Vanhenemismuutosten eteneminen : 75-vuotiaiden henkilöiden antropometristen ominaisuuksien, fyysisen toimintakyvyn ja kognitiivisen kyvykkyyden muutokset viiden ja kymmenen vuoden seuranta-aikana

Abstract

Vanhenemismuutosten eteneminen ikävuosien 75 ja 85 välillä on ominaispiirteiltään erityislaatuista. Vanhenemiselle on tyypillistä suuri vaihtelevuus niin eri yksilöiden välillä kuin yksilön sisäisesti. Muutosten erot eivät ilmene ainoastaan eroina tulosten tasoissa, vaan myös vanhenemismuutosten etenemisen suuntien suhteen. Eri toiminnoissa havaittava muutos voi olla heikentymistä, mutta myös omalla tasolla pysymistä tai toimintakyvyn paranemista vielä korkeassakin iässä, huomasi Sari Ranta väitöstutkimuksessaan.

This study aimed at describing both intra-individual and inter-individual variation of age-related changes in anthropometrical characteristics and physical and cognitive capacities over 5- and 10-year follow-up among men and women aged 75 at the baseline. The purpose was also to study whether the functions and characteristics formed groups, how these groups interacted and how selected background factors were associated with them. Furthermore, the stability and predictability of the progress of changes was examined. This study is part of the Evergreen project whose subjects consisted of all 75-year-old residents (N=388) of the City of Jyväskylä, Finland in 1989. Of these 103 men and 189 women were able to participate in the baseline tests, 63 men and 121 women in the 5-year follow-up (in 1994) and 31 men and 65 women took part in in the 10-year follow-up (in 1999).Differences in changes in functions and characteristics were analysed by one-way analysis of variance, t-test and profile-analysis. Individual changes were described by transitional tables and graphic representations. Functional entities were formed by principal component analysis and further examined by multivariate regression analysis. The stability of the regression models was tested by path analysis and the predictability of linear combinations by canonical correlation-analysis. All analyses were carried out separately for men and women.At the baseline the results indicating health and functional capacities were lower among those who participated only in the baseline than among those who also took part in the 5-year follow-up. Those who were present in all the points of measurement gained the highest scores. Similarly a difference was found between two latter groups in the 5-year follow-up. The profiles of age-related changes in most of the measures were similar in men and women, but some profiles differed by gender. Individual differences were observed conserning the levels of results and the directions of change. As well as decline in score, many individuals showed stability or improvement of performance. The function groups, which were based on principal component analysis, were consistent and stable in each point of measurement. Interactions between these groups, and between groups and background factors varied both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Findings in path analysis indicate both synchronization and non-synchronization during the first and second follow-up periods depending on the modality in question. According to canonical correlations the best combination to predict overall aging changes was one in which cognitive functions and speed variables were strongly loaded. The wide variation in the progress of aging changes is a challenge but also a potential for authorities to allocate adequate services and interventions and for each of us to age successfully. It also increases the need of theory development and model improvement.