Interplay between various aspects in social relationships of young rhesus monkeys: Dominance,agonistic help,and affiliation

Relationships between group-living primates depend strongly on their position in the group dominance hierarchy and on their relationships with other group members. The influence of various behaviours on social relationships of immature rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) was investigated here. Dominance ranks were established and related to the degree of affiliation in a dyad. Older monkeys were mostly dominant to the younger ones, regardless of kinship. Subordinate monkeys left proximity of their dominant members more often than they were left by them both among siblings and non-siblings, but the effect of dominance rank on the amount of play initiation and grooming in a dyad differed between these two types of dyads. The amount of agonistic help two individuals provided for each other was low among immatures. Nevertheless, pairs of siblings gave help to each other in agonistic conflicts more often than non-siblings, and such help was more often reciprocated between siblings than between non-siblings. Help in agonistic conflicts was positively correlated with the amount of time monkeys spent playing, grooming, or in proximity. Adults tended to interfere less in conflicts of frequent sibling play partners or non-sibling grooming partners. No evidence was found for young monkeys to exchange reciprocally grooming for agonistic help. It is argued that the time monkeys spend interacting with each other in affiliative interactions increases their familiarity and thus promotes close relationships between them. On the whole, young monkeys' relationships, like those between adults, are influenced strongly by their kinship, and position in the dominance hierarchy.     

Siblicide in the spotted hyena: analysis with ultrasonic examination of wild and captive individuals

Integrated field and laboratory studies of long-lived, large-bodiedmammals are rare but offer unique opportunities to elucidatethe behavioral ecology of these animals. Here, we used thisapproach to examine whether siblicide in spotted hyenas (Crocutacrocuta) is obligate or facultative. First, we tested predictionsof obligate and facultative hypotheses by using ultrasonographyto compare litter size before and after parturition and identifypotential causes of litter reduction. Second, we compared littersize and composition between wild and captive hyenas to assessvariation in offspring sex ratios. Third, we used demographicdata to compare survivorship among litters of various sizesand compositions. Fourth, we compared sex ratios within twinlitters born in the wild under conditions of high populationdensity and intense feeding competition with those born whenpopulation density and intensity of feeding competition werereduced. Our data were inconsistent with the obligate siblicidehypothesis. Litter reduction occurred during roughly one-thirdof pregnancies in both wild and captive hyenas, and all suchreductions among captives were due to fetal resorptions or stillbirths.Litter sizes and compositions differed little between wild andcaptive hyenas. However, sex ratios in twin litters varied inthe wild with intensity of feeding competition. In conjunctionwith captive data, long-term study of a wild hyena populationunder varying environmental conditions suggests facultativesiblicide is most likely to occur when feeding competition ismost intense, thus offering an ecological explanation for earlierconflicting reports on siblicide in this species.     

La infección por VIH como causa de envejecimiento acelerado y fragilidad

The HIV-infected population is aging due to the success of combination antiretroviral therapy, which prolongs survival, as well as the growing number of newly diagnosed cases in adults 50 years old and over. HIV-infected individuals suffer from an accelerated aging due to the persistent and chronic activation of the immune system that leads to immune exhaustion and accelerated immunosenescence, even when on optimal immuno-virological control treatment. The clinical expression of the immunosenescence state is an increased prevalence of aging-related non-HIV associated comorbidities and a rising prevalence of frailty occurring earlier than in the general population. Thus, HIV-infected patients are biologically older than their chronological age, and they suffer from aging-related problems, such as frailty, which should be assessed.     

Health and transitions into nonemployment and early retirement among older workers in Canada

Extending working lives is considered a viable solution to fiscal and macroeconomic challenges related to population ageing. Opportunities for sustained employment, however, are not experienced equally among older population, particularly among those with a health problem. This study aims to examine the longer-term effect of health on employment trajectories in later part of working life using a unique survey-administrative linked dataset for Canada. Specifically, we apply competing-risks models to analyze whether different aspects of health conditions at baseline predict subsequent exit routes, including nonemployment and early retirement. The nonparametric findings of the paper show that only about 33% of workers aged 50–62 with a health problem at baseline remained employed at age 64, compared to 55% of healthy workers. Exiting into nonemployment seemed more common among leavers with activity limitations, while early retirement was more likely among healthy leavers. These results are robust even when individuals’ preferences for work and financial factors were controlled for. Moreover, we identify differential impacts of specific chronic diseases on early work exit. Not all symptoms affect employment transitions to a similar extent. Older workers who reported the comorbidity of mental and musculoskeletal disorders faced an increased risk of nonemployment, while the presence of diabetes and cardiovascular problems at baseline were more predictive of early retirement.     

VitaminD supplementation for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19: a position statement from the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) produces severe respiratory symptoms such as bilateral pneumonia associated to a high morbidity and mortality, especially in patients of advanced age. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in several chronic conditions associated with increased inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system. Vitamin D in modulates immune function too. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed by most immune cells, including B and T lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells and the signalling of vitamin D and VDR together has an anti-inflammatory effect. Some studies have reported that vitamin D treatment could be useful for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 because vitamin D plays an important role as a modulator of immunocompetence. Over the last few months, some studies have hypothesized the possible beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation in patients with COVID-19 in order to improve the immune balance and prevent the hyperinflammatory cytokine storm. Some preliminary studies have already shown promising results with vitamin D supplementation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D should be administered daily until adequate levels are achieved due to vitamin D behaves as a negative acute phase reactant (APR). Despite the lack of evidence on specific doses of vitamin D to treat COVID-19 in older adults, authors consider it is necessary to standardize the use in clinical practice. These recommendations advice supplement vitamin D in a protocoled fashion based on expert opinions, level of evidence 5.     

Soft tissue stiffness over the hip increases with age and its implication in hip fracture risk in older adults

Risk of hip fracture depends on the bone strength as well as the impact force delivered to the proximal femur during falls, and femoral soft tissue may help to reduce the hip fracture risk by attenuating the impact force. Femoral soft tissue stiffness was measured from a large sample, and compared how this was affected by age, gender and site.One hundred fifty healthy individuals (fifty-two young (aged between 19 and 29), forty-eight middle-aged (30–64), and fifty old (over 65)) participated. Each age group included an equal number of males and females. Using an automated hand-held indentation device, soft tissue stiffness was measured over twelve sites with respect to the greater trochanter (GT).For both left and right hips, the stiffness was associated with age (p < 0.0005), gender (p < 0.0005), and site (p < 0.0005). On average, the stiffness was 26% greater in older than young adults (321.5 versus 254.3 N/m). On average across twelve sites, the regression analysis indicated that the stiffness increases 1.33 N/m every year (“soft tissue stiffness over the hip = 1.33*age + 221.8”; R = 0.518, p < 0.0005). Furthermore, the stiffness was 18% greater in male than female (308.8 versus 262.6 N/m), and differed across twelve sites over the hip, being greatest (424.2 N/m) at the GT, and least (206.3 N/m) at the superior gluteal region.The results provide insights into the shock absorbing property of soft tissue over the hip, and inform the improvement of fall-related injury prevention interventions (i.e., hip protector, safe landing strategies) in older adults.     

Quantifying physical functional trajectory in hospitalized older adults using body worn inertial sensors

Acute medical illness requiring hospitalization usually is a critical event in the trajectory leading to disability in older adults. Functional decline frequently occurs during hospitalization, resulting in a loss of Independence in activities of daily living after discharge. The aim of the study was to assess the functional decline in different ADLs of hospitalized elderly patients in an Acute Care for Elderly (ACE) unit incorporating a body-worn inertial sensor and accompanying custom algorithms. 38 hospitalized older adults (age ≥ 75) were included. The patients completed different functional tasks, including a balance test, Gait Velocity Test (GVT), verbal and arithmetic dual-task gait, and a sit-to-stand ability test at admission and discharge. Movement-related parameters were acquired from a unique tri-axial inertial sensor unit. Maximal muscle strength and muscle power output endpoints were also assessed. The results indicated that significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found at discharge compared with the admission values for gait variability and spatiotemporal parameters in the 4- and 6-meter GVT. These significant gains were also obtained in the verbal GVT. In contrast, a significant reduction was found in the functional status measured with the Barthel Index scale. Regarding to the sit-to-stand ability, lower peak power was observed in the sit-to-stand phase of the task at discharge. In conclusion, inertial sensor unit and our custom, validated, algorithms represent a feasible tool for measuring and monitoring functional trajectory during hospitalization in older adults and they are sensitive to detect differences in movement pattern parameters in different ADLs such as walking and the ability to stand from a seated position.     

Variables asociadas con mortalidad en una población de pacientes mayores de 80 años y con algún grado de dependencia funcional,hospitalizados por COVID-19 en un Servicio de Geriatría

ObjectiveThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic conditions high mortality rates in hospitalized elderly. Currently, a few studies include octogenarian patients and none of them analyze the impact of functional status on this health outcome. Our objective is to describe the characteristics of patients older than 80 years hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to determine the mortality rate and to identify associated factors.Material and methodsProspective observational study carried out on patients over 80 years admitted for COVID-19 in a Geriatrics Service. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional, mental, analytical, radiological, therapeutic and healthcare variables were collected. The factors associated with in-hospital lethality were analyzed by bivariate analysis.Results58 cases with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were included, mean age 88.3 ± 5.4 years, 69% women, 65.5% moderate-severe cognitive impairment and previous Barthel index 40.66 ± 36. The main symptoms were fever (60,3%), dyspnea (53.4%) and deterioration of functional condition (50%). The most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (75.9%), hypertension (HT) (74.1%) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (50%). A mortality rate of 41,4% was detected and the associated factors were: severe functional dependence (OR = 3.8 [1.2-12.2]), moderate-severe cognitive impairment (OR = 4.9 [1-25.4]) and CKD (OR = 3.2 [1.1-9.7]).ConclusionHigh mortality rates are observed in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with a higher risk of dying in those with severe functional dependence or cognitive impairment. These findings reinforce the value of Geriatric Assessment to develop strategies to adapt diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making and to optimize care for elderly patients in the event of a new epidemic outbreak.     

Determinantes sociodemográficos de violencia en adultos mayores ecuatorianos

Background and objectiveOlder adults are at increased risk of violence. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to identify associated risk factors. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between violence and various socio-demographic factors (age, gender, ethnic group, level of education, and place of residence) in older adults.Material and methodsCross-sectional study that included participants from the SABE-Ecuador study, who were selected through probabilistic sampling and came from all over the national territory. Data were analysed with R using ordinal logistic regression models.ResultsSample included 4321 older adults, women (52%) and men (48%), with a mean age of 72 years (SD 8). Having suffered violence was reported in 21.3% (n = 922) of older adults. It was observed that the odds of suffering violence was lower in men than in women (OR = 0.753, p< .001), decreased as age increased (OR = 0.989, p = .012) and decreased as level of education increased (primary vs. no education OR = 0.866, p = .001; secondary vs. no education OR = 0.622, p = .003; higher vs. no education OR = 0.323, p< .001).ConclusionsBeing a woman and having a low level of education is associated with an increased risk of violence in older adults. Reducing gender gap and improving access to education for older adults could reduce their risk of violence.