Search results for "Geriatrics"
showing 10 items of 1388 documents
Saccadic eye movements: what do they tell us about aging cognition?
2016
ABSTRACTAlthough the relationship between age-related cognitive decline and saccadic eye movement (SEM) deficits has been outlined, specific cognitive alterations underlying age-related changes in saccadic performance remain unclear. This study attempted to better understand the nature of aging effects on SEMs. We compared SEMs in younger and older adults in prosaccade (PS) and antisaccade (AS) tasks under gap, step, and overlap conditions. We also examined relationships between these performances and several neuropsychological scores. Twenty-eight younger adults (YA), 24 older adults under 65 years (OA 65) of age completed a neuropsychological evaluation, PS and AS tasks. Our results showe…
Developing an Assessment Method of Active Aging: University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale
2018
Objective: To develop an assessment method of active aging for research on older people. Method: A multiphase process that included drafting by an expert panel, a pilot study for item analysis and scale validity, a feedback study with focus groups and questionnaire respondents, and a test–retest study. Altogether 235 people aged 60 to 94 years provided responses and/or feedback. Results: We developed a 17-item University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale with four aspects in each item (goals, ability, opportunity, and activity; range 0-272). The psychometric and item properties are good and the scale assesses a unidimensional latent construct of active aging. Discussion: Our scale assesses ol…
Diaschisis-Like Association of Hippocampal Atrophy and Posterior Cingulate Cortex Hypometabolism in Cognitively Normal Elderly Depends on Impaired In…
2017
Hippocampal atrophy and hypometabolism of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), early markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), have been shown to be associated in late mild cognitive impairment and early AD via atrophy of connecting cingulum fibers. Recently, a direct association of hippocampal atrophy and PCC hypometabolism has been shown in cognitively normal elderly. We aimed to investigate if this association might be modulated by partly non-hippocampogenic alterations of parahippocampal cingulum (PHC) integrity. 45 cognitively healthy elderly aged 59 to 89 years were included from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Hippocampal volumes and PCC glucose metabolism were measured …
Diagnosing and Managing Thyroid Disease in the Nursing Home
2007
Thyroid disorders occur at any age, but hypothyroidism is more common in older than in younger adults. In fact, the prevalence of thyroid disorders increases with age, and it is higher in old-old frail residents in nursing homes. Since thyroid diseases in older age, both overt reduced and increased function, may manifest as disorders of other organs, physicians need a high index of suspicion to detect thyroid dysfunction in an older person with multiple comorbidities and chronic polypharmacy. This is particularly true for residents of long-term facilities, where multiple chronic diseases may make it less attractive to direct attention to thyroid function. Subclinical hyperthyroidism and hyp…
Effects of Physical and Cognitive Training on Falls and Concern About Falling in Older Adults : Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial
2022
Abstract Background The aim of this study is to investigate whether combined cognitive and physical training provides additional benefits to fall prevention when compared with physical training (PT) alone in older adults. Methods This is a prespecified secondary analysis of a single-blind, randomized controlled trial involving community-dwelling men and women aged 70–85 years who did not meet the physical activity guidelines. The participants were randomized into combined physical and cognitive training (PTCT, n = 155) and PT (n = 159) groups. PT included supervised and home-based physical exercises following the physical activity recommendations. PTCT included PT and computer-based cogniti…
Association between longevity and cytokine gene polymorphisms. A study in Sardinian centenarians
2004
Background and aims: Human longevity seems to be directly correlated with optimal functioning of the immune system, suggesting that some genetic determinants of longevity reside in those polymorphisms for the immune system genes which regulate immuneinflammatory responses, in particular cytokine gene polymorphisms. The frequency of − 174C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of the interleukin(IL)-6 gene is increased in Italian male centenarians. Moreover, the frequency of − 1082G SNP at the 5′ flanking region of the IL-10 gene coding sequence is increased among male centenarians, and that of +874A SNP at the interferon (IFN)- γ gene was found more frequently in femal…
HLA and KIR Frequencies in Sicilian Centenarians
2010
Several studies suggest that human longevity appears to be linked inextricably with optimal functioning of the immune system, suggesting that specific genetic determinants may reside in loci that regulate the immune response, as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes. It has been suggested that longevity is associated with positive selection of alleles (i.e., HLA-DR11) or haplotypes (i.e., HLA-B8,DR3) that confer resistance to infectious disease(s). On the other hand, the cytolytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells is controlled by activating and inhibitory cell-surface receptors, including KIR. The genetic diversity of the KIR loci with r…
Fixation-free incisional hernia repair in the elderly: our experience with a tentacle-shaped implant.
2016
Background: Incisional hernia in aged patients represents a challenge even for experienced surgeons. Besides increased risk of complications due to comorbidities, mesh fixation and assuring a sufficient mesh overlap of the defect are the main issues in carrying out the repair. Aims: In order to assure broader coverage of the abdominal wall and a tension- and fixation-free repair, a specifically designed prosthesis was developed for the surgical treatment of incisional hernias. The results of a fixation-free incisional hernia repair carried out in elderly patients using a tentacle-shaped implant are reported herewith. Methods: A tentacle-shaped flat mesh with a large central body and integra…
Test-and-treat strategy for Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in older patients.
2010
Abstract Despite Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is highly prevalent in older populations, low rates of HP diagnosis and eradication are reported in older persons, even in geriatric wards. We aim to evaluate the results of a HP-eradicating program in a sample of older patients in relation to dyspeptic symptoms and to endoscopic findings. A pool of 140 subjects (female/ale = 86/54, mean age 68.6 ± 5.4 years) with positive C 13 -urea breath test were recruited, clinically evaluated to investigate the presence and characteristics of dyspepsia and abdominal pain, and underwent gastric endoscopic examination. HP-eradication was obtained in 87.9% of subjects with first-line triple therapy, reg…
Effects of progressive resistance training on physical disability among older community-dwelling people with history of hip fracture
2012
Background and aims: Hip fracture is a common trauma in older people, and often leads to decreased muscle strength and increased physical disability. This randomized controlled trial examined whether three months of progressive resistance training (PRT) can reduce physical disability among older people with a history of hip fracture. Methods: A population-based sample of 60-85-year-old community-dwelling persons, with hip fractures sustained on average three years earlier, were enrolled in the study. Of 78 people participating in laboratory assessments, those without contraindications for participation in resistance training were randomly assigned to a training group (TG, n=22) or a control…