enerbol and Chronic-Disease

It is now well understood that life-course factors affect a diverse range of outcomes, from general well-being to physical functioning and chronic diseases. Exposure to both beneficial and adverse circumstances over the life course will vary for each individual and will constitute a unique life exposure trajectory, which will manifest as different expressions of health and well-being. Here, we present a 3-fold model of life-course influences on health: latency, cumulative, and pathway. By latency we mean relationships between an exposure at one point in the life course and the probability of health expressions years or decades later, irrespective of intervening experience. Cumulative refers to multiple exposures over the life course whose effects on health combine. Finally, pathways represent dependent sequences of exposures in which exposure at 1 stage of the life course influences the probability of other exposures later in the life course, as well as associated expressions. Evidence demonstrating these relationships suggests that, without a consideration of early life as well as adult life experience, policies designed to improve health status tend to overlook root causes.

Topics: Animals; Chronic Disease; Education; Female; Health; Health Status; Health Surveys; Human Development; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Life; Life Style; Male; Research; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors

With increased life expectancy worldwide, there is an urgent need for improving preventive measures that delay the development of age-related degenerative diseases. Here, we report evidence from mouse and human studies that this goal can be achieved by maintaining optimal hydration throughout life. We demonstrate that restricting the amount of drinking water shortens mouse lifespan with no major warning signs up to 14 months of life, followed by sharp deterioration. Mechanistically, water restriction yields stable metabolism remodeling toward metabolic water production with greater food intake and energy expenditure, an elevation of markers of inflammation and coagulation, accelerated decline of neuromuscular coordination, renal glomerular injury, and the development of cardiac fibrosis. In humans, analysis of data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study revealed that hydration level, assessed at middle age by serum sodium concentration, is associated with markers of coagulation and inflammation and predicts the development of many age-related degenerative diseases 24 years later. The analysis estimates that improving hydration throughout life may greatly decrease the prevalence of degenerative diseases, with the most profound effect on dementia, heart failure (HF), and chronic lung disease (CLD), translating to the development of these diseases in 3 million fewer people in the United States alone.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Aging; Animals; Atherosclerosis; Biomarkers; Chronic Disease; Dehydration; Dementia; Fibrosis; Heart Failure; Humans; Inflammation; Life; Lung Diseases; Male; Mice; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Organism Hydration Status; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Sodium; Water-Electrolyte Balance

The world is aging at an unprecedented rate, with older adults representing the fastest-growing segment of the population in most economically developed and developing countries. This demographic shift leaves much uncharted territory for researchers who study social relationships and health. Social relationships exert powerful influences on physical health in later adulthood, a critical consideration given age-related increases in the prevalence of chronic health conditions and physical disability. A large body of research indicates that older adults report greater satisfaction with their social networks than do younger adults, and that they often take measures to minimize their exposure to negative social encounters. These emotionally satisfying and generally positive social ties afford some health protection against a backdrop of mounting physical limitations and play an important role when juxtaposed with the potentially health-damaging frictions that sometimes emerge in older adults' social relationships. Although most older adults report that they are satisfied with their social ties, some older adults experience frequent conflicts or ambivalent exchanges with members of their social networks, and these experiences detract from their health. In addition, many older adults will experience the loss of one or more close relationships during the course of their lives, with ramifications for their health and, often, for the reorganization of their social lives over time. Understanding how both the strengths and vulnerabilities of close social relationships affect health and well-being in later life is an important goal, particularly in view of the accelerating rate of population aging worldwide. (PsycINFO Database Record

Topics: Affect; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Chronic Disease; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Life; Middle Aged; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Social Support

The purpose of this exploratory study was to see if meaning in life is associated with mortality in old age.. Interviews were conducted with a nationwide sample of older adults (N = 1,361). Data were collected on meaning in life, mortality, and select control measures.. Three main findings emerged from this study. First, the data suggest that older people with a strong sense of meaning in life are less likely to die over the study follow-up period than those who do not have a strong sense of meaning. Second, the findings indicate that the effect of meaning on mortality can be attributed to the potentially important indirect effect that operates through health. Third, further analysis revealed that one dimension of meaning-having a strong sense of purpose in life--has a stronger relationship with mortality than other facets of meaning. The main study findings were observed after the effects of attendance at religious services and emotional support were controlled statistically.. If the results from this study can be replicated, then interventions should be designed to help older people find a greater sense of purpose in life.

Topics: Affect; Aged; Attitude; Chronic Disease; Demography; Disabled Persons; Health Status; Humans; Life; Mortality; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires

Derive a spiritual well-being classification and thereby enhance understanding of the relation between spiritual well-being, quality of life (QOL), and health among persons with chronic illness or disability.. Cluster analyses were performed to develop a spiritual well-being classification. Analysis of variance was used to compare cluster groups on various dimensions of QOL.. Part of a larger QOL study conducted at a midwestern medical center.. A convenience sample of 216 inpatients: amputation (n = 74), postpolio (n = 37), spinal cord injury (n = 34), breast cancer (n = 36), and prostate cancer (n = 35). Minors were excluded from the study.. Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT), Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC), Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), Medical Outcome Survey-Short Form (SF-36), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).. Three types of spiritual well-being were identified: religious (n = 146), existential (n = 37), and nonspiritual (n = 30). Significant cluster differences (p < .03 to p < .001) were observed across all QOL domains and life satisfaction. Compared with the other cluster groups, the nonspiritual group reported significantly lower levels of QOL and life satisfaction and the highest proportion of health status change with respect to both improvement and decline in health.. Three types of spiritual well-being were empirically identified in this sample. Subtypes differed significantly with respect to various aspects of QOL. Further research is needed to validate this classification and to determine if type of spiritual well-being has a causal effect on treatment outcome or on the recovery process.

Topics: Attitude; Chronic Disease; Cluster Analysis; Female; Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Life; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Beginning of Human Life; Beneficence; Bioethical Issues; Casuistry; Chronic Disease; Contracts; Cultural Diversity; Ethical Analysis; Ethical Theory; Ethics, Clinical; Ethics, Medical; Human Characteristics; Humans; Life; Life Support Care; Male; Moral Obligations; Morals; Pain; Personal Autonomy; Personhood; Physician-Patient Relations; Resource Allocation; Social Justice; Social Values; Stress, Psychological; Trust; Virtues

Topics: Chronic Disease; Geriatrics; Humans; Life; Longevity; Pennsylvania; Preventive Medicine

Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Chronic Disease; Humans; Interdisciplinary Studies; Life

Topics: Chronic Disease; Humans; Life; Psychology

Topics: Child; Chronic Disease; Hospitals; Humans; Infant; Life

Topics: Chronic Disease; Geriatrics; Humans; Life