scholarly journals Effects of Simultaneous Cognitive Task on Gait Event Accuracy with Auditory Stimuli: Comparison between Young Adults in Their 20s and the Elderly in their 70s

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 734
Author(s):  
Jin-Seung Choi ◽  
Jung-Gil Kim ◽  
Jun-Hyeong Cho ◽  
Gye-Rae Tack

The purpose of this study was to compare the difference in the accuracy of gait events between young and older adults during metronomic walking by auditory cueing. Additionally, age-specific changes in the gait event accuracy according to additional simultaneous cognitive tasks were examined. The time interval (or temporal error) between the auditory cue (i.e., metronome) and the heel contact was used as the accuracy of the gait event. Fifteen young group (YG, 24.7 ± 0.8 years) and 14 elderly (EG, 78.4 ± 5.5 years) people participated in the experiment. The temporal errors under two gait conditions (MET: walking with metronome; MET + BC: walking with metronome while counting backward) were compared for each group. The results revealed that all the temporal errors of EG were significantly greater than those of YG. While the addition of simultaneous cognitive tasks resulted in a significant increase in temporal error in both age groups, the coefficient of variation (CV) of the temporal error significantly increased only in the EG group. In other words, although heel contact accuracy with auditory stimuli was affected by the simultaneous cognitive task in both groups, it was demonstrated that the variability of the error in the young adults remained constant. Therefore, the time error measurement used in this study has the potential to be used as a tool to judge the gait instability of the elderly compared with young adults.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 590
Author(s):  
Raeghan L. Mueller ◽  
Jarrod M. Ellingson ◽  
L. Cinnamon Bidwell ◽  
Angela D. Bryan ◽  
Kent E. Hutchison

In recent years of expanding legalization, older adults have reported the largest increase in cannabis use of any age group. While its use has been studied extensively in young adults, little is known about the effects of THC in older adults and whether the risks of cannabis might be different, particularly concerning intoxication and cognition. The current study investigated whether age is associated with the deleterious effects of THC on cognitive performance and other behavioral measures before and after ad libitum self-administration of three different types of cannabis flower (THC dominant, THC + CBD, and CBD dominant). Age groups consisted of young adults (ages 21–25) and older adults (ages 55–70). Controlling for pre-use scores on all measures, the THC dominant chemovar produced a greater deleterious effect in younger adults compared with older adults in tests of learning and processing speed, whereas there were no differences between old and young in the effects of the other chemovars. In addition, the young group reported greater cannabis craving than the older group after using the THC chemovar. Consistent with some reports in the preclinical literature, the findings suggest that older adults may be less sensitive to the effects of THC on cognitive and affective measures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Amico ◽  
Sabine Schaefer

Studies examining the effect of embodied cognition have shown that linking one’s body movements to a cognitive task can enhance performance. The current study investigated whether concurrent walking while encoding or recalling spatial information improves working memory performance, and whether 10-year-old children, young adults, or older adults (Mage = 72 years) are affected differently by embodiment. The goal of the Spatial Memory Task was to encode and recall sequences of increasing length by reproducing positions of target fields in the correct order. The nine targets were positioned in a random configuration on a large square carpet (2.5 m × 2.5 m). During encoding and recall, participants either did not move, or they walked into the target fields. In a within-subjects design, all possible combinations of encoding and recall conditions were tested in counterbalanced order. Contrary to our predictions, moving particularly impaired encoding, but also recall. These negative effects were present in all age groups, but older adults’ memory was hampered even more strongly by walking during encoding and recall. Our results indicate that embodiment may not help people to memorize spatial information, but can create a dual-task situation instead.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (3) ◽  
pp. G427-G432 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Shaker ◽  
J. Ren ◽  
B. Podvrsan ◽  
W. J. Dodds ◽  
W. J. Hogan ◽  
...  

Effect of aging, bolus volume, temperature, and consistency on the pharyngeal peristalsis, as well as the effect of aging on the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) resting pressure and its response to esophageal distension by air and balloon, were studied in 14 young and 12 healthy elderly volunteers. In both age groups there was no significant volume or temperature effect on amplitude, duration, or velocity of the pharyngeal peristalsis. Compared with water swallows, mashed potato swallows resulted in a significant increase in the amplitude and duration of the hypopharyngeal peristaltic pressure wave (P < 0.05). For water swallows, the amplitude and duration of the peristaltic pressure wave in the hypopharynx were significantly increased in the elderly compared with the young group (P < 0.01). UES resting pressure in the elderly measured 43 +/- 5 (SE) mmHg and was significantly less than that of the young (71 +/- 8 mmHg; P < 0.01). Magnitude of the UES pressure decrease because of esophageal distension by air, as well as magnitude of its pressure increase because of esophageal balloon distension, was similar among young and elderly. 1) Contrary to common expectations, the parameters of the pharyngeal peristaltic pressure wave do not deteriorate in the elderly in their seventh and eighth decade. 2) Compared with the young, hypopharyngeal pressure wave amplitude and duration are significantly increased in the elderly. This increase could be caused by an adaptation response to a pharyngeal outflow compromise. 3) Pharyngeal peristaltic pressure wave amplitude and duration, but not its velocity, are modulated by the bolus consistency. This modulatory mechanism is preserved in the elderly. 4) Although UES resting pressure is significantly decreased in the elderly, its pressure response to esophageal distension by air and balloon is preserved.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Guillermo Sánchez ◽  
Diana Buitrago

Background: The clinical characteristics and physio-pathogenic mechanisms of asthma in patients older than 60 years appear to differ from the behavior described for other age groups. Therefore, the effectiveness of medications for elderly patients with asthma should not be extrapolated from studies conducted on teenagers or young adults. Objective: The study aimed to establish the clinical effect of montelukast 10 mg in elderly patients with mild and moderate asthma compared to its effect on young adults. Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted during 12 weeks of follow-up, which consecutively included the total population of adult patients attended by a group of 21 general practitioners, between July and December 2016. Young adults (18-59 years) and older adults were included (60 years or older) with mild or moderate asthma, which, according to the criteria of his treating physician, had been prescribed montelukast 10 mg/day. The variables of interest were: use of inhaled corticosteroids during the last month, use of inhaled beta-2 adrenergic agonists as a rescue in the last month, having attended the emergency service during the last month due to an asthma attack, presence of wheezing in the physical examination, the number of attacks in the last month and the number of days without symptoms in the last month. Results: A total of 126 patients entered the cohort and 104 completed the follow-up, of which 29% were older adults. On admission, 65.4% of patients (68/104) had used rescue inhaled beta2 in the last month and had been using schemes with corticosteroids. After 12 weeks of follow-up, 58.1% (43/74) of the young adults required treatment schedules with corticosteroids, while in the elderly, only 36.7% of the patients (11/30) required this treatment scheme (p-value: 0.047). Regarding the use of rescue inhaled beta-2 at 12 weeks, 55% of young adults reported using them, compared to 33.3% of older adults (p-value: 0.041). Conclusion: In this cohort of patients, treated with montelukast 10 mg/day for 12 weeks, there was a reduction of broncho-obstructive symptoms and exacerbations of the disease. In older adults compared to young adults, a greater reduction in the use of beta2 agonists rescue medications and in the concomitant use of inhaled corticosteroid schemes was documented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeng-Rong Luo ◽  
Xiao-Dong Chen ◽  
Liang-wan Chen

Abstract Background The current research is allocated to appraise the association between the parameters of body composition and findings in type A aortic dissection (TAAD) cases in diverse age groups. Methods Data from consecutive TAAD patients undergoing implantation of modified triple-branched stent-graft from January 2017 and December 2019 were prospectively collected and analyzed. A regression model of Cox proportional hazard was employed to assess correlations among body composition-related variables (body mass index [BMI], lean body mass [LBM], body surface area [BSA], and LBM index) as well as cumulative mortality. Results Overall, 258 patients (53.9 ± 11.1 years old; 72.9% male) were separated into young (n = 110) and elderly (n = 148) age groups based upon whether they were younger or older than 50 years of age. Of these patients, 247 survivors were included in subsequent analyses over an average 26.8 ± 11.6 month follow-up duration. Multivariate analyses in the elderly group instead of young group indicated that increased BMI (p = 0.042), BMI ≤ 18.5 kg/m2 (p = 0.025), and lower LBM index values (p = 0.019) were significant predictors of increased total all-cause cumulative mortality. BMI was considerably positively correlated with estimated all-cause cumulative mortality in elderly but not young TAAD cases. Conclusion Briefly, these results suggest that BMI and LBM indices are only significant predictors of TAAD patient all-cause mortality in elderly patient cohorts, whereas they do not offer significant prognostic value for younger patients. As such, these age differences must be taken into consideration when conducting stratified risk assessments based upon TAAD patient body composition characteristics.


2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ami Rokach ◽  
Felix Neto

Loneliness is a pervasive experience which everyone has experienced. It is a subjective experience, which is influenced by one's personality and situational variables. This study examined the influence of age and culture on the perceived causes of loneliness. One thousand, three hundred and forty-seven Canadian and Portuguese participants from all walks of life volunteered to answer an 82-item yes/no questionnaire reflecting on the causes of their loneliness. The questionnaire used in this study is composed of the factors that describe causes of loneliness: Personal inadequacies, Developmental deficits, Unfulfilling intimate relationships, Relocation/significant separations, and Social marginality. Gender differences between and within the groups were also examined. Four age groups were compared: youth (13–18 years old), young adults (19–30), adults (31–58) and the elderly (60 and older). Within and between culture and age comparisons were also done. Results indicated that the causes of loneliness are perceived differently depending on one's age and culture.


2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P57-P58
Author(s):  
Alexandros Georgolios ◽  
Kelley Melissa Dodson ◽  
Cristina Baldassari ◽  
Patrick G Maiberger ◽  
Aristides Sismanis

Objective To assess audiologic performance and quality of life in geriatric cochlear implantation patients and to determine whether comorbid medical conditions, etiology, and duration of hearing loss impact audiologic and quality of life outcomes. Methods Geriatric patients who underwent cochlear implantation between 1990 and 2006 were evaluated. Inclusion criteria were 55 years of age or older at time of implantation and post-lingual hearing loss. Patients with primary language other than English were excluded. 49 cochlear implant recipients were identified. A group of younger implanted patients was used as a control. All patients completed standardized audiologic tests including the Hearing In Noise Test. Validated surveys, including the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly, were used to assess quality of life. Results The mean age at implantation was 69.5 (range 58–85) and the average time interval from the implantation to the completion of the surveys was 73.2 months (6 to 229). Identified comorbid conditions included hypertension, diabetes, and malignancies, among others. Audiologic performance and quality of life scores between the two groups were similar. In the geriatric group there was no difference in patient satisfaction between subgroups with 0–1, 2–3 or > 3 comorbid conditions. Conclusions Our results suggest that the audiologic performance and quality of life scores between the older and younger age groups are similar. In the geriatric group associated comorbidities did not interfere with patient satisfaction as assessed by survey instruments.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 721-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daphne L. E. Pannemans ◽  
Gertjan Schaafsma ◽  
Klaas R. Westerterp

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary protein on urinary Ca excretion, apparent Ca absorption and Ca balance in young and elderly subjects. Young adults (n 29) and elderly persons (n 26) consumed diets containing 12% (diet A) and 21% (diet B) of total energy as protein for 3 weeks according to a randomized crossover design. Results showed no differences between the two age groups with respect to the interaction between protein intake and Ca excretion (both in urine and in faeces), apparent Ca absorption and Ca balance. Therefore analyses were done for both age groups separately and also for the whole group. In elderly persons and in the whole group the Ca excretion in faeces (as a percentage of Ca intake) was lower during the higher protein intake (elderly: diet A, 106 (SEM 7)% diet B, 86 (SEM 7) % P = 0·018; whole group: diet A, 99 (SEM 4) % diet B, 84 (SEM 4) % P = 0·003). In young adults faecal Ca excretion tended to be lower when they consumed diet B (diet A: 94 (SEM 5)% diet B: 83 (SEM 6)% P = 0·093). Relative urinary Ca excretion was greater during the higher protein intake in young adults and in the whole group while relative urinary Ca excretion was not different in the elderly (diet A: 15 (SEM 1) %, 14 (SEM 1) %, 15 (SEM 1) % diet B: 16 (SEM 1) %, 16 (SEM 1) % 17 (SEM 2) % for the whole group, the young and elderly subjects respectively, P = 0·019; P = 0·016; P = 0·243).The resulting Ca balance was not influenced by the amount of protein in the diet in young adults. Values for the elderly and for the whole group showed that the Ca balance during diet A was significantly more negative compared with Ca balance during diet B, despite the higher urinary Ca excretion during diet B. It can be concluded that increasing the protein intake from 12 to 21% of total energy ntake had no negative effect on Ca balance.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2684
Author(s):  
Jun Ah Lee ◽  
Jiwon Lim ◽  
Hye Young Jin ◽  
Meerim Park ◽  
Hyeon Jin Park ◽  
...  

The epidemiology of osteosarcoma in adolescents and young adults (AYA) remains unclear. We aimed to assess and compare the clinical features of osteosarcoma between AYA and other age groups. We retrieved osteosarcoma cases diagnosed between 1999 and 2017 from the Korea Central Cancer Registry. We compared survival trends and clinical characteristics between AYA and other age groups. AYA comprised 43.3% (1309/3022) of the osteosarcoma cases. Compared to other age groups, the male-to-female ratio was highest in AYA (1.61:1). The proportion of tumors located in an extremity was 80.3% in AYA, which was lower than in young children (92.5%) or pubertal children (93.8%) but higher than in adults (55.7%) or the elderly (47.5%). As for treatments, 71.2% of AYA received local treatment and systemic chemotherapy, and 28.8% received only local treatment (surgery: 261, radiotherapy: 9, surgery and radiotherapy: 5). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was lower in AYA (68%) than in young children (78%) or pubertal children (73%) but higher than in adults (47%) or the elderly (25%). When AYA were divided into five subgroups by age, patients aged 15–19 years constituted the largest proportion (45.4%, n = 594). Additionally, the proportion of patients with a non-extremity tumor increased in an age-dependent manner, from 10.3% in AYA aged 15–19 years to 35.3% in AYA aged 35–39 years. OS did not significantly differ among the different age subgroups of AYA. The clinical characteristics and OS of the AYA were more similar to those of children than to those of adults. There is a need for cooperation between pediatric and adult oncologists for effective osteosarcoma treatment in AYA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Lyzohub ◽  
N. P. Chernenko ◽  
T. V. Kozhemiako ◽  
А. А. Palabiyik ◽  
S. V. Bezkopylna

The interaction of motor and cognitive brain systems while performing the tasks of processing information of different modality and complexity is an important component of the brain’s integrative activity, which provides the individual adaptation of a person to changing environmental conditions. 116 individuals participated in the research; there were right-handed children aged 7–8, adolescents aged 11–12 and 15–16, and young men aged 19–20 among them. The investigated individuals performed a cognitive task, which included determining the modalities of a signal, the shape of a figure, the meaning of a word, and the fast and error-free reaction of differentiation with left (goL) or right (goR) hand or inhibition of motor action (nogo). The motor task involved a quick reaction to signals of different modality in the go/go/go mode. The results show that in the ontogenesis, the interaction of motor and cognitive brain systems gradually increases during processing of information of different modality and complexity by children, adolescents and young people. Closer functional interaction of motor and cognitive brain systems according to the indicators of speed and success of performing both tasks was found to be greater in the young men aged 19–20 and the adolescents aged 15–16 and 11–12 than in the children aged 7–8. The investigated individuals with the high-speed level of performing cognitive tasks were characterized with reliably higher indicators of motor reactions. Correlation analysis confirmed the statistically significant relationship between the speed characteristics of the motor and cognitive functional systems of the brain. The age dynamics of functional interaction between the motor and cognitive systems, as well as the speed and success of performing tasks depended on the mode selection of information processing. The success and speed of performing different variants of motor tasks in the go/go/go mode were higher in all age groups than in the conditions of the combined motor and cognitive tasks while differentiating goL/nogo/goR. The functional interaction of motor and cognitive brain systems in children, adolescents and young men while processing information increased gradually and depended on the modality of signals. The speed and success of results of performing motor and cognitive tasks were higher than for imaginative signals, and lower than for verbal ones for all age groups. Left-brain dominance of functional asymmetry was found for the cognitive systems. The number of mistakes on words was always less and the reaction speed was higher for the right hand than for the left one in the goL/nogo/goR mode. Asymmetry was weaker in the children aged 7–8 for the combined tasks using imaginative stimuli, and statistically significant in the groups of adolescents aged 11–12 and young men aged 15–16 and 19–20 for verbal signals presented in the goL/nogo/goR mode. The research results and methods can be used for the prognostic estimate of human activity in the conditions of complex information loads and neurodegenerative diseases.


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