthritis is a disabling joint disease with no known cure that negatively effects life quality among high numbers of aging adults. Aim: To examine the concept of health literacy as a potentially overlooked, but highly salient, disease correlate among this older chronically disabled group. Method: A literature search using the key terms osteoarthritis and health literacy was conducted using the major data bases. Results: Although almost no work has focused on health literacy and osteoarthritis, the concept of health literacy is clearly linked to health status and health outcomes. Varying from marginal to high, health literacy is not always assessed or recognized as being clinically relevant, however, despite a large volume of related literature. Conclusion: Acknowledging the possible role of limited health literacy in the context of osteoarthritis disease progression, and applying carefully tailored directives for overcoming any related health literacy limitations may offer a novel approach for improving the outcomes for older people with this condition.