title: Functional disability and ability 75-year-olds: a comparison of two Swedish cohorts born 30 years apart.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to compare the level of functional disability and involvement in leisure activities between two birth cohorts of Swedish 75-year-olds examined in 1976-77 and 2005-06.
  
  
  METHODS
  cohort comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  representative data from the general population in Gothenburg, Sweden, examined at the age of 75 in 1976-77 (n = 744), and in 2005-06 (n = 731) with comprehensive somatic and psychiatric examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  activities of daily living (ADL); instrumental activities of daily living (IADL); a battery of self-report measures, including involvement in leisure activities, satisfaction with home-environment, social networks and self-rated health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  functional disability in ADL decreased between the cohorts (13.9 versus 5.6%, P < 0.001). Functional disability in IADL also decreased between the cohorts (33.4 versus 13.0%, P < 0.001). Combining ADL and IADL resulted in an overall decreased dependency, with the largest decrease seen in women (42.3 versus 15.1%, P < 0.001). Involvement in leisure activities increased between the cohorts. For example, the proportion going on international and domestic holiday travels increased (6.3 versus 16.2%, P < 0.001), and the proportion who independently drove their own car also increased (10.0 versus 53.0%, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  later born cohorts of 75-year-olds are less dependent in ADL and more engaged in leisure activities compared with earlier cohorts. Later born cohorts of 75-year-olds are thus better equipped to maintain a non-age-related identity compared with earlier cohorts. Our findings might serve as a reason to adopt a more positive view to ageing in a world with an increasing number of older people.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ostling
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thøgersen Agerholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staun
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Høst Dørfinger
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skoog
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
keywords: activities of daily living; cohort comparison; functional disability; leisure activities; older people