title: Socioeconomic factors from midlife predict mobility limitation and depressed mood three decades later; findings from the AGES-Reykjavik Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Taking into account our rapidly ageing population, older people are of particular interest in studying health inequalities. Most studies of older persons only include measures of current socioeconomic status (SES) and do not take into account data from earlier stages of life. In addition, only classic SES measures are used, while alternative measures, such as car ownership and house ownership, might equally well predict health. The present study aims to examine the effect of midlife socioeconomic factors on mobility limitation and depressed mood three decades later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from 4,809 men and women aged 33-65 years who participated in the Reykjavik Study (1967-1992) and who were re-examined in old age in the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES) -Reykjavik Study (2002-2006).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Education and occupation predicted mobility limitation and depressed mood. Independently, home and car ownership and the availability of housing features predicted mobility limitation. Shortages of food in childhood and lack of a car in midlife predicted depressed mood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic factors from midlife and from childhood affect mobility limitation and depressed mood in old age. Prevention of health problems in old age should begin as early as midlife.
authors: Department of Social Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.Groffen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors: Daniëlle A I
authors: DA
authors: Groffen
authors: Annemarie
authors: A
authors: Koster
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Bosma
authors: Marjan
authors: M
authors: van den Akker
authors: Thor
authors: T
authors: Aspelund
authors: Kristín
authors: K
authors: Siggeirsdóttir
authors: Gertrudis I J M
authors: GI
authors: Kempen
authors: Jacques Th M
authors: JT
authors: van Eijk
authors: Gudny
authors: G
authors: Eiriksdottir
authors: Pálmi V
authors: PV
authors: Jónsson
authors: Lenore J
authors: LJ
authors: Launer
authors: Vilmundur
authors: V
authors: Gudnason
authors: Tamara B
authors: TB
authors: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
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