CityU researches on health and wellness delve into the well-being and cognitive function of the elderly
In response to growing societal concerns about health and wellness, the City University of Macau (CityU) has been actively promoting big health and related disciplines in recent years. This commitment has steered the establishment of the Faculty of Health and Wellness (FHW) in March of this year. CityU has also signed cooperation agreements with several renowned companies and universities to jointly contribute to the development of the health industry. During the academic year 2023/2024, faculty and students have made significant progress in research related to aging and health. Collaborative projects between the Department of Innovative Social Work and its students have produced a number of groundbreaking researches on cognitive function and dementia in the elderly. Three key findings have been published in prestigious international journals, including the Journal of Gerontological Social Work and BMC Geriatrics.
Late Life Cognitive Function Trajectory Among the Chinese Oldest-Old Population—A Machine Learning Approach
Assistant Professor Hu Jierong from the Department of Innovative Social Work, as the first author, has collaborated with research teams from the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences at the Kent State University and the Department of Sociology at the University of Akron in the United States on a research paper titled Late Life Cognitive Function Trajectory Among the Chinese Oldest-Old Population—A Machine Learning Approach. This research has been published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, a journal indexed by the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
This study employs machine learning methods to investigate the cognitive function trajectory of the oldest-old (80 or above years old) population in China, delving into the relationship between socioeconomic status, mental health, lifestyle, and cognitive function in the elderly.
Declining cognitive function often leads to a decrease in the elderly’s ability to perform daily activities, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. It can also contribute to other health and social problems, complicating medical management, intervention, and care plans, leading to high care costs. In recent years, there has been growing research interest in cognitive impairment among the elderly in China. However, most studies focus on predictive factors in one or two areas of life. In this study, Dr. Hu Jierong and her team utilizes a biopsychosocial framework and dataset from the China Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) to identify different types of cognitive function trajectories and their protective and risk factors.
The research finding reveals a strong correlation between socioeconomic status, mental health, dietary patterns, exercise, and participation in leisure activities, and the type of cognitive function trajectory followed by older adults. For instance, a positive outlook on life was associated with maintaining healthy cognitive function in older age, while emotional disorders such as fear and loneliness are risk factors for cognitive impairment. Furthermore, the study found that older adults in the high stability (HS) group consumes fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish more frequently, while those in the low stability (LS) group exhibited lower levels of physical activity and participation in leisure activities. Additionally, biological factors such as limitations in daily living activities were identified as major risk factors for cognitive decline. These findings challenge the traditional concept that cognitive decline is an inevitable consequence of aging and underscore the significant impact of modifiable factors such as diet and lifestyle on cognitive function in older adults. Therefore, this study recommends that social welfare policies, social work programs, and community services should provide appropriate resources and support to individuals in the LS group to promote healthy and active aging.
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The Relationship between Marital Status and Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Older Adults: The Multiple Mediating Effects of Social Support and Depression
Assistant Professor Josh Zhang Donghang from the Department of Innovative Social Work, as the first author, has collaborated with Ph.D. student Zheng Wenhao as the second author and Ph.D. student Li Keyang as the third author and corresponding author on a research paper titled The relationship between marital status and cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults: the multiple mediating effects of social support and depression. This research has been published in BMC Geriatrics, a journal indexed by both the Science Citation Index (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). This study focuses on the marital status and cognitive function of older adults in China, revealing the impact of factors such as marriage, social support, and depression on cognitive function in the elderly.
Understanding the relationship between marital status and cognitive function has become a crucial aspect of exploring strategies for preventing cognitive impairment in older adults. Research on long-term unmarried older adults is critical for identifying potential pathways through which marital status predicts cognitive decline. Therefore, this study investigates the serial mediating effects of social support and depression in the relationship between marital status and cognitive impairment among older adults in China.
Informed by the data from the China Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2014 to 2018, including data from 2,647 Chinese older adults, of whom 53.6% were male, the study found that unmarried older adults had poorer cognitive function compared to those who were married. Furthermore, informal support and depression partially mediated the relationship between marital status and cognitive function. Informal social support (e.g., support from family and friends) played a significant role in mitigating depressive symptoms and improving cognitive function. While the study did not find a significant association between marital status and formal social support (e.g., services provided by the government or community), a link was found between formal social support and depression, which indirectly affected cognitive function through the mediating effect of depression. This study highlights the importance of providing more social support for unmarried older adults. Specifically, when designing social services and health interventions, it is crucial to consider enhancing social support and reducing depressive symptoms to improve their cognitive function.
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Effects of Bright Light Therapy on Agitation Among Older Adults Living with Dementia in Macao: A Pilot Study
The research project "Effects of Bright Light Therapy on Agitation Among Older Adults Living with Dementia in Macao: A Pilot Study" investigates the effectiveness of bright light therapy for agitation and sleep problems in older adults with dementia in Macao. The study is led by Assistant Professor Josh Zhang Donghang, and the research team includes Cheng Wanqing, a master's graduate from the Department of Innovative Social Work, as the first author; Assistant Professor Josh Zhang Donghang as the second and corresponding author; Lei Lai Iong, a master's graduate from the Department of Innovative Social Work and head of the Social Work team at the Pou Tai Integrated Service Center for the Elderly, as the third author; and Li Keyang, a Ph.D. student in Applied Psychology, as the fourth author. The research paper has been published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, a journal indexed by the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
This study employs a bright light therapy intervention approach to address agitation in older adults with dementia in Macao, providing valuable insights for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment in the elderly.
Agitation in dementia patients not only reduces their life quality but also increases care costs and the psychological and physiological burden on caregivers. Bright light therapy is recommended for alleviating dementia symptoms due to its low cost, minimal side effects, and ease of implementation. However, current research on this topic in mainland China has limited sample sizes and is still in the clinical exploration stage. The effectiveness of bright light therapy for dementia patients remains controversial. This study, building upon existing literature, utilizes a randomized controlled trial design to investigate the impact and safety of bright light therapy on agitation in individuals with dementia.
With the support of the Pou Tai Integrated Service Center for the Elderly, a local institution, a total of 31 participants successfully completed the trial: 10 in the outdoor light therapy group, 11 in the indoor light box therapy group, and 10 in the control group. The study found a significant difference in agitation scores between the intervention groups and the control group after the intervention, but no statistically significant difference in cognitive function. Compared to the control group, participants in both the indoor and outdoor experimental light conditions exhibited significant changes during the four-week treatment period. However, there was no statistically significant difference in agitation scores between the indoor and outdoor light groups.
The study concludes that both the outdoor and indoor light groups could effectively improve agitation in individuals with dementia to a certain extent, with no significant difference in the intervention effect between the two groups. Combining outdoor and indoor light therapy could better complement and compensate for each other's shortcomings, achieving a continuous effect. This finding has significant implications for social workers and healthcare professionals in providing non-pharmacological treatment options for individuals with dementia.
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These significant research findings are a testament to CityU’s commitment to actively responding to the health and wellness industry development policies of Macao and the Hengqin Cooperation Zone. As first of its kind in Macao, the master’s degree in social work is a locally focused program with two distinct tracks in gerontology and social service management, the Department of Innovative Social Work, will continue to strive to cultivate high-level social work practitioners and researchers with international professional capabilities. Staying aligned with the Macao SAR Government's policy direction, the department is committed to address the needs of vulnerable groups, and tackles the social issues and challenges accompanying societal transformation and economic development.
Resource: Research Management Office
