Cognitive Function and Duration of Rooflessness in Entrants to a Hostel for Homeless Men

1996 ◽  
Vol 169 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Bremner ◽  
Peter J. Duke ◽  
Hazel E. Nelson ◽  
Christos Pantelis ◽  
Thomas R. E. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Homeless Adults ◽  
Homeless Men ◽  
Cognitive Speed ◽  
Low Iq

BackgroundFour previous studies of homeless adults have yielded conflicting results regarding the presence of cognitive impairment.MethodA consecutive series of 80 roofless entrants to a hostel for homeless men were sampled and 62 (76%) completed a range of assessments, including measures of mental state, cognitive functions and substance use.ResultsEstimated premorbid IQ (mean=96), current IQ (mean=84) and cognitive speed were significantly lower than the norm. There was a significant IQ drop in all diagnostic groups. IQ drop, but not current IQ, correlated with duration of rooflessness. Those with schizophrenia or alcohol problems were roofless for longest. Alcohol misuse did not correlate with IQ drop, excepting alcohol withdrawal symptoms in those with schizophrenia.ConclusionThe hypothesis that low IQ is a risk factor for rooflessness is supported. However, length of rooflessness was more closely related to IQ drop than to current IQ, suggesting that some third factor may be affecting both rooflessness and intellectual functioning. Roofless men with schizophrenia or alcohol problems may be especially at risk of long-term rooflessness.

Long-Term Blood Pressure Variability Increases Risks of Dementia and Cognitive Decline: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies

Hypertension ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pingping Jia ◽  
Helen W.Y. Lee ◽  
Joyce Y.C. Chan ◽  
Karen K.L. Yiu ◽  
Kelvin K.F. Tsoi
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Hazard Ratio ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
Meta Regression

High blood pressure (BP) is considered as an important risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. BP variability (BPV) may contribute to cognitive function decline or even dementia regardless of BP level. This study aims to investigate whether BPV is an independent predictor for cognitive impairment or dementia. Literature searches were performed in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science to May 2021. Longitudinal studies that assessed the risk of dementia or cognitive impairment with BPV as the predictor was included. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed to evaluate the effect of BPV on the risk of dementia or cognitive impairment. A total of 5919 papers were identified, and 16 longitudinal studies were included, which had >7 million participants and a median age from 50.9 to 79.9 years and a median follow-up of around 4 years. Thirteen studies reported visit-to-visit BPV and concluded that systolic BPV increases the risk of dementia with a pooled hazard ratio of 1.11 (95% CI, 1.05–1.17), and increases the risk of cognitive impairment with a pooled hazard ratio of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.06–1.15). Visit-to-visit diastolic BPV also increased the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. A meta-regression revealed a linear relationship between higher BPV and risks of dementia and cognitive impairment. Similar findings were observed in the studies with day-to-day BPV. This study suggests that long-term BPV is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment or dementia, so an intervention plan for reducing BPV can be a target for early prevention of dementia.

FACEHBI: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF RISK FACTORS, BIOMARKERS AND COGNITION IN A COHORT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE DECLINE. STUDY RATIONALE AND RESEARCH PROTOCOLS

2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
O. Rodriguez-Gomez ◽  
A. Sanabria ◽  
A. Perez-Cordon ◽  
D. Sanchez-Ruiz ◽  
C. Abdelnour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Research Protocols ◽  
Preclinical Ad ◽  
Multimodal Biomarkers

Background: Long-term longitudinal studies with multimodal biomarkers are needed to delve into the knowledge of preclinical AD. Subjective cognitive decline has been proposed as a risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment. Thus, including individuals with SCD in observational studies may be a cost-effective strategy to increase the prevalence of preclinical AD in the sample. Objectives: To describe the rationale, research protocols and baseline characteristics of participants in the Fundació ACE Healthy Brain Initiative (FACEHBI). Design: FACEHBI is a clinical trial (EudraCT: 2014-000798-38) embedded within a long-term observational study of individuals with SCD. Setting: Participants have been recruited at the memory clinic of Fundació ACE (Barcelona) from two different sources: patients referred by a general practitioner and individuals from an Open House Initiative. Participants: 200 individuals diagnosed with SCD with a strictly normal performance in a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Measurements: Individuals will undergo an extensive neuropsychological protocol, risk factor assessment and a set of multimodal biomarkers including florbetaben PET, structural and functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, determination of amyloid species in plasma and neurophthalmologic assessment with optical coherence tomography. Results: Two hundred individuals have been recruited in 15 months. Mean age was 65.9 years; mean MMSE was 29.2 with a mean of 14.8 years of education. Conclusions: FACEHBI is a long-term study of cognition, biomarkers and lifestyle that has been designed upon an innovative symptom-based approach using SCD as target population. It will shed light on the pathophysiology of preclinical AD and the role of SCD as a risk marker for the development of cognitive impairment.

Identifying and responding to alcohol misuse in memory clinics: current practice, barriers and facilitators

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-77
Author(s):  
Anna Thake ◽  
Sarah Wadd ◽  
Kim Edwards ◽  
James Randall-James
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Alcohol Screening ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Memory Clinics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore current practice, barriers and facilitators to identifying and responding to alcohol problems in memory clinics. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire sent to professionals in 55 memory clinics in England, Wales and the Isle of Wight and two focus groups with professionals from three memory clinics in England. Findings – Only 1/35 clinics that responded to the questionnaire was using a standardised alcohol screening tool but all attempted to gain some information about alcohol use. Without screening tools, practitioners found it difficult to determine whether alcohol use was problematic. Barriers to identification/intervention included cognitive impairment, service-user being “on guard” during assessment, presence of family members/carers, time constraints and a perception that brief interventions were not within the remit of memory clinics. Facilitators were obtaining visual clues of problem drinking during home visits and collateral information from family members/carers. Research limitations/implications – Focus group participants were recruited through convenience sampling and a small number of professionals took part. This means that the findings may be subject to selection bias and limits the generalisability of the findings. Practical implications – Memory clinics should provide guidance and training for practitioners on how to intervene and respond to alcohol misuse. Further research is required to determine the most effective way to identify alcohol problems in people with cognitive impairment and how to deliver brief alcohol interventions that take account of cognitive deficits. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine alcohol screening and interventions in memory clinics and identifies a need for guidance, training and further research.

Physical activity and cognitive function in older persons

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Critical Challenge

Strategies to improve cognitive aging are highly needed. Among those, promotion of exercise and physical activity appears as one of the most attractive and beneficial intervention. Indeed, results from basic and clinical studies suggest that exercise and physical activity have positive effects on cognition in older persons without cognitive impairment, as well as in those with dementia. Despite inconsistent results, aerobic exercise appears to have the strongest potential to enhance cognition. However, even limited periods of walking (45 minutes, three times a week, over a 6-month period) have also been shown to enhance cognition, particularly executive functions. Changing long-term lifestyle habits in these older persons remains a critical challenge and attractive programs susceptible to gain adherence are needed to succeed in achieving improved cognitive aging.

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