Global, Regional, and National Burden of Falls Among Older Adults Aged 65 Years and Above: Secondary Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Background: Falls are a leading cause of injury, disability, and death among older adults, posing significant public health challenges. However, comprehensive global analyses of fall-related burdens in older populations remain scarce. Objective: This study aimed to explore the patterns and distribution of the global, regional, and national burden of falls among adults aged 65 years and older. Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021 were used to assess the overall, disability, and mortality burden of falls among adults aged 65 years and older. Age-standardized rates of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and years of life lost were calculated to compare burdens across countries. Health inequalities were evaluated via the slope index of inequality and the concentration index. Frontier analysis identified optimal burden levels by sociodemographic index (SDI). Bayesian age-period-cohort models projected trends up to 2050. Results: DALY age-standardized rates showed a U-shaped distribution across SDI regions: lower-SDI countries faced higher mortality burdens, while higher-SDI countries had elevated disability burdens. Despite an increase in absolute overall burden inequality from 1990 to 2021, absolute inequalities in YLDs and years of life lost declined, with DALYs and YLDs exhibiting relatively more balanced distributions. Frontier analysis pinpointed countries with the greatest burden reduction potential. Projections suggest decreasing overall and mortality burdens by 2050 but rising disability burdens. Conclusions: Higher- and lower-SDI countries face distinct fall-related challenges. Reducing cross-national health inequalities and closing gaps between the observed burden and the optimal burden level achievable at a similar SDI level are critical. Despite projected declines in the overall burden (DALYs), the rising disability burden (YLDs) could present evolving challenges, potentially underscoring the importance of proactive preparedness.

New in JMIR Aging: Global, Regional, and National Burden of Falls Among Older Adults Aged 65 Years and Above: Secondary Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 #ElderlyHealth #FallsPrevention #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #AgingPopulation

Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment of Pain in Older Adults Undergoing Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial Background: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a prevalent and disabling condition in older adults. Auricular point acupressure (APA), a nonpharmacologic intervention, has shown promise in managing cLBP. However, its impact on daily symptom fluctuations remains unclear. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA), which collects real-time data, offers a method to capture these fluctuations. Objective: This secondary analysis evaluated the effects of APA on EMA-reported pain intensity and pain interference among older adults with cLBP and examined associations among APA practice patterns, recall-based assessments, and EMA engagement. Methods: Data were drawn from a published 3-arm randomized controlled trial of 272 adults aged ≥60 years with cLBP, randomized to targeted auricular point acupressure (T-APA), nontargeted auricular point acupressure (NT-APA), or education control. For this analysis, only participants who completed at least one EMA entry during the 4-week intervention were included. A total of 61 participants were excluded due to missing EMA data, resulting in a final analytic sample of 211 (T-APA: 72; NT-APA: 74; and control: 65). EMA-reported pain intensity and interference were collected using a smartphone app 3 times daily over 29 days. Linear mixed-effects models assessed the effects of group assignment and APA practice behaviors on EMA outcomes, adjusting for demographics, smoking, opioid use, and baseline recall-based pain. Spearman correlations assessed associations between EMA and 7-day recall measures. Results: The overall compliance rate was 44.8%, with an attrition rate of 54%. There were no significant differences in compliance or attrition across treatment groups. Older participants showed significantly lower compliance, though attrition was not associated with age. Pain intensity reported via EMA was significantly lower than recall-based pain, while EMA-reported pain interference was higher. EMA and 7-day recall pain outcomes were strongly correlated (Spearman =0.53–0.95; P

JMIR Formative Res: Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment of Pain in Older Adults Undergoing Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial #ChronicPain #LowBackPain #Acupressure #ElderlyHealth #PainManagement

Association of Fall-Risk Factors and Margin of Stability While Tripping in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Experimental Pilot Study Background: Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults, often resulting from dynamic balance disturbances. It is influenced by a dynamic and complex interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors. To identify individual fall risk, it is important to understand the underlying associations. Objective: The aim of this work was to build an experimental setup modeling selected factors leading to a loss of balance, measured by the Margin of Stability (MoS) in an ecologically valid real-world example (tripping). Additionally, these analyses aimed to assess the utility of the MoS as part of a prototypical dynamic fall risk model to differentiate between fall risk groups. Methods: Nineteen community-dwelling older adults (mean age 71 years; 37% women) completed the tripping protocol involving perturbations under various conditions. Clinical assessments were used to identify relevant fall-related intrinsic fall risk factors. MoS was measured using an eight-camera motion capture system. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses determined the ability of MoS to distinguish between low and high fall risk groups. Results: Perturbations significantly disrupted MoS, with a median MoS of -106.05 mm during the perturbed step compared to 114 mm in the pre-perturbation step. Recovery steps showed progressive stabilization, with the second recovery step achieving median MoS of 88.45 mm. The second recovery step exhibited the highest predictive accuracy for fall risk differentiation, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values reaching 82.3% during slow walking with series of right-sided perturbations. In contrast, fast walking with random perturbations yielded lower AUC values (64.9%). Slow walking conditions generally demonstrated the clearest separation between fall risk groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the potential of MoS measurements during perturbations in predicting fall risk. Future studies should focus on expanding to frailer populations and additional fall scenarios for broader applicability. Clinical Trial: International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/46930

JMIR Formative Res: Association of Fall-Risk Factors and Margin of Stability While Tripping in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Experimental Pilot Study #FallPrevention #ElderlyHealth #BalanceTraining #CommunityHealth #InjuryPrevention

Reimagining hospital care for an aging population Discover the innovative approaches in reimagining hospital care, focusing on personalized support for older adults at Mackenzie Health.

Reimagining hospital care for an aging population
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Home-Based Exercise and Fall Prevention in Older Adults: Development, Validation and Usability of the Mais Equilíbrio Mobile App Background: The global aging population and the high incidence of falls among this population highlight the need for effective preventive strategies. Home-based exercise programs, such as the Otago protocol, have demonstrated efficacy in reducing fall risk but often face barriers related to user adherence. Mobile health (mHealth) applications offer promising tools to support health promotion and enhance autonomy in older adults. Objective: To develop and validate a prototype mobile application, Mais Equilíbrio (“More Balance”), designed to guide older adults in performing home-based physical exercises adapted from the Otago protocol. Methods: This methodological study was conducted in two phases: (1) Content validation by 22 experts in Physical Education and Physiotherapy using the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) scale; and (2) Usability testing with 24 older aldults (aged 60 to 80 years), using the System Usability Scale (SUS). An overall score above 70% on the SAM and above 85 on the SUS were considered indicators of high quality and excellent usability, respectively. Results: The Mais Equilíbrio app was developed based on the Otago protocol and tailored for independent home use. A Content Validity Index (CVI) above 0.95 was observed for all items. An overall score of 81.20 (±15.78) on the SAM scale was found, classifying the material as “superior.” Usability tests with older adults showed an average score of 95.98 (±5.58) on the SUS, indicating excellent usability. The highest scores were observed in “ease of use” and “user confidence”. Conclusions: The Mais Equilíbrio app has proven to be a valid and highly usable technological tool for guiding home-based physical exercises for older adults, with the potential to promote fall prevention and autonomy. Future studies should explore its effectiveness in long-term programs and its potential integration into clinical practice.

New in JMIR Aging: Home-Based Exercise and Fall Prevention in Older Adults: Development, Validation and Usability of the Mais Equilíbrio Mobile App #HealthyAging #FallPrevention #HomeExercise #ElderlyHealth #MobileHealth

This Shot Gave Elderly Mice’s Skin a Glow Up. It Could Do the Same for Other Organs Too. Boosting protective immune cells healed blood vessels and improved the skin’s ability to repair damage. The first time I accepted that my grandpa was really aging was when I held his hand. His grip...

This Shot Gave Elderly Mice’s Skin a Glow Up. It Could Do the Same for Other Organs Too. #Science #Biology #CellBiology #ElderlyHealth #SkinCare #CellRegeneration

Seniors Health Guide: Benefits, Risks, Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & Prevention Tips for Healthy Aging! Discover seniors health: benefits, risks, causes, symptoms, treatments & prevention tips for healthy aging. Visit learn more.

Seniors health explained: from risks to prevention, symptoms & treatments for better aging and wellness. Stay informed today, visit learn more.

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Risks of Mixing Multiple Medications | Polypharmacy & Safety Tips Mixing meds can be risky for seniors. Learn about polypharmacy, drug interactions, and how mySeniorCareHub app helps manage medication safely.

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Combining prescriptions, OTC drugs, and supplements can cause harmful side effects.
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7/12 COVID killed 389 Albertans in 2024-25 vs. influenza's 239 deaths.

Yet the government makes flu vaccines free while erecting barriers to COVID protection.

Mortality highest in those over 60 — precisely who Smith is targeting.
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Understanding Senior Isolation: Mental Health Risks, Symptoms, and Prevention for the Aging Population! Understand senior isolation, mental health risks, symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention tips. Learn how to protect elderly well-being today.

Discover the causes, symptoms, and prevention of senior isolation and mental health decline. Help aging adults thrive—visit to learn more.

Visit BlogPost 🔗: www.healthandfitnessposts.site/2025/08/Unde...

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The Impact of Vision Impairment on Self-Reported Falls Among Older US Adults: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study Background: Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults, with vision impairment recognized as a significant risk factor. However, many existing studies have been limited by small sample sizes, retrospective designs, or insufficient adjustment for confounding factors. To overcome these limitations, we used data from the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study [HRS] to analyze the association between self-reported vision and fall risk among older adults in a large, nationally representative sample. Objective: To investigate the association between vision impairment and falls and assess if subjective vision impairment predicts future falls in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis used data from the Health and Retirement Study [1996-2020] to assess the relationship between self-reported vision, glaucoma history, and falls among U.S. adults aged 65 and older. HRS uses a biennial, multi-stage area probability sample survey design, collecting data with community-dwelling individuals followed up every 2 years until death, tracking health, economic, and social outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze associations between self-reported vision and self-reported falls in the past 2 years. Results: A total of 38,835 respondents contributed 117,834 observations. The weighted proportion of participants reporting falls was 37.9% [95% CI 37.7-40.1]. Significant risk factors for falls included overall eyesight impairment [adjusted Odd Ratio [aOR] 1.36, 95% CI 1.20-1.56], distance vision impairment [aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.32-1.42], near vision impairment [aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.27-1.37], and glaucoma [aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.24]. A similar association was observed for serious falls, where overall eyesight impairment [aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.44], distance vision impairment [aOR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07–1.22], near vision impairment [aOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.18], and glaucoma [aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.26] were significant. In longitudinal analyses, overall vision impairment [aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.29], distance vision impairment [aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.20-1.38], near vision impairment [aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.19-1.32], and glaucoma [aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.37] increased the risk of future falls. Reported overall vision was significantly associated with the number of falls in both the same [P

New in JMIR Aging: The Impact of Vision Impairment on Self-Reported Falls Among Older US Adults: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study #VisionImpairment #FallsPrevention #AgingPopulation #HealthResearch #ElderlyHealth

Gait Disturbances in Older Adults With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Mixed Methods Study Using Smartphone Sensors and Video Analysis Background: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD) significantly impacts motor functions, particularly gait dynamics, yet its analysis often lacks the integration of comprehensive tools that capture the multifaceted nature of gait disturbances. Traditional methods may not fully address the complexity of CSVD's impact on gait, underscoring the need for a detailed exploration of gait characteristics through advanced technological means. Objective: This study aims to elucidate the distinct gait patterns and postural adaptations present in patients with CSVD compared to a healthy older population, employing an integrative analysis combining sensor and video data to provide a holistic understanding of gait dynamics in CSVD. Methods: The study involved 90 participants over 50 years old, with 24 categorized as normal and 66 diagnosed with CSVD. Gait parameters were collected through accelerometer data for sensor-based parameters and video data for image posture parameters. Key statistical measures included step frequency, root mean square (RMS), step variability, step regularity, and step symmetry from sensor data; and knee angle, ankle angle, elbow angle, body trunk angles, and head posture from video analysis Results: Among the 29 participants with complete sensor and video data, significant differences were observed in step regularity (P value < .0045), RMS (P value < .0056 for certain walking tasks), and forward head posture angles between the CSVD and control groups, indicating altered gait dynamics in CSVD patients. Notably, the CSVD group exhibited a more pronounced forward head posture during walking tasks, suggesting potential balance or proprioceptive adaptations. Conclusions: The study provides compelling evidence of distinct gait disturbances in CSVD patients, highlighted by significant postural deviations and altered gait patterns when compared to healthy controls. The integration of sensor and video analysis offers a nuanced understanding of CSVD’s impact on gait, underscoring the value of comprehensive assessment tools in capturing the complex nature of gait disturbances.

JMIR Formative Res: Gait Disturbances in Older Adults With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Mixed Methods Study Using Smartphone Sensors and Video Analysis #GaitDisturbances #CerebralSmallVesselDisease #ElderlyHealth #MotorFunction #SmartphoneSensors

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The triglyceride-glucose index: Can it predict depression risk in the elderly? A large new study has found that older adults with high triglyceride-glucose levels—a marker tied to insulin resistance and metabolic health—do not appear to be at increased risk for developing depression....

The triglyceride-glucose index: Can it predict depression risk in the elderly? #Science #HealthandMedicine #MentalHealth #depressionrisk #elderlyhealth #triglycerideglucoseindex

More Than a Muscle Booster, Creatine Could Help Energize the Elderly Learn more about creatine, a popular work out supplement that could also benefit energy levels in the elderly. However, there are some side effects.

More Than a Muscle Booster, Creatine Could Help Energize the Elderly #Science #HealthandMedicine #Nutrition #Creatine #ElderlyHealth #NutritionScience