| 1. |
- Falkmer, Marita, et al.
(författare)
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Viewpoints of adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders on public transport
- 2015
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Ingår i: Transportation Research. Part A: Policy & Practice. - : Elsevier BV. - 0965-8564 .- 1879-2375. ; 80, s. 163-183
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Public transport is low cost, allows for independence, and facilitates engagement and participation for non-drivers. However, the viewpoints of individuals with cognitive disabilities are rarely considered. In Australia, the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is approximately 1% and increasing. Many individuals with ASD do not possess a driver's licence, indicating that access to public transport is crucial for their independence. However, at present, there is no research on the opinions of adults with ASD on public transport. Aim: To identify the viewpoints of adults with ASD regarding the barriers and facilitators of public transport usage and their transportation preferences, and to contrast these against the viewpoints of neurotypical adults. Methods: Q. method was used to identify the viewpoints of both participant groups on public transport. Participants consisted of 55 adults with a diagnosis of ASD and a contrast group of 57 neurotypical adults. Both groups completed a Q sort task which took place in either Perth or Melbourne, Australia. Results: The most prominent viewpoint indicated that both groups preferred to use public transport over driving and believed that it supported their independence. This viewpoint also indicated that both groups preferred to use electronic ticketing when using public transport. Interestingly, the second most prominent viewpoint indicated that both groups preferred to drive themselves by private car rather than use public transport. Discussion: It appears that the viewpoints of adults with and without ASD regarding public transportation were largely similar. However, questions arose about whether the preference for public transport in the ASD group may be more a result of difficulties obtaining a driving licence than a deliberate choice. The only barrier specified by adults with ASD related to crowding on public transport. Safety and convenience in relation to location and timing of services were barriers reported by neurotypical adults. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Vuorinen, Miika, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in vascular factors 28 years from midlife and late-life cortical thickness
- 2013
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Aging. - : Elsevier BV. - 0197-4580 .- 1558-1497. ; 34:1, s. 100-109
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We assessed midlife blood pressure (BP), body mass index, total cholesterol, and their changes over time in relation to cortical thickness on magnetic resonance imaging 28 years later in 63 elderly at risk of dementia. Participants in the population-based Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia study were first examined at midlife. A first follow-up was conducted after 21 years, and a second follow-up after an additional 7 years. Magnetic resonance images from the second follow-up were analyzed using algorithms developed at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Midlife hypertension was related to thinner cortex in several brain areas, including insular, frontal, and temporal cortices. In elderly with thinner insular cortex, there was a continuous decline in systolic BP and an increase in pulse pressure after midlife, while in elderly with thicker insular cortex the decline in systolic BP started at older ages, paralleled by a decline in pulse pressure. No associations were found between body mass index, cholesterol, or apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and cortical thickness in this group of elderly at risk individuals.
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| 3. |
- Reynolds, Chandra A., et al.
(författare)
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Gene-Environment Interplay in Physical, Psychological, and Cognitive Domains in Mid to Late Adulthood : Is APOE a Variability Gene?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Behavior Genetics. - : Springer Nature Switzerland AG. - 0001-8244 .- 1573-3297. ; 46:1, s. 4-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite emerging interest in gene-environment interaction (GxE) effects, there is a dearth of studies evaluating its potential relevance apart from specific hypothesized environments and biometrical variance trends. Using a monozygotic within-pair approach, we evaluated evidence of G×E for body mass index (BMI), depressive symptoms, and cognition (verbal, spatial, attention, working memory, perceptual speed) in twin studies from four countries. We also evaluated whether APOE is a 'variability gene' across these measures and whether it partly represents the 'G' in G×E effects. In all three domains, G×E effects were pervasive across country and gender, with small-to-moderate effects. Age-cohort trends were generally stable for BMI and depressive symptoms; however, they were variable-with both increasing and decreasing age-cohort trends-for different cognitive measures. Results also suggested that APOE may represent a 'variability gene' for depressive symptoms and spatial reasoning, but not for BMI or other cognitive measures. Hence, additional genes are salient beyond APOE.
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| 4. |
- Falkmer, Marita, et al.
(författare)
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Recognition of facially expressed emotions and visual search strategies in adults with Asperger syndrome
- 2011
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Ingår i: RES AUTISM SPECTR DISORD. - : Elsevier BV. - 1750-9467 .- 1878-0237. ; 5:1, s. 210-217
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Can the disadvantages persons with Asperger syndrome frequently experience with reading facially expressed emotions be attributed to a different visual perception, affecting their scanning patterns? Visual search strategies, particularly regarding the importance of information from the eye area, and the ability to recognise facially expressed emotions were compared between 24 adults with Asperger syndrome and their matched controls. While wearing a head mounted eye tracker, the participants viewed 12 pairs of photos of faces. The first photo in each pair was cut up into puzzle pieces. Six of the 12 puzzle pieced photos had the eyes bisected. The second photo showed a happy, an angry and a surprised face of the same person as in the puzzle pieced photo. Differences in visual search strategies between the groups were established. Adults with Asperger syndrome had greater difficulties recognizing these basic emotions than controls. The distortion of the eye area affected the ability to identify emotions even more negatively for participants with Asperger syndrome.
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| 5. |
- Lindström, Kjell, 1946-, et al.
(författare)
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Can selective serotonin inhibitor drugs in elderly patients in nursing homes be reduced?
- 2007
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - London : Informa Healthcare. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724. ; 25:1, s. 3-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) could be withdrawn for elderly residents who had been on treatment for at least one year and to evaluate a method for systematic drug review. DESIGN: Open, prospective, interventional study. SETTING: Four counties in Sweden. SUBJECTS: Elderly residents at 19 nursing homes, with ongoing treatment with SSRIs for more than one year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical evaluation, registration of drugs used and rating with Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). A semi-structured telephone interview with 15 participating physicians and 19 nurses. RESULTS: About one-third of all 822 residents in the nursing homes had ongoing antidepressant treatment, predominantly with SSRIs; 75% of them had been treated with SSRIs for at least one year and 119 (60%) of these were considered eligible for the study. The intervention was judged successful in 52% of these residents of whom 88% had a MADRS rating of less than 20 points. The GPs and the nurses experienced the method as practicable. CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal of SSRI treatment was successful in the majority of cases. The MADRS may be a valuable addition to clinical evaluation when deciding whether to end or continue SSRI treatment.
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| 6. |
- Black, Melissa H., et al.
(författare)
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Perspectives of key stakeholders on employment of autistic adults across the United States, Australia and Sweden
- 2019
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Ingår i: Autism Research. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1939-3792 .- 1939-3806. ; 12:11, s. 1648-1662
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite efforts to improve employment outcomes for autistic individuals, internationally their employment rates remain low. There is a need to better understand the factors influencing successful employment for autistic adults in the labor market from the perspectives of multiple keystakeholders. This study represents the second in a series of papers conducted as part of an International Society for Autism Research policy brief aimed at improving employment outcomes for autistic individuals. A community consultation methodology using focus groups, forums, and interviews was applied with autistic individuals (n = 19), family members (n = 18), service providers (n = 21), employers (n = 11), researchers (n = 5), and advocacy group representatives (n = 5) in Australia, Sweden, and the United States, aiming to identify the factors perceived to determine gaining and maintaining employment for autistic individuals. Directed content analysis, guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), was conducted to investigate the key factors influencing employment outcomes for autistic individuals. Meaningful verbal concepts, or units of text with common themes, were also derived from the qualitative data and then linked and compared to the ICF Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Core-sets. Across countries, activity and participation and environmental factor categories of the ICF were the most associated with employment outcomes. Results suggest that removal of environmental barriers and enhancing environmental facilitators may assist to remediate ASD-related difficulties in the workplace.LAY SUMMARY: This study sought to understand the perspectives of autistic individuals and key stakeholders on factors influencing if autistic adults get and keep jobs. Across Australia, Sweden, and the UnitedStates, focus groups and interviews were conducted to understand international perspectives on what helps and hinders getting and keeping a job for autistic individuals. The environment, including supports, relationships, attitudes, and services, were perceived to be the most important for workplace success. Intervention targeting barriers and facilitators in the workplace environment may support autistic adults to be successful in the labor market.
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| 7. |
- Sindi, S., et al.
(författare)
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Sleep disturbances and later cognitive status: a multi-centre study
- 2018
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Ingår i: Sleep Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1389-9457 .- 1878-5506. ; 52:December, s. 26-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the associations between sleep disturbances in mid-life and late-life and late-life cognitive status. Methods: In four population-based studies (three Swedish studies: H70 study, Kungsholmen Project (KP) and The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD); and one Finnish study: Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE)), participants provided self-reports on insomnia, nightmares and general sleep problems. Late-life cognitive status was measured by the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). The associations between late-life sleep disturbances and cognition 3-11 years later were investigated across all studies (n = 3210). Mean baseline ages were 70 (CAIDE, H70 and SWEOLD), and 84 years (KP). Additional analyses examined the association between midlife sleep and late-life cognition using CAIDE (21 and 31 years follow-up, n = 1306, mean age 50 years), and SWEOLD (20-24 years follow-up, n = 2068, mean age 58 years). Ordered logistic regressions, adjusted for potential baseline confounders, were used in the analyses. Results: Late-life sleep disturbances were associated with poorer cognition after 3-11 years (fully adjusted beta = -0.12, 95% CI = -0.24 to -0.01). Midlife nightmares and insomnia were also associated with lower MMSE scores (fully adjusted beta = -0.28, 95% CI = -0.49 to -0.07 and beta = -0.20, 95% CI = -0.39 to -0.01), although the latter association was attenuated after adjusting for lifestyle/health-related confounders. Midlife general sleep problems were not associated with late-life MMSE performance. Conclusions: Sleep disturbances and midlife nightmares were associated with lower MMSE scores, which suggests that sleep disturbances in earlier life stages can be associated with worse late-life cognition. (c) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 8. |
- Finkel, Deborah, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of Childhood and Adult Socioeconomic Position on Change in Functional Aging
- 2024
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Ingår i: Health Psychology. - : American Psychological Association (APA). - 0278-6133 .- 1930-7810. ; 43:5, s. 388-395
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To examine life-course models by investigating the roles of childhood and adult socioeconomic position (SEP) in longitudinal changes in a functional aging index. Method: Up to eight waves of testing, covering 25 years, were available from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging: N = 654, intake age = 50-82. A two-slope latent growth curve model was applied to the data, and the impact of including childhood and adult SEP as covariates of the intercept (at age 70) and slopes (before and after age 70) was tested. Results: Both childhood and adult SEP contributed to the best-fitting model. Childhood SEP was significantly associated with intercept and Slope 1 (before age 70) of the latent growth curve model (p < .05). Association of adult SEP with Slope 2 (after age 70) trended toward significance (p < .10). There was a significant interaction effect of childhood and adult SEP on the intercept (p < .05). As a result, intercept at age 70 was highest and change after age 70 was fastest for those whose SEP decreased from childhood to adulthood. Conclusions: Both childhood and adult SEP impact change in functional abilities with age, supporting both critical period and social mobility models. The social environment is modifiable by policies at local, national, and international levels, and these policies need to recognize that early social disadvantage can have long-lasting health impacts.
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| 9. |
- Norgren, Jakob, et al.
(författare)
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Capillary blood tests may overestimate ketosis : triangulation between three different measures of beta-hydroxybutyrate
- 2020
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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 318:2, s. e184-E188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), assessed by a point-of-care meter in venous whole blood (BHBv), was used as the main outcome in a study on nutritional ketosis in healthy older adults. Two other BHB measures were also used in the study for validation and exploratory purposes, and here we report findings on correlation and agreement between those three methods. Ketosis in the range of 0-1.5 mmol/L was induced in 15 healthy volunteers by intake of medium-chain fatty acids after a 12-h fast. BHBv was assessed at 12 time points for 4 h. The same point-of-care meter was also used to test capillary blood (BHBc) at three time points, and a laboratory test determined total ketones (TK) in plasma (BHBp + acetoacetate) at four time points. A total of 180 cases included simultaneous data on BHBv, BHBc, BHBp, and TK. TK correlated with BHBp (Pearson's r = 0.99), BHBv (r = 0.91), and BHBc (r = 0.91), all P < 0.0001. BHBv and BHBp had good agreement in absolute values. However, the slope between BHBc and BHBv, measured with the same device, was in the range of 0.64-0.78 in different regression models, indicating substantially higher BHB concentrations in capillary versus venous blood. We conclude that all three methods are valid to detect relative changes in ketosis, but our results highlight the importance of method considerations and the possible need to adjust cutoffs, e.g., in the management of ketoacidosis and in the evaluation and comparison of dietary interventions.
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| 10. |
- Karlsson, Ida K., et al.
(författare)
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Epigenome-wide association study of level and change in cognitive abilities from midlife through late life
- 2021
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Ingår i: Clinical Epigenetics. - : Springer Nature. - 1868-7083 .- 1868-7075. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Epigenetic mechanisms are important in aging and may be involved in late-life changes in cognitive abilities. We conducted an epigenome-wide association study of leukocyte DNA methylation in relation to level and change in cognitive abilities, from midlife through late life in 535 Swedish twins. Results: Methylation levels were measured with the Infinium Human Methylation 450 K or Infinium MethylationEPIC array, and all sites passing quality control on both arrays were selected for analysis (n = 250,816). Empirical Bayes estimates of individual intercept (age 65), linear, and quadratic change were obtained from latent growth curve models of cognitive traits and used as outcomes in linear regression models. Significant sites (p < 2.4 × 10–7) were followed up in between-within twin pair models adjusting for familial confounding and full-growth modeling. We identified six significant associations between DNA methylation and level of cognitive abilities at age 65: cg18064256 (PPP1R13L) with processing speed and spatial ability; cg04549090 (NRXN3) with spatial ability; cg09988380 (POGZ), cg25651129 (-), and cg08011941 (ENTPD8) with working memory. The genes are involved in neuroinflammation, neuropsychiatric disorders, and ATP metabolism. Within-pair associations were approximately half that of between-pair associations across all sites. In full-growth curve models, associations between DNA methylation and cognitive level at age 65 were of small effect sizes, and associations between DNA methylation and longitudinal change in cognitive abilities of very small effect sizes. Conclusions: Leukocyte DNA methylation was associated with level, but not change in cognitive abilities. The associations were substantially attenuated in within-pair analyses, indicating they are influenced in part by genetic factors.
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