| 1. |
- Akenine, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
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Attitudes of at-risk older adults about prevention of cardiovascular disease and dementia using eHealth : a qualitative study in a European context
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - 2044-6055. ; 10:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives Prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia is a key health priority among older adults. Understanding individuals’ attitudes to, the prevention of these conditions, particularly when delivered through novel eHealth tools, could help in designing effective prevention programmes. The aim of the study was to explore the attitudes of older adults at increased risk of CVD and dementia regarding engagement in eHealth self-management prevention programmes, and to describe the facilitators and barriers.Design A qualitative research approach was used. Data were collected through eight focus groups in Finland, France and the Netherlands. Data were analysed following the principles of grounded theory.Setting and participants Forty-four community-dwellers aged 65+ at risk of CVD were recruited from a previous trial cohort in Finland, and through general practices in France and the Netherlands.Results The study identified three categories: access to reliable information, trust in the healthcare providers and burden and stigma of dementia. A core category was also identified: the interactive process of the three categories influencing engagement in self-management prevention programme. The categories were interconnected through an interactive process and influenced by the local healthcare culture and context which shaped them differently, becoming either facilitators or barriers to engage in eHealth self-management prevention programmes.Conclusions The study emphasises the importance of considering the interactions between the identified categories in this study, grounded in the local healthcare culture and context in further developments of eHealth self-management interventions that aim to prevent CVD and dementia.
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| 2. |
- Akenine, Ulrika
(författare)
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Perspectives on participation in dementia prevention clinical trials
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dementia is an enormous global health challenge with a rapid increase in the number of people affected. There is an urgent need for research to find effective treatments and preventive strategies. Dementia prevention research is undergoing rapid development with novel approaches and techniques used. Both pharmacological and multimodal lifestyle randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have become longer, more complex, and target people earlier in the disease continuum. For the participants in clinical trials, this means new challenges. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore the experiences of participation in dementia prevention clinical trials among study participants, study partners, and specialized personnel/ staff. Furthermore, the aim was to further understand their attitudes and knowledge about dementia and related diagnoses. All studies used qualitative method. Data from different kind of RCTs was collected with questionnaires including open-ended questions, focus groups and individual interviews. Content analysis and Grounded theory were used. Study I: Questionnaire with open-ended questions to 19 participants and 20 study partners in immunotherapy Alzheimer ́s disease (AD) phase I-II RCTs and group interview with eight staff members in the clinical trial unit were used. Staff members highlighted the high burden for the participants. The main motives for participation were a willingness to help research and the benefits of access to specialized care. The main disadvantages were that participating was time-consuming and perceived distress in connection to some investigations. Study II: Focus group interviews were conducted within the Healthy Ageing Through Internet Counselling in the Elderly (HATICE) study with expert nurses (n=13) in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in Finland and in the Netherlands. The purpose was to describe nurses' best experiences and practices with supporting CVD prevention and describe their suggestions on how to integrate their experiences into an online eHealth platform. Important aspects were to establish a relationship of trust, awareness and expectation management, and appropriate time and monitoring. Study III: Focus groups interviews with older “at risk” adults (presence of CVD risk factors) in Finland, The Netherlands, and France were conducted as part of the HATICE study (n=44). The purpose was to explore attitudes of older adults at increased risk of CVD and dementia and engagement in an eHealth self-management prevention program as well as facilitators and barriers. The results were represented in three categories: access to reliable information about CVD and dementia, trust in the healthcare provider, and burden and stigma of dementia. Study IV: Individual interviews with participants in multimodal dementia prevention MIND-ADMINI trial among persons with prodromal AD (n=8) were conducted. The participants' experience of participating in the trial is presented as a dynamic process. Previous knowledge, their motives, and the received information guide the participants' decision to take part in the trial. The trial was well tolerated and received even though the participants initially experienced high burden and difficulties managing information provided. Conclusions: Despite differences in the trials and target populations, the participants presented similar motives for participating in dementia prevention trials including altruistic, hope for personal benefits of the interventions, and access to specialized care. There are differences in the participants' preferences and need for support in a trial, between the participating countries, and along the disease continuum. To address this, a more person- centred approach in the conduction of the trials is suggested. This may improve participant ́s situation and the quality of RCTs which is important given the increasing complexity and new methods used in dementia prevention trials.
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| 3. |
- Ekman, Urban, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of a Novel Psychological Intervention Tailored for Patients With Early Cognitive Impairment (PIPCI) : Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-1078. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Individuals with early phase cognitive impairment are frequently affected by existential distress, social avoidance and associated health issues (including symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression). The demand for efficient psychological support is crucial from both an individual and a societal perspective. We have developed a novel psychological intervention (Psychological Intervention tailored for Patients with Cognitive Impairment, PIPCI) manual for providing a non-medical path to enhanced psychological health in the cognitively impaired population. The current article provides specific information on the randomized controlled trial (RCT)-design and methods. The main hypothesis is that participants receiving PIPCI will increase their psychological flexibility (the ability to notice and accept interfering thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without acting on them, when this serves action in line with personal values) compared to participants in the active control (cognitive training) group and the waiting list control group. The secondary hypotheses are that participants receiving PIPCI will improve psychological health (stress measures, quality of life, depression, and general health) compared to participants in the active control group and the waiting list control group.Materials and Methods: This three-arm RCT will recruit participants from the cognitive centers at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm and randomize approximately 120 individuals in the early phase of cognitive impairment to either an experimental group (psychological intervention once a week for 10 weeks), an active control group (cognitive training once a week for 10 weeks) or a waiting list control group. Intervention outcome will be evaluated with self-report questionnaires on physical and psychological aspects of health, cognitive assessment, biological markers (obtained from blood and saliva) and health care costs. Assessments will be performed at pre- (1 week before the interventions) and post-intervention (1 week after the interventions), as well as at a 6-month follow-up.Discussion: The development of a potentially feasible and effective psychological intervention tailored for early phase cognitive impairment (PIPCI) has the potential to advance the non-pharmacological intervention field. This is especially important given the extensive burden for many affected individuals and their families and the current lack of effective treatments. If the psychological intervention discussed here shows feasibility and efficacy, there is potential for far-reaching healthcare implications for patients with early cognitive impairment at risk of developing dementia.
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| 6. |
- Lebedev, Alexander V., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of daily L-dopa administration on learning and brain structure in older adults undergoing cognitive training : a randomised clinical trial
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cognitive aging creates major individual and societal burden, motivating search for treatment and preventive care strategies. Behavioural interventions can improve cognitive performance in older age, but effects are small. Basic research has implicated dopaminergic signalling in plasticity. We investigated whether supplementation with the dopamine-precursor L-dopa improves effects of cognitive training on performance. Sixty-three participants for this randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial were recruited via newspaper advertisements. Inclusion criteria were: age of 65–75 years, Mini-Mental State Examination score >25, absence of serious medical conditions. Eligible subjects were randomly allocated to either receive 100/25 mg L-dopa/benserazide (n = 32) or placebo (n = 31) prior to each of twenty cognitive training sessions administered during a four-week period. Participants and staff were blinded to group assignment. Primary outcomes were latent variables of spatial and verbal fluid intelligence. Compared to the placebo group, subjects receiving L-dopa improved less in spatial intelligence (−0.267 SDs; 95%CI [−0.498, −0.036]; p = 0.024). Change in verbal intelligence did not significantly differ between the groups (−0.081 SDs, 95%CI [−0.242, 0.080]; p = 0.323). Subjects receiving L-dopa also progressed slower through the training and the groups displayed differential volumetric changes in the midbrain. No statistically significant differences were found for the secondary cognitive outcomes. Adverse events occurred for 10 (31%) and 7 (23%) participants in the active and control groups, correspondingly. The results speak against early pharmacological interventions in older healthy adults to improve broader cognitive functions by targeting the dopaminergic system and provide no support for learning-enhancing properties of L-dopa supplements in the healthy elderly. The findings warrant closer investigation about the cognitive effects of early dopamine-replacement therapy in neurological disorders. This trial was preregistered at the European Clinical Trial Registry, EudraCT#2016-000891-54 (2016-10-05).
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| 7. |
- 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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| 8. |
- Norgren, Jakob, et al.
(författare)
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Ketosis After Intake of Coconut Oil and Caprylic Acid-With and Without Glucose : A Cross-Over Study in Healthy Older Adults
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Nutrition. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-861X. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Medium-chain-triglycerides (MCT), formed by fatty acids with a length of 6-12 carbon atoms (C6-C12), constitute about two thirds of coconut oil (Coc). MCT have specific metabolic properties which has led them to be described as ketogenic even in the absence of carbohydrate restriction. This effect has mainly been demonstrated for caprylic acid (C8), which constitutes about 6-8% of coconut oil. Our aim was to quantify ketosis and blood glucose after intake of Coc and C8, with and without glucose intake. Sunflower oil (Suf) was used as control, expected to not break fasting ketosis, nor induce supply-driven ketosis. Method: In a 6-arm cross-over design, 15 healthy volunteers-age 65-73, 53% women-were tested once a week. After a 12-h fast, ketones were measured during 4 h after intake of coffee with cream, in combination with each of the intervention arms in a randomized order: 1. Suf (30 g); 2. C8 (20 g) + Suf (10 g); 3. C8 (20 g) + Suf (10 g) + Glucose (50 g); 4. Coc (30 g); 5. Coc (30 g) + Glucose (50 g); 6. C8 (20 g) + Coc (30 g). The primary outcome was absolute blood levels of the ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate, area under the curve (AUC). ANOVA for repeated measures was performed to compare arms. Results: beta-hydroxybutyrate, AUC/time (mean +/- SD), for arms were 1: 0.18 +/- 0.11; 2: 0.45 +/- 0.19; 3: 0.28 +/- 0.12; 4: 0.22 +/- 0.12; 5: 0.08 +/- 0.04; 6: 0.45 +/- 0.20 (mmol/L). Differences were significant (all p <= 0.02), except for arm 2 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 1 & 3. Blood glucose was stable in arm 1, 2, 4, & 6, at levels slightly below baseline (p <= 0.05) at all timepoints hours 1-4 after intake. Conclusions: C8 had a higher ketogenic effect than the other components. Coc was not significantly different from Suf, or C8 with glucose. In addition, we report that a 16-h non-carbohydrate window contributed to a mild ketosis, while blood glucose remained stable. Our results suggest that time-restricted feeding regarding carbohydrates may optimize ketosis from intake of MCT.
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| 9. |
- Norgren, Jakob, et al.
(författare)
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Serum proBDNF Is Associated With Changes in the Ketone Body β-Hydroxybutyrate and Shows Superior Repeatability Over Mature BDNF : Secondary Outcomes From a Cross-Over Trial in Healthy Older Adults
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1663-4365. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) can upregulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mice, but little is known about the associations between BHB and BDNF in humans. The primary aim here was to investigate whether ketosis (i.e., raised BHB levels), induced by a ketogenic supplement, influences serum levels of mature BDNF (mBDNF) and its precursor proBDNF in healthy older adults. A secondary aim was to determine the intra-individual stability (repeatability) of those biomarkers, measured as intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC).Method: Three of the arms in a 6-arm randomized cross-over trial were used for the current sub-study. Fifteen healthy volunteers, 65–75 y, 53% women, were tested once a week. Test oils, mixed in coffee and cream, were ingested after a 12-h fast. Labeled by their level of ketosis, the arms provided: sunflower oil (lowK); coconut oil (midK); caprylic acid + coconut oil (highK). Repeated blood samples were collected for 4 h after ingestion. Serum BDNF levels were analyzed for changes from baseline to 1, 2 and 4 h to compare the arms. Individual associations between BHB and BDNF were analyzed cross-sectionally and for a delayed response (changes in BHB 0–2 h to changes in BDNF at 0–4 h). ICC estimates were calculated from baseline levels from the three study days.Results: proBDNF increased more in highK vs. lowK between 0 and 4 h (z-score: β = 0.25, 95% CI 0.07–0.44; p = 0.007). Individual change in BHB 0–2 h, predicted change in proBDNF 0–4 h, (β = 0.40, CI 0.12–0.67; p = 0.006). Change in mBDNF was lower in highK vs. lowK at 0–2 h (β = −0.88, CI −1.37 to −0.40; p < 0.001) and cumulatively 0–4 h (β = −1.01, CI −1.75 to −0.27; p = 0.01), but this could not be predicted by BHB levels. ICC was 0.96 (95% CI 0.92–0.99) for proBDNF, and 0.72 (CI 0.47–0.89) for mBDNF.Conclusions: The findings support a link between changes in peripheral BHB and proBDNF in healthy older adults. For mBDNF, changes differed between arms but independent to BHB levels. Replication is warranted due to the small sample. Excellent repeatability encourages future investigations on proBDNF as a predictor of brain health.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03904433.
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| 10. |
- Solomon, Alina, et al.
(författare)
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Practical Lessons from Amyloid Immunotherapy Trials in Alzheimer Disease
- 2012
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Ingår i: Current Alzheimer Research. - : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.. - 1567-2050 .- 1875-5828. ; 9:10, s. 1126-1134
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Amyloid immunotherapy trials are central in Alzheimer disease (AD) drug development, with the potential to influence all future disease-modifying randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This study investigates practical experiences of staff and participants in immunotherapy RCTs. Setting and methods: The Clinical Trial Research Unit of the Memory Clinic at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden is an experienced centre specialized in Alzheimer RCTs, where four active and passive phase I/II immunotherapy trials are currently ongoing. Meetings were held with staff members, who were asked to describe their experiences and suggest necessary improvements. In addition, a pilot study was conducted to investigate motivations and expectations of participants in immunotherapy RCTs. A questionnaire was sent to 20 patients, and another similar questionnaire to their caregivers. Results: The main issues emphasized by staff members concerned the critical window of opportunity for recruiting RCTs participants, the much higher level of effort required of patients and caregivers in immunotherapy RCTs compared to classical cholinesterase inhibitor RCTs, problematic informed consent procedures, and confidentiality limitations in trials with different sponsors. For patients and caregivers, the main reason for participating in RCTs was the wish to help research and other people, followed by the need for information, continuity of care, safety and support. Compared to patients, caregivers' expectations of trial results were more realistic. Conclusions: More open debates of practical experiences from different trial centres and sponsors are essential for optimizing trial designs and improving conditions for participants.
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