Psychotherapy Commission ACPEMay 17

The article reports that older adults who garden more frequently show better psychological well-being, better physical function, and a lower mortality risk, with slower aging indicators over time. Frequent gardening is linked to a longer life and slower progression of certain aging markers, based on a long-term study of individuals born in 1921. The findings suggest potential associations between gardening activity and overall well-being in older adulthood.

Gardening interest in psychology stems from its implications for lifestyle factors that accompany healthy aging, physical functioning, and perceived quality of life. It highlights how day-to-day activities may relate to motivation, self-efficacy, and well-being in aging populations.

Article Title: Engaging in gardening is associated with better well-being in older adulthood

Link to PsyPost Article: https://nolinkpreview.com/www.psypost.org/engaging-in-gardening-is-associated-with-better-well-being-in-older-adulthood/

#gardening #olderadults #wellbeing #psychologicalwellbeing #aging #longevity #telomeres #physicalfunction #gaitspeed #lifespan

Matteo Cesari Nov 15, 2023

Impact on physical function of the +AGIL Barcelona program in community-dwelling older adults with #cognitive impairment: an interventional cohort study

"...a multicomponent intervention can be delivered in older adults with cognitive impairment and be as effective as it is for cognitively intact older adults in terms of #physicalfunction..."

#Geriatrics #Frailty #IntegratedCare #Dementia

https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-023-04292-4

Impact on physical function of the +AGIL Barcelona program in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment: an interventional cohort study - BMC Geriatrics

Background Older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) have higher multimorbidity and frailty prevalence, lower functional status and an increased likelihood to develop dementia, non-cognitive deficits, and adverse health-related events. +AGIL, a real-world program for frail older adults in a primary care area of Barcelona, is a pragmatic, multi-component and integrated intervention implemented since 2016. It includes physical activity, nutrition, sleep hygiene, revision and adequacy of pharmacological treatment, detection of undesired loneliness and screening for CI; to improve physical function in community-dwelling older adults. We aimed to assess the + AGIL longitudinal impact on physical function among community-dwelling frail older persons with CI. Methods An interventional cohort study included data from all the + AGIL consecutive participants from July 2016 until March 2020. Based on the comprehensive geriatric assessment, participants were offered a tailored multi-component community intervention, including a 10-week physical activity program led by an expert physical therapist. Physical performance was measured at baseline, three and six months follow-up. The pre-post impact on physical function was assessed by paired sample t-test for repeated samples. Linear mixed models were applied to analyze the + AGIL longitudinal impact. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results 194 participants were included (82 with CI, based on previous diagnosis or the Mini-COG screening tool), 68% women, mean age 81.6 (SD = 5.8) yo. Participants were mostly independent in Activities of Daily Living (mean Barthel = 92.4, SD = 11.1). The physical activity program showed high adherence (87.6% attended ≥ 75% sessions). At three months, there was a clinically and statistically significant improvement in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and its subcomponents in the whole sample and after stratification for CI [CI group improvements: SPPB = 1.1 (SD = 1.8) points, gait speed (GS) = 0.05 (SD = 0.13) m/s, Chair stand test (CST)=-2.6 (SD = 11.4) s. Non-CI group improvements: SPPB = 1.6 (SD = 1.8) points, GS = 0.08 (SD = 0.13) m/s, CST=-6.4 (SD = 12.1) seg]. SPPB and gait speed remained stable at six months in the study sample and subgroups. CI had no significant impact on SPPB or GS improvements. Conclusion Our results suggest that older adults with CI can benefit from a multidisciplinary integrated and comprehensive geriatric intervention to improve physical function, a component of frailty.

BioMed Central