By Andrea Hargraves 
As the country’s elderly population grows, scientific advances have allowed people to not only live longer, but age better, with health and independence.
With Older People’s Day approaching on Sunday, the report compiled news and research focusing on the well-being of older people.
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Among the projects is a smart insole that provides information about foot pressure when walking, gait characteristics, posture and balance. These shoes are called Sense Shoes, and are being developed through a partnership between MedSênior, Primer and the State University of Paraíba.
According to the specialist in health operations at MilSênior (MedSênior Innovation Laboratory), doctor Andre France, using this data, it will be possible, for example, to assess the risk of falling in the elderly through artificial intelligence, in addition to monitoring the patient’s progress. .
“The first version of the prototype is ready and has begun testing in the laboratory. The idea is to start clinical validation tests next year with patients cared for in MedSênior’s Centers for Autonomy and Independence.
Master’s and Doctor of Science, Professor and researcher at the Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFIS), Rodrigo Luiz Vancini, has studies in the field of aging, with a focus on quality of life.
One of the works selected by Fapes analyzes the profile of muscle strength, balance and variables associated with the quality of life of older people with different levels of fitness.
The creator of MoveAge, a startup focused on the concept of active aging, is seeking a partnership to develop an app for quality-of-life monitoring and health management.
Geriatrician and President of the Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Espírito Santo Section, Alexandre Constantinou, emphasized that some of the major advances in science related to aging well are vaccines.
It is still considered that artificial intelligence will be a game changer in the near future in all areas of healthcare. “Smartwatches are becoming increasingly useful in everyday aspects, for example counting steps per day and measuring heart rate.”
Drugs under study against Alzheimer’s disease
Smart insole
Called Sense Shoes, the sole will feature the latest technology and artificial intelligence resources to evaluate the characteristics of feet and strides.
It will be possible to collect information about gait pattern (how a person walks), balance, and personal musculoskeletal characteristics.
This will allow data to be traversed and information accessed through the mobile application.
The smart insole is being developed through a partnership between MedSênior, Primer and the State University of Paraiba.
The first version of the insole prototype is now ready and has begun testing in the laboratory to evaluate hardware and software resources, functionality and usability.
The research project continues until the end of 2024. The idea is that clinical validation tests will begin next year with patients cared for in MedSênior’s Autonomy and Independence Centers.
Applications
Among the applications developed to protect the health of the elderly, the multinational company MV has developed the Personal Health application, from the company’s global health division.
The app allows patients to have their entire medical history in the palm of their hands and monitor their health.
Characteristics, comorbidities, list of medications used, allergy indicators, vital signs, and even test results, reports, procedures performed, and appointment scheduling are some of the information integrated into the app.
pharmaceutical
Medicines are being developed for diseases that mainly affect the elderly.
Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly in July announced results from late-stage clinical studies of donanemab, an experimental drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: Consulting experts and companies.
Research says they suffer from depression and anxiety
Despite progress in improving the quality of life of seniors, mental health still requires attention: more than a third of the country’s seniors (34%) experience symptoms of depression and 16% feel lonely.
Data are from a study conducted by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). Researchers interviewed nearly 8,000 people over the age of 50 to create the latest edition of the Longitudinal Study of Health of the Brazilian Elderly (ELSI-Brazil), including mental health issues.
The survey asked how often they feel lonely or alone. Among those with depression, 33% always felt lonely.
Geriatrician Fernanda Damiani says that loneliness in old age is entirely related to the level of usefulness of the person, who, as he grows older, believes that he is no longer “lovable” or useful to his family and friends.
“Aging is a natural process. For some, it is a sign of maturity, and for others, it is a sign that life is ‘coming to an end.’ It is worth noting that depression in the elderly often arises in the context of a loss of quality of life associated with social isolation and the emergence of serious clinical diseases.” The doctor explained that chronic and disabling diseases constitute risk factors for depression.
X-rays for the elderly
Population: 624 thousand people in the state over 60 years old, 284 thousand men and 339 thousand women.
Older people by age group
From 50 to 59 years: 463 thousand, 227 thousand men, and 236 thousand women;
From 60 to 64 years: 187 thousand, 95 thousand men, and 92 thousand women;
65 years and over: 436 thousand, 189 thousand men, and 247 thousand women.
Percentage of elderly people with disabilities
Between 60 and 69 years: 18%;
Between 70 and 79 years: 25.3%;
Older than 80 years: 48.8%.
Numbers
152,000 elderly people work in the state, with an average monthly income of 2,920 Brazilian reals;
Years of schooling for people over 60 years old
On average, older men studied for 7.1 years over their lives, while women studied for 6.8 years.
illiteracy
Among the elderly in Espiritu Santo, 14% of men and 17% of women are illiterate.
Home Business
86.1% of people over the age of 50 do housework at home.
Source: IPGE