The aim of this paper is to review several key aspects of undernutrition in later life, with a major focus on undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults. The prevalence of undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults is about 8.5%, but higher in vulnerable subgroups such as the oldest old (19.3%), those reporting poor appetite (22.4%), and those receiving home care (15.8%). Frequently reported risk factors for undernutrition in the community include poor appetite, functional limitations and previous hospitalization. The Determinants of Malnutrition in Aged Persons (DoMAP) model provides a clear framework to structure the different direct and indirect potential determinants of undernutrition in old age. Low body mass index as well as involuntary weight loss, both important phenotypic criteria of undernutrition, are associated with early mortality in older adults. Furthermore, undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults is associated with a subsequent increased risk of frailty, falls, functional decline and rehospitalization. Qualitative studies indicate a poor undernutrition awareness among healthcare professionals working in community care as well as among older adults themselves. The Malnutrition Awareness Scale can be used to objectively measure an older persons’ undernutrition awareness. In conclusion, the prevalence of undernutrition among older adults living in the community is substantial and has several negative consequences for health and functioning. Strategies towards greater undernutrition awareness by primary care professionals as well as older adults themselves is therefore necessary.

Age is the main risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia. Despite our limited understanding of cellular mechanisms of aging-associated neuronal loss, an increasing number of studies demonstrate that oxidative stress and inflammation are key drivers. Epidemiological studies indicate that diet during middle adulthood can influence the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases later in life, so it is important to investigate dietary interventions to combat oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, we hypothesized that treatment with fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties, prevents aging-associated oxidative stress that is known to be related to natural brain aging. Treatment with fucoxanthin protected rat primary hippocampal neurons against oxidative stress and aging in vitro. In our in vivo study, middle-aged male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with fucoxanthin (1 mg/kg, 5 days/week, n=6) or vehicle (n=6) for 4 weeks. After supplementation was completed, brain samples were harvested and subjected to quantitative and bioinformatic analyses. Fucoxanthin was detected and shown to decrease lipid peroxidation in the brains of the animals supplemented with fucoxanthin. Microarray analysis showed that treatment with fucoxanthin changed 5602 genes. Together, our results suggest that treatment with fucoxanthin prevents aging-associated oxidative stress and is capable of regulating genes that potentially ameliorate age-related changes to the brain.

This study aimed to identify the associations between possible sarcopenia (p-sarcopenia) and fall risk, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in middle-aged (age ≥ 45 years) and older (age ≥ 65 years) adults. In this study, we analyzed a total of 10,181 men and women aged 45–85 years from the initial survey sample of the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Among middle-aged men (women) adults, fall risk and depression were 4.09 (1.34) and 2.25 (2.05) times higher in the p-sarcopenia group than in the non-possible sarcopenia (np-sarcopenia) group, respectively (p < 0.05). Middle-aged and older men and women all showed low QOL-related scores, especially middle-aged men and women in the p-sarcopenia group (p < 0.05). Therefore, adequate management of sarcopenia is necessary in both older and middle-aged adults to reduce its burden as a public health concern.

Driving enables older adults to maintain independence and community mobility. Driving plays a pivotal role in the ability to engage in activities, socialize, run errands, and access health care services; yet many people eventually stop driving. This study investigates factors that contribute to transitions from driver to non-driver (i.e., driving status) using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Among participants aged 45–85 who reported driving at baseline (n = 30,901), 1.65 percent (n = 510) had stopped driving at follow-up (three years later). Logistic regression identified predictors of this transition, including older age, female sex, lower income, urban residence, poorer self-rated health, difficulties with activities of daily living, low memory scores, and vision problems. These findings highlight the interplay of physical, cognitive, and environmental factors in driving cessation. This research advances understanding of mobility transitions in later life and informs targeted strategies to support older adults as they plan for driving retirement.

Positive health outcomes are realized when individuals receive interprofessional care, which also includes collaboration with family and care providers. We used social network analysis to explore interprofessional care networks and experiences of independent, community-dwelling older adults and how they perceive collaboration between different medical and non-medical network members. Twenty-three participants were interviewed and asked to name individuals contributing to their health and well-being (network of care) and position them in a concentric circle to reflect the relative strength of relationships. The average network size was 11. Closest relationships were with spouses, children, and family physicians. Relationship strength with network members was marked by frequency, accessibility, longevity, and impact of interactions. Participants were ardent self-advocates for their care, but reported few apparent episodes of collaboration between network members. Our study highlights that coordinated and collaborative care for independent community-dwelling older adults is lacking and does not routinely engage non-medical network members.

The primary policy response to population aging in advanced economies has been to raise the mandatory retirement age. However, these policies have reignited calls for differentiated retirement ages that take into account variations in work intensity. This paper utilises microdata to examine the relevance and feasibility of this concept in Europe. It first quantifies career arduousness using SHARE wave 7 retrospective ISCO4-digit data on careers in combination with US O*NET working conditions data. Then, using SHARE follow-up data collecting (bad)health and death information about wave 7 respondents, it estimates (healthy) life expectancy by career arduousness decile, combining econometrics and life table methods. Findings reveal a life expectancy gap between the least and most arduous careers of 4to 4.2 years. Healthy life expectancy differences are slightly larger, ranging from 6.9 to 9.1 years. Also, women’s healthy life expectancy seems to be somewhat more impacted by arduousness.