Brain & Ageing Research Program, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2013 Jun;25(6):993-1005. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213000197. Epub 2013 Mar 19.
The study of exceptionally long-living individuals can inform us about the determinants of successful aging. There are few population-based studies of centenarians and near-centenarians internationally, but none in Australia.
Individuals 95 years and older were recruited from seven electoral districts in Sydney using the electoral roll, Medicare lists, and multiple other strategies to obtain a representative sample. Physical and mental health and cognitive status were assessed using standard instruments in multiple sessions, with assessments individually adapted. An informant was interviewed, and participants were invited to donate a blood sample, undergo an MRI scan, and enrol into the brain donation program.
Preliminary data on the first 200 participants are reported. Mean age was 97.4 years (range 95-106), with 29.5% being men, and 58.5% living in a private dwelling. Rates of heart disease and diabetes were lower than in octogenarians, but hearing and visual deficits were common. The mean mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score was 21.1, with men performing better. Rates of psychological distress were low and satisfaction with life high (mean 5.91 out of a maximum of 7); 54% scored <24 on MMSE; 39.5% were impaired on both MMSE and a functional measure; and 20% had previous diagnosis of dementia.
This is a preliminary report describing the methodology of the study. It provides further evidence that dementia is not inevitable at this age and independent living is common. The study provides an excellent resource to determine the genetic and environmental contributions to long and successful cognitive aging.
对超长寿命个体的研究可以让我们了解成功衰老的决定因素。国际上有一些关于百岁老人和接近百岁老人的基于人群的研究，但澳大利亚没有。
使用选民名单、医疗保险清单和其他多种策略，从悉尼的七个选区招募 95 岁及以上的个体，以获得有代表性的样本。使用标准工具在多个会议上评估身体和心理健康以及认知状况，评估结果因人而异。采访了一名知情人，并邀请参与者捐献血液样本、进行磁共振成像 (MRI) 扫描，并注册参与大脑捐赠计划。
报告了前 200 名参与者的初步数据。平均年龄为 97.4 岁（范围为 95-106 岁），29.5%为男性，58.5%居住在私人住所。心脏病和糖尿病的发病率低于 80 岁的老年人，但听力和视力缺陷很常见。平均简易精神状态检查 (MMSE) 评分为 21.1，男性表现更好。心理困扰率较低，生活满意度较高（满分 7 分，平均 5.91 分）；54%的 MMSE 得分<24；39.5%的 MMSE 和一项功能测试均受损；20%有痴呆症的既往诊断。
这是一份描述研究方法的初步报告。它进一步证明，在这个年龄，痴呆并非不可避免，独立生活很常见。该研究为确定长寿和成功认知衰老的遗传和环境贡献提供了极好的资源。
