| 1. |
- Aarts, Mariëlle P. J., et al.
(author)
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Shedding a light on phototherapy studies with people having dementia : A critical review of the methodology from a light perspective
- 2016
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In: American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia. - : Sage Publications. - 1533-3175 .- 1938-2731. ; 31:7, s. 551-563
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Light therapy is applied to older people with dementia as a treatment to reset the biological clock, to improve the cognitive functioning, and to reduce behavioral symptoms. Although the methodological quality of light therapy studies is essential, many aspects concerning the description of the lighting applied are missing. This study reviewed light therapy studies concerning the effects on people with dementia as a way to check the methodological quality of the description of light from a light engineering perspective. Twelve studies meeting the inclusion criteria were chosen for further analysis. Each study was scored on a list of aspects relevant to a proper description of lighting aspects. The overview demonstrates that the overall quality of the methodologies is poor. The studies describe the lighting insufficiently and not in the correct metrics. The robustness of light therapy studies can be improved by involving a light engineer or specialist.
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| 2. |
- Annerbo, S, et al.
(author)
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The significance of thyroid-stimulating hormone and homocysteine in the development of Alzheimer's disease in mild cognitive impairment: a 6-year follow-up study
- 2006
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In: American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. - : SAGE Publications. - 1533-3175 .- 1938-2731. ; 21:3, s. 182-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transition between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of vitamin B12/folate, homocysteine, standard laboratory parameters, and concomitant diseases for development of AD in persons with an MCI diagnosis. Development of dementia was followed for 6 years in 93 consecutively recruited MCI persons. Information concerning the above factors was obtained from medical journals. Thirty-four percent of participants converted to AD within 6 years. A forward stepwise logistic regression was performed. The odds ratio (OR) for the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was 0.777; for age, 1.084; and for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), 0.287. The OR for homocysteine was 1.287 at 60 years of age and 1.087 at 65 years of age. Lower TSH levels together with the more established factors lower MMSE, higher homocysteine levels, and age were found to be predictive factors of AD. This may have clinical implications with regard to monitoring TSH levels and thyroxin substitution in MCI patients.
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| 3. |
- Boccia, M, et al.
(author)
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Neural Underpinnings of the Decline of Topographical Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment
- 2016
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In: American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. - : SAGE Publications. - 1938-2731 .- 1533-3175. ; 31:8, s. 618-630
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Spatial navigation is one of the cognitive functions known to decline in both normal and pathological aging. In the present study, we aimed to assess the neural correlates of the decline of topographical memory in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Patients with aMCI and age-matched controls were engaged in an intensive learning paradigm, lasting for 5 days, during which they had to encode 1 path from an egocentric perspective and 1 path from an allocentric perspective. After the learning period, they were asked to retrieve each of these paths using an allocentric or egocentric frame of reference while undergoing a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. We found that patients with aMCI showed a specific deficit in storing new topographical memories from an allocentric perspective and retrieving stored information to perform the egocentric task. Imaging data suggest that this general decline is correlated with hypoactivation of the brain areas generally involved in spatial navigation.
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| 4. |
- Cedervall, Ylva, et al.
(author)
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Declining physical capacity but maintained aerobic activity in early Alzheimer's disease
- 2012
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In: American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia. - : SAGE Publications. - 1533-3175 .- 1938-2731. ; 27:3, s. 180-187
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The longitudinal influences on physical capacity and habitual aerobic activity level in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are unclear. Therefore, changes in physical capacity and aerobic activity level were evaluated. Twenty-five individuals with AD were assessed annually for 2 years, by 10-m walk test, 6-minute walk test, and timed up-and-go (TUG) single/dual tasks. Habitual aerobic activity was assessed by diary registrations. The AD group showed a lower physical capacity than controls at baseline but comparable levels of aerobic activity. During the follow-up period, physical capacity declined in the AD group, but the aerobic activity levels changed only marginally. Our results show that in the early stages of AD, people are capable of maintaining health-promoting aerobic activity levels, despite a decline in their physical capacity. Additionally, it appears that cognitive dysfunction contributes to an impaired physical capacity. The TUG tasks might, therefore, be useful for detecting early signs of cognitive impairment.
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| 5. |
- Chen, JM, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive impairment among elderly individuals in Shanghai suburb, China: association of C-reactive protein and its interactions with other relevant factors
- 2014
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In: American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. - : SAGE Publications. - 1938-2731 .- 1533-3175. ; 29:8, s. 712-717
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To investigate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and cognitive impairment as well as interactions between CRP and other relevant factors. Methods: Patients with cognitive impairment and 1 to 2 age- and sex-matched controls nested from a population-based study among residents aged 60 years and older in Shanghai suburb. The associations of serum CRP concentration and other relevant factors were examined with logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean CRP in patients with cognitive impairment was higher than that in controls ( P < .001). The highest quartile of CRP (>4.77 mg/L), abdomen obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia was associated with cognitive impairment. Significant interactions were found between increased CRP and hypertriglyceridemia as well as between increased CRP and hyperglycemia on cognitive impairment; and the attributable proportion due to interaction was 82% ( P < .0001) and 37% ( P = .007), respectively. Conclusions: Increased CRP was associated with cognitive impairment, and additive effects of increased CRP with hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia on cognitive impairment were observed among elderly individuals.
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| 6. |
- Fjellström, Christina, et al.
(author)
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To Be a Good Food Provider : An Exploratory Study Among Spouses of Persons With Alzheimer's Disease
- 2010
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In: American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia. - : Sage Publications. - 1533-3175 .- 1938-2731. ; 25:6, s. 521-526
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large proportions of people with dementia live at home and need help from a relative. The aim of the current study was to examine how people living with persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) perceived everyday life aspects of food choices, cooking, and food-related work. The analyses are based on focus group interviews including women and men acting as caregivers to people with AD and living in Sweden. The main results identified from the data, were how cohabitants to persons with AD struggle with either taking on a new role as a food provider or extending it, but also how they tried to cope as carer, which entailed food being an important part of the treatment of the disease. Those expressing greatest concern were those perceiving themselves as inexperienced food providers and carers, which in this study were all men.
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| 7. |
- Holst, Göran, et al.
(author)
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Exploring the meaning of everyday life, for those suffering from dementia
- 2003
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In: American Journal of Alzheimers Disease & other Dementias. - Boston : SAGE Publications. - 1938-2731 .- 1533-3175. ; 18:6, s. 359-365
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Living with dementia means struggling to preserve a sense of self, to retain (and reevaluate) one's values in a new situation, and to search for a new way of life. This study explored the meaning of everyday life as expressed by 11 people suffering from dementia. Data were collected through interviews with people in the early stage of a diagnosed dementia disease. The findings indicate that many people with dementia feel shame, sorrow, and sadness when their life with the disease begins but also indicate prospects of a more manageable life. Since the reaction and adjustment to dementia differs from person to person, professional caregivers need to use a case-specific approach in the provision of care.
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| 8. |
- Londos, Elisabet, et al.
(author)
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Effects of a goal-oriented rehabilitation program in mild cognitive impairment: A pilot study
- 2008
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In: American Journal of Alzheimers Disease & other Dementias. - : SAGE Publications. - 1938-2731 .- 1533-3175. ; 23:2, s. 177-183
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Memory disturbance, deficient concentration, and fatigue are symptoms seen in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well as in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to assess if an established rehabilitation program commonly used in TBI can aid MCI patients to develop compensatory memory strategies that can improve their cognition, occupational performance, and quality of life (QoL). Methods: Fifteen patients with MCI participated in the program 2 days per week for 8 weeks. Cognitive function, occupational performance, and self-perceived QoL were assessed at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at follow-up after 6 months. Results: Significant improvements were seen in cognitive processing speed, occupational performance, and in some of the QoL domains. Conclusion: As this goal-oriented rehabilitation program in MCI resulted in some improvements in cognition, occupational performance, and QoL, further randomized controlled studies are warranted.
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| 9. |
- Mansoori, Nasim, et al.
(author)
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Serum Folic Acid and RFC A80G Polymorphism in Alzheimers Disease and Vascular Dementia
- 2014
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In: American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia. - : SAGE Publications (UK and US). - 1533-3175 .- 1938-2731. ; 29:1, s. 38-44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Low level of vitamin B12 and folic acid has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Serum folic acid and vitamin B12 were assayed in 80 AD and 50 VaD cases and in 120 healthy controls. The reduced folate carrier (RFC1) gene, rs1051266, which encodes the RFC 1, protein was analyzed for polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. It was observed that the patients having folic acid <8.45 ng/mL had 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-4.5) times higher odds of having AD and 2.1 (95% CI: 1.1-4.2) times higher odds of having VaD than patients having folic acid ≥8.45 ng/mL. Serum vitamin B12 level did not show any such statistically significant effect in altering the odds. No direct association was found between variant (G) allele or genotype of rs1051266 with AD and VaD cases. On serum folate level no association was observed with gene polymorphism.
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| 10. |
- McKenna, Stephen P, et al.
(author)
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International development of the Alzheimer's patient partners life impact questionnaire (APPLIQue)
- 2020
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In: American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia. - 1533-3175 .- 1938-2731. ; 35, s. 1-11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: Informal caregivers play a vital role in the care of people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), yet caregiving is associated with caregivers' burden. The initial objective of the study was to develop a new outcome measure to assess quality of life (QoL) in AD caregivers.METHODS: Informal (non-professional) caregivers providing 75% or more of the care activities for, and living in the same household as, a person with AD were invited to take part in the study. Qualitative interviews (N = 40) were conducted with AD caregivers in the UK and thematic analyses were applied to generate a pool of potential items. A draft questionnaire was produced and adapted for use in Italy, Spain, Germany and the US. In each of the 5 countries, cognitive debriefing interviews (N = 76) were conducted to determine the questionnaire's face and content validity, followed by a postal validation survey (N = 268). The data from these surveys were combined to reduce the number of items and assess the new questionnaire's psychometric properties.RESULTS: Thematic analysis of the UK interview transcripts generated a draft questionnaire, which was successfully translated into each additional language. The items were well accepted and easy to complete. However, reanalysis of the qualitative interview data revealed that spousal and non-spousal caregivers identified different experiences of caregiving. A review of the item pool indicated that items were primarily targeted at spousal caregivers. Therefore, further analyses of the postal survey data included spousal caregivers only (n = 116). The results supported scaling assumptions (e.g., corrected item-total correlations ≥0.32), targeting (e.g., floor/ceiling effects <2.5%), internal consistency (α ≥0.93) and test-retest reliability (rs = 0.88) of the new questionnaire, according to classical test theory. Assessment of external construct validity yielded results in accordance with a priori expectations. QoL scores were most strongly related to scores on the emotional reactions sections of the Nottingham Health Profile and the General Well-Being Index. The new questionnaire was found to be capable of detecting meaningful differences between respondents; spousal caregivers had worse QoL when the person with AD was confused (p < .001), could not be left alone (p < .001), did not recognize the caregiver (p < .001), was incontinent (p < .05), and wandered around the house (p = .01).CONCLUSIONS: The Alzheimer's Disease Patient Partners Life Impact Questionnaire (APPLIQue) is a questionnaire specific to spousal caregivers of people with AD. Data support its scaling assumptions and it exhibits excellent psychometric properties according to classical test theory. The questionnaire is recommended for use in intervention studies where the QoL of spousal caregivers is of interest.
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