scholarly journals Effects of Dehydration on Brain Functioning: A Life-Span Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Pross
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Brain Maturation ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Brain Functioning ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Brain

Background: In the last 10 years, there has been an increase in the publication of literature dealing with the effects of mild dehydration on cognition in healthy adults. Fewer studies, leading to less consistent data, involved other age groups. Summary: In healthy young adults refraining from drinking or participating in dehydration protocols, it was found that mild dehydration had no impact on performance, whereas the mood was widely impaired. Several studies have also been conducted in young children either as observational studies or as interventional studies. Nevertheless, methodological differences in (de)hydration monitoring, in cognitive assessments, and in the age/brain maturation of study participants, often resulted in contradictory findings regarding the cognitive functions impacted by (de)hydration. Although not consistent, these data showed that not only mood but also performance tend to be impaired by dehydration in children. Even if older adults are likely to be more vulnerable to dehydration than younger adults, very few studies have been conducted in this regard in this population. The results show that, like it is in children, cognition tends to be impaired when the elderly are dehydrated. Taken together, these studies suggest that dehydration has greater detrimental effects in vulnerable populations. Recent imaging data suggest that the brain of children and elderly adults may have fewer resources to manage the effects of dehydration. Consequently, cognitive tasks may be more demanding for younger and older brains and performance more likely to be impaired in these populations, in comparison to young healthy subjects who have greater and more efficient resources.

Patterns of Expenditure in Healthcare for Elderly in Shanghai

China Report ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-353
Author(s):  
Zhu Bifan ◽  
Li Fen ◽  
Wang Linan ◽  
Wang Changying ◽  
Jin Chunlin
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Care ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Pattern Of Care ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Care For The Elderly ◽  
The Status ◽  
Integration Of Services ◽  
Health Accounts ◽  
System Of Health Accounts

This study aims to summarise the characteristics of elderly care system and analyse expenditures of healthcare for the elderly in Shanghai. The authors use medical records of 2015 and health account results of 2014 based on System of Health Accounts 2011 to describe the pattern of care expenditures for elderly. Individuals aged 60 years and above account for 19.5 per cent of Shanghai’s population but utilise 52.2 per cent of all outpatient visits and 45.3 per cent of all hospitalisations. Almost two-thirds of their medical expenditures occur in hospitals and 16 per cent in community health centres, corresponding to the status of resource allocation. The out-of-pocket payment ratio of the elderly is lower than that of the younger adults, which is attributable to the preferential reimbursement polices set by the insurance schemes. The leading causes of expenditures are cardiovascular disease, neoplasms and respiratory diseases. Care for the elderly costs more, and the elderly use more services than other age groups. The article recommends the monitoring of irrational utilisation of services, strengthening of primary level care and integration of services across different facilities to streamline care for elderly in Shanghai.

Fear of Alzheimer's disease in the French population: impact of age and proximity to the disease

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inge Cantegreil-Kallen ◽  
Stéphanie Pin
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
French Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Negative Image

ABSTRACTBackground: The negative image of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in our society has a substantial impact on treating, caring for and integrating those suffering from the disease and their relatives. Little research has been conducted on social perception of AD in the community.Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the perception, knowledge, opinions and beliefs about AD in the French population. A cross-sectional telephone survey of 2013 randomly selected community-dwelling people aged 18 years and over was conducted. Multivariate logistic regressions were used for identifying predictors of the personal fear of developing AD, both for the global sample and for different age groups.Results: Sixty percent of the sample reported personal fear of developing AD. This attitude was strongly related to age, becoming predominant among the elderly. In the middle-aged group, personal fear of developing AD was highest in women with poor self-perceived health and, in particular, those who cared for someone with AD. Being a caregiver or knowing someone with the disease was also strongly associated with fear among younger adults aged 18–34.Conclusions: These results serve as an incentive for developing special education and prevention programs focused on different age groups and caregivers of AD.

scholarly journals Reaction Time-Based Cognitive Assessments in Virtual Reality – A Feasibility Study with an Age Diverse Sample

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils M. Vahle ◽  
Sebastian Unger ◽  
Martin J. Tomasik
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Testing Environment ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
And Performance

Introduction: While virtual reality (VR) is an emerging paradigm in a variety of research contexts, VR-based embodiment effects on behavior and performance still lack in sufficient evidence regarding to bias in cognitive performance assessment. Methods: In this methodological observational study, we compare the VR measurement of cognitive performance with a conventional computer-based testing approach in real life (RL) in younger and older adults. The differences between VR and RL scenarios are investigated using the background of two theoretical models from cognitive psychology. Furthermore, data assessment reliability and validity are analyzed, concerning the feasibility of technological and ergonomic aspects. Results: A within-group comparison showed no change in information processing speed in either one of the two age groups, i.e., both groups perform equally well in RL and in a VR testing environment. Conclusion: The use of lifelike VR environments for cognitive performance tests seems not to lead to any performance changes compared to RL computer-based assessments, making VR suitable for similar applications. On technical concerns, we recommend the careful use of reaction time paradigms regarding to input hardware and stimuli presentation.

scholarly journals Brain weights in adult africans

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 223-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Salami ◽  
M. Ajani ◽  
I. Orhorho ◽  
G. Ogun ◽  
A. Adeoye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Brain Weight ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Autopsy Specimens ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Introduction: The average brain weight of adult humans, using Caucasian figures, is said to be between 1300g to 1400g. Few studies have however been done to make actual evaluations of brain weights in adult Africans. This study seeks to examine the weight of brains from people of African descent with respect to variations in sex and age in decades using autopsy specimens. Materials and Methods: Analysis of the weight of brains removed from both male and female adult patients during fresh autopsy of their bodies in our center over a ten year period was done. The study criteria required non-involvement of the central nervous system in the cause of death. The brains were grouped based on age in decades and further grouped into early, middle and late age groups. Descriptive statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20 statistics software. Results: A total of one hundred and sixteen brains were included in the study and the mean brain weight was 1280g with a range between 1015g to 1590g. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean brain weight of the different age groups. The average male brain was heavier than those of females and the difference was statistically signiicant. Conclusion: The brain weight of adult Africans in our study is similar to that seen in Caucasians. There is no statistically significant difference in the brain weight of adults from early adulthood to the elderly adults. Male adults have statistically heavier brains than the females.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Perceived Stressfulness of Several Life Events

1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Sands ◽  
John Parker
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Elderly Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Younger Adults

Adults from different age groups (18–24, 30–40, and 65–86) were tested to determine if they differ in their perception of certain stressful life events. Twenty adults from each age group were asked to rate a series of events according to their perceived relative stressfulness; included were events thought to be particularly salient for elderly adults. Amster and Krauss' list of events and Holmes and Rahe's procedure for quantifying stress were used. Group differences were not found for the elderly salient events; however it was found that elderly adults perceive death-related events as less stressful than do younger adults.

AGE-RELATED CHANGES OF THE PROFILE FIELD OF NEURONS OF THE AREA 7 OF THE BRAIN OF MEN AND WOMEN IN THE PROCESS OF THE AGING

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
P. A. Agapov ◽  
I. N. Bogolepova ◽  
L. I. Malofeeva
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Female Brain ◽  
Group 5 ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Age Related Changes ◽  
Profile Field

The aim of the work is to study changes in the profile field of pyramidal neurons in the cortex of field 7 of the brain of men and women in the aging process. A cytoarchitectonic study of the cortex of field 7 of the upper parietal region of the brain of men and women was carried out on a series of frontal paraffin sections stained by the Nissl method. The brain preparations of men and women of three age groups were studied: the groups of mature age (from 20 to 60 years), the elderly group (from 60 to 75 years) and the group of senile age (from 75 years and older). In each age group, 5 preparations of the male brain and 5 preparations of the female brain were studied. Age-related changes in the cytoarchitectonics of the profile field of pyramidal neurons in the cytoarchitectonic layers of the third and fifth cortex fields 7 of the brain of men and women were studied. As a result of the study, it was revealed that in the process of aging of the brain of men and women, changes in similar morphometric indicators of field 7 cortex occur at different age periods, the dynamics of age-related changes in functionally different cytoarchitectonic layers III and V of the cerebral cortex of men and women are also different.

Test Anxiety in Elderly and Young Adults

1976 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Krauss Whitbourne
Keyword(s):  
Test Anxiety ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Testing Situation ◽  
Recall Memory ◽  
Memory Experiment

Test anxiety in elderly and young adult college students was measured by the Anxiety Achievement Test following a free-recall memory experiment. As expected, the elderly had higher levels of debilitating test anxiety than the younger adults. A large proportion of older persons showed behavioral manifestations of test anxiety either by refusing to participate in the study, or by their reactions during the testing. Test anxiety was related to memory performance among both age groups, suggesting that an older person's performance on a cognitive task may be influenced by affective reactions to the testing situation itself.

scholarly journals Feasibility of the EQ-5D in the elderly population: a systematic review of the literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Marten ◽  
Laura Brand ◽  
Wolfgang Greiner
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
General Population ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Missing Values ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Completion Rates ◽  
Study Characteristics ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Eq Vas

Abstract Purpose The EQ-5D-3L and 5L are widely used generic preference-based instruments, which are psychometrically sound with the general population, but little is known about the instruments’ feasibility in the elderly. Therefore, this systematic review summarises the available literature with regard to the feasibility properties of the instruments in the elderly population. Methods We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, PsycInfo and EuroQol databases using pre-specified vocabulary and inclusion/exclusion criteria to identify publications until November 2020. Study characteristics and outcomes referring to the feasibility of the EQ-5D-3L and 5L in the elderly were extracted, if all study participants were at least 65+ years. Results We identified 17 studies reporting feasibility outcomes based on four criteria: missing values, completion rates, completion time and broad qualitative statements referring to the completion. Missing values per dimension ranged from 0 to 10.7%, although being mostly below 7%. The completion rate was around 90% or better, whereas the EQ VAS rating was missing from 2.3 to 25.3% of the respondents. Only two of the included studies examined the EQ-5D-5L; 15 studies reported on the EQ-5D-3L. Conclusion Comparing our findings against the general population from published literature, we find that feasibility outcomes in older age groups are just below that of younger populations. Furthermore, older respondents have a higher propensity of requiring assistance or even an interviewer-based approach. Nonetheless, the reviewed literature indicates that the EQ-5D-3L still has good feasibility properties and, hence, is highly applicable in older respondents. However, further research is needed to explore feasibility properties of the EQ-5D-5L in this population.

scholarly journals Dobne specifičnosti integriteta s gledišta Eriksonove teorije psihosocijalnog razvoja

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katica Lacković-Grgin ◽  
Marina Nekić ◽  
Vera Ćubela
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Personality Characteristic ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Past Life

In investigation, which included 75 persons of both sexes from four age groups (adolescents, younger adults, middle-aged adults, and the elderly adults), it has been, on the example of integrity, Erikson's point of view that each component of personality characteristic for a particular stage of development is in a certain form present in a lifetime as an integral part of personality. Comparing the results of factor analyses of integrity scales (by G. Hawley) with subjects from the four named age groups, it can be concluded that there are age specific qualities of integrity. Those variations are consistent with Erikson's understanding that the basic subject of integrity is life evaluation. With adolescents and younger adults it is mostly evaluation of present, and with the elderly of past life. Besides, fragments whose contents indicate the shift from psychosocial towards existential identity are more important for middle- aged and older people than adolescents and younger adults. By multiple standard regression analyses the nature of relations of integrity with identity, intimacy and generativity has been investigated. With younger subjects these three components of personality considerably explain a higher percentage of integrity variance than with the older persons, indicating that with the younger ones integrity represents a more integrated system of personality components, and with older people it is a special entity, a characteristic component precisely for that age.

scholarly journals Descriptive data in different paper-based cognitive assessments in elderly from the community Stratification by age and education

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Gustavo Brigola ◽  
Ana Carolina Ottaviani ◽  
Érica Nestor Souza ◽  
Estefani Serafim Rossetti ◽  
Mariélli Terassi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Educational Level ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Addenbrooke’S Cognitive Examination

ABSTRACT Cognitive aging is dynamic and heterogeneous in elderly, thus adequate tools such as paper-based tests are relevant to describe the cognitive profile of this population. Objective: To describe different paper-based cognitive assessments tests in elderly people stratified by age and education. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 667 elderly (≥60 years) living in the community was conducted. Sociodemographic information was collected. Global cognition was assessed by the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), Mini Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (M-ACE) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. Results: The findings showed a predominance of women (53.8%), mean age of 71.3 (±7.7) years and 3.6 (±3.5) years of education. The best global cognitive performance and cognitive domain assessment scores were found in the group with higher formal educational level. Each year of education was associated with an increase of up to 10% in scores on the M-ACE and MMSE and up to 11% in ACE-R scores. The mean values of the scores varied according to age, where the 60-69 years group had better scores than other age groups. The correlation matrix between the cognitive tests showed that near perfect correlations (r=1) were frequent in the subgroup with higher education. Conclusion: Younger elderly and those with higher educational level had greater global and domain scores. This study describes the scores of elderly for different strata of education and age. In practice, it is important to choose the most suitable screening instrument, considering the characteristics of the elderly.

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