1,504 research outputs found
PIANIFICAZIONE E GESTIONE DELL'ALIMENTAZIONE NELL'ANZIANO OSPEDALIZZATO ED IN STRUTTURA RESIDENZIALE
No full textSocial interaction level modulates the impact of frailty on cognitive decline: a longitudinal study
No full textObjectives: This study evaluates whether social interaction level modifies the association between frailty and cognitive decline in older adults. Methods: A total of 2701 adults aged =65 years enrolled in the Progetto Veneto Anziani (Pro.V.A.), participated in the study. At baseline, participants were classified as having low, moderate, or high social interactions based on: cohabiting status, frequency of contacts with relatives/friends or involvement in childcare activities, and frequency of participation in social or community activities. Baseline frailty was defined as the presence of =3 criteria among: weight loss, weakness, slowness, low physical activity, and exhaustion. Cognitive function was assessed through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and after 4.4 and 7 years. The association between frailty and MMSE changes over time was evaluated through linear mixed models. Interaction and subgroup analyses explored the modifying effect of social interaction level on the above association. Results: The mean age of participants was 76.1 years, and 59.1% were women. Frail individuals had a steeper annual MMSE decline than their non-frail counterparts (13=-0.40, 95%CI: -0.59, -0.20). When stratifying participants by social interaction level, we found that the association between frailty and MMSE changes over time was stronger in those with low social interactions (13=-0.74, 95%CI: -1.33, -0.15) while attenuated in those with moderate (13=-0.42, 95%CI: -0.74, -0.11) or high social interaction level (13=-0.29, 95%CI: -0.58, 0.01).Conclusion: Maintaining frequent social interactions might mitigate the negative impact of frailty on older people's cognitive functions
A new 'biased coin design' for the sequential allocation of two treatments
No full textEfron's (1971) Biased Coin Design is a well-known randomization technique that helps neutralize selection bias in sequential clinical trials for comparing treatments, while keeping the experiment fairly balanced. Extensions of the BCD have been proposed by several authors, who have focused mainly on the large sample properties of their designs. We modify Efron's procedure by introducing an Adjustable Biased Coin Design (ABCD), more flexible than his. We compare it to other existing coin designs; in terms of balance and lack of predictability, its performance for small samples appears in many cases to be an improvement with respect to the other sequential randomized allocation procedure
Electrochemical reconstruction of a heavily corroded Tarentum hemiobolus silver coin
No full textIn this paper we report on the electrochemical reconstruction of a Tarentum hemiobolus Ag coin, severely corroded in marine environment. As assessed by conventional analytical tools, most of the initially metallic Ag coin had been converted to AgCl by exposure to the aggressive coastal burial conditions. X-ray computed microtomography proved that only small portions of the artefact had preserved their metallic nature. Since the engraving was preserved partly in the corrosion product bulk and partly in the metallic rests, electrodeposition of Ag from the AgCl layer, under controlled conditions ensuring shape preservation, resulted in the reconstruction of the coin surface with full recovery of the original engraving. Such optimal electrodeposition conditions were identified by a combination of electrochemical and quasi-in situ X-ray microtomography experiments, carried out with artificially corrored engraved Ag wires. Microtomography of the reconstructed coin confirmed the compaction of the external Ag layer and disclosed that the central core of the coin still contains unconverted AgCl. The presence of such a mineralised core does not however impact the numismatic use of the coin and the safeguard of the original engraving
Electrochemical reconstruction of a heavily corroded Tarentum hemiobolus silver coin
No full textIn this paper we report on the electrochemical reconstruction of a Tarentum hemiobolus Ag coin, severely corroded in marine environment. As assessed by conventional analytical tools, most of the initially metallic Ag coin had been converted to AgCl by exposure to the aggressive coastal burial conditions. X-ray computed microtomography proved that only small portions of the artefact had preserved their metallic nature. Since the engraving was preserved partly in the corrosion product bulk and partly in the metallic rests, electrodeposition of Ag from the AgCl layer, under controlled conditions ensuring shape preservation, resulted in the reconstruction of the coin surface with full recovery of the original engraving. Such optimal electrodeposition conditions were identified by a combination of electrochemical and quasi-in situ X-ray microtomography experiments, carried out with artificially corrored engraved Ag wires. Microtomography of the reconstructed coin confirmed the compaction of the external Ag layer and disclosed that the central core of the coin still contains unconverted AgCl. The presence of such a mineralised core does not however impact the numismatic use of the coin and the safeguard of the original engraving
Supplementary_Table_S1_(1) - Fibrinogen Levels and the Risk of Cerebrovascular Events in Older Adults With Both Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment: A Prospective Study
No full textSupplementary_Table_S1_(1) for Fibrinogen Levels and the Risk of Cerebrovascular Events in Older Adults With Both Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment: A Prospective Study by Alessandra Bordignon, Caterina Trevisan, Maria Devita, Marianna Bizzotto, Silvia Celli, Agostino Girardi, Giuseppe Sergi, Maria Chiara Corti, Enzo Manzato and Alessandra Coin in Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology</p
Longitudinal investigation of the role of cognitive reserve in the evolution of dementia in outpatients prescribed AChEI
No full textThe role of cognitive reserve (CR) in modulating dementia has been broadly investigated. We aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of CR on cognitive functions in outpatients newly treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.Fifty older adults with dementia (age 80 ± 6.4 years) were followed up over 27 months. CR was assessed with the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), which provides a Total CR index and three proxy measures: Education, Working Activity and Leisure Time. The association between CR and cognition, evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), was tested through linear mixed models. The cognitive profile of High CR individuals (n = 16) was more fluctuating than that of patients with Low CR (n = 34) up to 15 months of treatment, showingan alternation of improvements and worsening. At linear mixed models, CRIq Total score was significantly associated with MMSE over the follow-up either when considered as continuous (β = 0.13 [95%CI:0.07-0.19], p < .001, per each 1-unit increase) orcategorical variable (β = 3.62 [95%CI:1.77-5.47], p = .002, High vs Low CR). Among the CR domains, higher CRIq Leisure-time scores were significantly associated with higher MMSE during the follow-up (β = 0.05 [95%CI:0.02-0.09], p = .009, per each 1-unit increase).The study indicates that higher CR, and especially Leisure Time-related CR, was associated with better cognitive performance in older outpatients with dementia treated with AChEI for 27 months. These findings suggest that Leisure Time-related CR could influence the evolution of dementia, and support the need of further investigations to verify the potential usefulness of interventions enhancing such domain even in advanced age
Coping Strategies and Distress in Patients and Caregivers Dealing with Neurocognitive Disorders
No full textBackground and Aims: Quality of life (QoL) is described as the individual’s perception of life in relation to the cultural context and value system in which they live, and their objectives, expectations and interests. The aim of the present study is to investigate the perceptions of QoL on the part of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or mild dementia and on the part of their caregivers, by examining how they are influenced by factors such as anosognosia, coping strategies, perceived stress and caregiver burden.
Methods: QoL was assessed in a sample of 30 patients with MCI or mild dementia and their caregivers using the QoL-AD. Other variables were measured with the AQ-D, PSS-10, COPE-NVI-25 and CBI instruments. We also assessed patients’ levels of cognitive impairment with the MMSE.
Results: Patients’ QoL ratings were significantly higher than those of their respective caregivers. Patients’ perceptions of QoL were predicted by their caregiver’s avoidance coping strategy (β = -0.591, p < 0.01), whereas the caregivers’ perceptions of QoL were predicted by their perceived stress levels (β = -0.567, p < 0.01), the patient’s transcendent orientation (β = -0.369, p < 0.05) and the caregiver’s positive attitude coping strategy (β = 0.312, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: This study shows that perception of QoL is mostly influenced by coping strategies and perceived stress, and that caregivers’ dysfunctional coping strategies can affect patients’ perceptions of QoL. Our data also highlight the crucial role of the caregiver in the treatment of neurocognitive disorders
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