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- Reaching 100 in the Countryside: Health Profile and Living Circumstances of Portuguese Centenarians from the Beira Interior RegionPublication . Afonso, Rosa Marina; Ribeiro, Oscar; Patto, Maria Da Assunção Vaz; Loureiro, Marli; Loureiro, Manuel; Castelo-Branco, Miguel; Patricio, Susana; Alvarinhas, Sara; Tomaz, Tatiana; Rocha, Clara; Jerónimo, Ana Margarida; Gouveia, Fatima; Amaral, Ana PaulaThe interest in studying a specific population of centenarians who lives in the country’s interior region (PT100-BI) emerged during the first Portuguese systematic study about centenarians (PT100 Oporto Centenarian Study). This region of Portugal is predominantly rural and is one of the regions with the largest number of aged people. The aim of this study is to provide information on the centenarians who live in the Beira Interior region, specifically in terms of their health status and the health services they use. A total of 101 centenarians (mean age: 101.1 years; SD = 1.5 years), 14 males and 87 females, were considered. Most centenarians lived in the community, and 47.6% lived in nursing homes. Nearly half (47.5%) presented cognitive functioning without deficits. A noteworthy percentage presented conditioned mobility and sensory problems. The most common self-reported diseases include urinary incontinence (31.7%), high blood pressure (23.8%), and heart conditions (19.8%). Despite these health and functional characteristics, formal support services and technical assistance were found to be scarcely used. Further research is needed to understand how the role of contextual variables and the countryside environment contribute to the centenarians’ adaptation to advanced longevity.
- Association between handgrip strength, walking, agerelated illnesses and cognitive status in a sample of Portuguese centenariansPublication . Patto, Maria Da Assunção Vaz ; Bueno, Belén; Ribeiro, Óscar; Teixeira, Laetitia; Afonso, Rosa MarinaAbstract Background: Centenarians are a growing population in Europe and present significant variability in motor and cognitive functions. The aim of our study was to characterize health status, as well as cognitive and motor functions in a group of Portuguese centenarians. In addition, our study also aimed at analyzing the relationship between cognitive functions and the burden of diseases affecting the elderly. Methods: Fifty-two centenarians were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination, short version. Walking- related parameters (velocity and time spent in the 3 m walk test), grip strength and number of age-related illnesses were also measured. The relationship between cognitive scores and time spent in the three metre walk test, velocity, grip strength and number of diseases was analysed. Results: Cognitive scores showed a positive correlation with both handgrip strength and time spent in the three metre walk. In contrast, no association was found between cognitive scores and the presence/absence of disease, walking velocity or number of diseases present. Conclusions: These results suggest that in centenarians, cognitive functions may be related with motor functions.