OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether physical disability reaches a plateau in the oldest age groups. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3351 individuals, which included all those living in Denmark who celebrated their 100th anniversary during the period from 1 April 1995 to 31 May 1996 (276 subjects) and all Danish twins aged 75-94 registered in the Danish Twin Register (3075 subjects). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ability to perform selected items of basic activities of daily living independently. RESULTS: The prevalence of independence in each of six selected activities of daily living was significantly lower in both men and women centenarians compared with octo- and septuagenarians. The sex difference in independence in all six selected activities of daily living was larger for each advancing age group, with women being most disabled (P < 0.001). In centenarians 20% of women and 44% of men were able to perform all selected activities of daily living independently. CONCLUSION: Compared with individuals aged 75-79 years, physical abilities of men and women gradually diminished in age groups 80-84, 85-90 and 90-94, with the lowest levels among 100-year-olds. Although women have lower mortality, they are more disabled than men, and this difference is more marked with advancing age.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether physical disability reaches a plateau in the oldest age groups. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3351 individuals, which included all those living in Denmark who celebrated their 100th anniversary during the period from 1 April 1995 to 31 May 1996 (276 subjects) and all Danish twins aged 75-94 registered in the Danish Twin Register (3075 subjects). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ability to perform selected items of basic activities of daily living independently. RESULTS: The prevalence of independence in each of six selected activities of daily living was significantly lower in both men and women centenarians compared with octo- and septuagenarians. The sex difference in independence in all six selected activities of daily living was larger for each advancing age group, with women being most disabled (P < 0.001). In centenarians 20% of women and 44% of men were able to perform all selected activities of daily living independently. CONCLUSION: Compared with individuals aged 75-79 years, physical abilities of men and women gradually diminished in age groups 80-84, 85-90 and 90-94, with the lowest levels among 100-year-olds. Although women have lower mortality, they are more disabled than men, and this difference is more marked with advancing age.
Authors: Laila Bendix; Maria Monrad Gade; Pia Wirenfeldt Staun; Masayuki Kimura; Bernard Jeune; Jacob V B Hjelmborg; Abraham Aviv; Kaare Christensen Journal: Mech Ageing Dev Date: 2011-10-12 Impact factor: 5.432
Authors: Signe Høi Rasmussen; Karen Andersen-Ranberg; Mikael Thinggaard; Bernard Jeune; Axel Skytthe; Lene Christiansen; James W Vaupel; Matt McGue; Kaare Christensen Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2017-12-01 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Sonja Vestergaard; Karen Andersen-Ranberg; Axel Skytthe; Kaare Christensen; Jean-Marie Robine; Bernard Jeune Journal: Eur J Ageing Date: 2015-09-08