ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between the multiple chronic conditions (MCC), mental health and cognitive function of older adults in the community, and to propose a hypothesis that depressive symptom mediate the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment in older adults.MethodParticipants aged 65 years and older from 35 communities in 14 cities in Guangxi, China were recruited. The residents’ depressive symptom (PHQ-9) and cognitive status (AD-8) were evaluated, Chi-square test was used to explore the effects of different socio-demographic characteristics on depressive symptom and cognitive impairment. Pearson correlation analysis and the process model 4 were used to explore the relationship between the number of chronic diseases, depressive symptom and cognitive impairment.ResultA total of 11,582 older adults were included in our analysis. The rate of MCC reaching 26.53%. Hypertension combined with diabetes accounts for the highest proportion of two chronic diseases (13.2%). Among the combination of three chronic diseases, the highest incidence of coexisting hypertension combined with cervical/lumbar spondylosis, and rheumatoid arthritis (7.1%). In this study, depression symptoms accounted for 12.9% of older adults aged 65 and above, and cognitive impairment accounted for 27.4%. Female, older age, reside in urban areas, lower educational levels, no spouse, live alone, and MCC were risk factors for depressive symptom and cognitive impairment in older adults (P<0.05). Depressive symptom had a mediating effect in the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment, and the mediating effect (1.109) accounted for 44.13% of the total effect (0.247).ConclusionThe mental health of the older adult needs to be taken seriously, and improving depressive symptom can reduce the occurrence of cognitive impairment in older patients with MCC to a certain extent.

Background To delve deeply into the impact of depression and anxiety on cognitive function in the elderly, as well as the mediating mechanisms involved. Methods Data were derived from the baseline survey of a cross-sectional study on the health status of community-dwelling elderly individuals in Guangxi, China, conducted from July 2022 to July 2023. Valid data from 10,370 elderly individuals aged 60 years and older were analyzed. Cognitive function of the elderly was assessed using the Memory Impairment Screen (AD8), while depression symptoms and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), respectively. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to explore the influencing factors of cognitive function in the elderly. Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlations among depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, cognitive function, and related factors. Chain mediation analysis was performed using AMOS 26.0 software to explore the mechanisms of the effects of age and mental health on cognitive function among community-dwelling elderly individuals. Results A total of 10,370 elderly individuals were surveyed in this study, including 4,590 males and 5,780 females, aged 65–103 years (mean age: 73.41 ± 6.67 years). The mean score on the AD8 scale was 1.05 ± 1.71, with 2,484 (23.95%) individuals identified as having mild cognitive impairment and 1,705 (16.44%) individuals with cognitive dysfunction. The mean score on the PHQ9 scale was 1.22 ± 2.30, with 580 individuals (5.59%) classified as having mild depression, 121 (1.17%) with moderate depression, 33 (0.32%) with moderately severe depression, and 7 (0.07%) with severe depression. The mean score on the GAD7 scale was 0.70 ± 1.89, with 368 individuals (3.55%) identified as having mild anxiety, 78 (0.75%) with moderate anxiety, and 22 (0.21%) with severe anxiety.Multivariate linear regression analysis showed statistically significant differences in the effects of gender, age, category, years of education, marital status, PHQ9, and GAD7 on cognitive function among the elderly (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between PHQ9 scores and AD8 scores (r = 0.361, P < 0.001) in the elderly, as well as a positive correlation between GAD7 scores and AD8 scores (r = 0.287, P < 0.001). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between PHQ9 scores and GAD7 scores (r = 0.690, P < 0.001). Age was also positively correlated with AD8 scores (r = 0.213, P < 0.001).The study further revealed a chained mediating effect of age, mental health, and cognitive function among the elderly. The total effect estimate was 0.055, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The direct effect estimate was 0.04, indicating a significant positive and direct impact of age on AD8 scores (P < 0.001). Conclusions The finding that mental health plays a partial mediating role between age and cognitive function provides a new perspective for understanding the decline in cognitive function. This discovery holds significant theoretical and practical implications for improving the mental health and cognitive function of the elderly, which can contribute to the development of more effective intervention measures and enhance the quality of life for the elderly.

Objective:To investigate the current status of elderly health services in medical institutions at all levels within Guangxi Province, China. Methods:Using a purposeful sampling method, a questionnaire survey was conducted from July 24, 2023 to October 24, 2023 on the general situation, human resources, rehabilitation medicine, nursing services, and the development of hospice care at 1305 medical institutions in Guangxi. Results:Among the surveyed 1305 medical institutions in Guangxi, 172 (13.18%) had established departments of geriatrics, while 293 (22.45%) boasted departments of rehabilitation medicine. Furthermore, 909 (69.66%) of these institutions offered annual free physical examination services to individuals aged 65 and above. Notably, a total of 362 medical institutions, encompassing both comprehensive hospitals and grassroots hospitals, were recognized as elderly-friendly institutions, accounting for 31.4% of the surveyed sample.The highest demand for talents in medical institutions at all levels included specialized physicians/general practitioners (74.6%), traditional Chinese medicine practitioners (63.1%), rehabilitation therapists (56.1%), and specialized nurses for the elderly (41.7%). A total of 1038 medical institutions conducted popular science activities on elderly health, accounting for 79.5% of the total, focusing mainly on disease prevention (89.21%), nutritional diets (84.68%), rational medication use (79.77%), physical exercise (68.21%), and mental health (60.79%). Only 88 medical institutions provided hospice care services, accounting for 6.7% of the total. Conclusion:Guangxi medical institutions' elderly services are inadequate. Geriatrics and rehab departments are scarce, talent is lacking, and hospice care is underdeveloped. As aging accelerates, the country and society must support elderly care. Governments should introduce talent incentives, and medical institutions should enhance services, foster a positive work environment, and advance Guangxi's elderly health agenda.

Abstract Background Social isolation is a state of active or passive detachment from society that accelerates the decline of physical and mental functions of the elderly and leads to various adverse consequences. However, the relationship between social isolation and oral health as well as cognitive function has not yet been established.Methods This was a cross-sectional survey conducted on an older population, where we collected data from 530 older adults using the General Information Questionnaire, LSNS-6, OHAT, and MoCA-B. The purpose of the survey was to investigate the current status of social isolation and its influencing factors, as well as to explore the relationship between oral health, cognitive function, and social isolation among the elderly.Results In Guangxi, the incidence of social isolation among the elderly was 10.38%, with the high risk of social isolation accounting for 53.77%. Marital status, place of residence (urban or rural), cognitive function, and oral health status were identified as factors influencing social isolation among the elderly. The study found a negative correlation between the oral health score and social isolation score (r = -0.373, P < 0.001), with unhealthy oral status showing the strongest correlation with social isolation (r = -0.448, P < 0.001). Additionally, cognitive function scores were positively correlated with social isolation scores (r = 0.377, P < 0.001), with dementia showing the strongest association with social isolation (r = 0.324, P < 0.001). Furthermore, oral health demonstrated a high screening capacity for social isolation (AUC 95% CI = 0.823 (0.757, 0.890)), with an optimal cut-off value of 9.5, sensitivity of 67.3%, specificity of 90.1%, and Yoden index of 0.574.Conclusion The social isolation status of the elderly is influenced by various factors, including marital status, residence (urban or rural), cognitive function, and oral health status. Moreover, the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) can be utilized as an effective objective tool for screening social isolation among the elderly.

哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR)是细胞功能的中心调节因子,通过mTOR复合物 1(mTOR complex 1, mTORC1)和mTORC2在细胞运动、增殖与存活、基因转录、蛋白质合成、自噬等不同的细胞基本过程中发挥重要作用[1-2].

目的:了解广西壮族自治区养老机构老年人养老服务需求现状,并分析其影响因素,为养老机构提升养老服务质量提供参考依据.方法:2021年9月-11月采用便利抽样方法选取广西壮族自治区养老机构124名老年人,对其养老需求进行问卷调查.结果:老年人养老需求总分为(170.97±25.40)分,处于较高水平.疾病护理需求为(4.47±0.47)分、基础护理需求为(4.09±0.88)分、生活护理需求为(4.12±0.84)分、心理护理需求为(4.37±0.63)分、临终护理需求为(4.29±0.64)分.多元线性回归分析结果显示,年龄、民族、入住养老院前的居住情况、医疗付费方式及入住养老院原因是养老机构老年人养老需求的影响因素(P＜0.05).结论:养老机构老年人在疾病护理、心理护理、临终护理方面的服务需求较高,养老机构应强化医疗、护理服务供给,加强人文及临终关怀服务,提高机构老年人养老生活质量.

选择适合的工具对老年人口腔健康进行评估,以及时了解老年人口腔健康,有助于护理人员、照护者针对老年人口腔健康情况制订及实施个性化的口腔护理方案,降低老年人因口腔健康问题导致的肺炎、认知障碍等不良结局的发生率.本文对国内外用于评估老年人口腔健康的工具进行总结,包括评估工具的主要内容、特点、应用现状及局限性,以期为老年人口腔健康评估工具的开发及合理化选用提供参考,为完善老年人口腔护理方案提供依据.

Abstract Background Although policy actions and strategic efforts have recognized the importance of healthy aging services for Chinese older adults, supply and utilization remains low. Aims To analyze the demand and influencing factors for healthy aging services among young and middle-aged people in the Zhuang-inhabited area in Guangxi province. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,731 participants in Guangxi, which comprised demographic and healthy aging services demand questionnaires. Results The top three demands were legal aid, pension fund, and pension environment. Age, ethnicity, and occupation were the common influencing factors of healthy aging services for young and middle-aged people. Furthermore, various factors affected each dimension of demand, showing a trend of individualization and diversification. Conclusion It is urgent to establish a prediction model of healthy aging demand for young and middle-aged people. Moreover, the government should implement activities to reform healthy aging services and the distinct service needs in Guangxi.