by Sylvia Kirchengast

Received: 23 June 2019;  Published: 08 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904077

Background: All over the world we are confronted with an absolute and relative increase of the portion of elderly people. In order to develop strategies to keep old aged people healthy and as long as possible independent, analyses of factors influencing health related quality of life (HRQL) during old age are necessary. The aim of this review was the presentation of the results projects focusing on the impact of social contacts and physical activity on HRQL carried out in Austria Methods: The standardized WHOQO [...]

by Lindy A. Kilik

Received: 30 July 2019;  Published: 29 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903076

Background: The current paper introduces the “Priming/Timing/Miming” Model of Behavioural Care Planning with persons with Dementia. This simple heuristic provides a quick, easy and systematic way to select from the vast number of behavioural strategies offered in the BPSD literature and to organize these in a way that can be incorporated into an individualized Behaviour Care Plan to deliver personal cares to persons with dementia and also to develop a larger plan of care. An entire care plan is captured on one doub [...]

by Maria E. Pushpanathan  , Andrea M. Loftus  , Natalie Gasson  , Meghan G. Thomas  and Romola S. Bucks

Received: 13 May 2019;  Published: 23 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903075

Abstract Background: Both disrupted sleep and cognitive impairment are frequent in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the evidence for a relationship between self-reported sleep disturbance and cognitive symptoms has been equivocal. If sleep symptoms differentially predict cognition in different subtypes, effects may be obscured in a general PD sample. Objective: First, to determine whether the associations between participant and disease variables, sleep symptoms and cognitive performance vary by subtype (younger and [...]

by Laura Suarez  , Reem M.A. Shafi  and Maria I. Lapid

Received: 14 May 2019;  Published: 16 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903074

Purpose of Review: Dementia is a progressive and debilitating condition that affects millions of patients in the United States with an enormous impact on healthcare costs, caregivers, and society. Patients with dementia often experience dementia-related neuropsychiatric disturbances, commonly known as Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and more recently Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia. These symptoms include verbal and physical agitation, aggression, disinhibition, affect lability, [...]

by Jeffrey M. Witkin  , Lalit K. Golani  , Rok Cerne  , Md. Toufiqur Rahman  , Guanguan Li  , Michael M. Poe  , James M. Cook  and Jodi L. Smith

Received: 05 May 2019;  Published: 26 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903073

Major depressive disorder is a highly-prevalent and debilitating disorder in the aged population. Recent and accumulating clinical evidence suggests a key role for social support in helping to mitigate depression. Preclinical data are reviewed that indicate that selective negative allosteric modulation of α5-associated GABAA receptors as with RY-080, might rapidly impact depression in patients. Further, preclinical data in transgenic mice modeling neurodegenerative diseases has suggested that this mechanism migh [...]

by James S. Powers  , Destiny O. Birdsong  , Kemberlee R. Bonnet  , Neena R. Kapoor  , Jamaria J. Southward  , Ifeoma Nwankwo  and David G. Schlundt

Received: 25 April 2019;  Published: 26 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903072

Background: Narratives encompass written reflection experiences and hold the potential to display valuable insights into trainees’ thinking. We analyzed narratives from graduate students trained in aging themes, who then interviewed older hospitalized adults (senior partners) about their life experiences. Methods: Three Discovery Fellows trained on open-ended interviewing, empathy, and aging themes performed semi-structured interviews. Senior partners were hospitalized older veterans. After the interviews, narrat [...]

by Lennaert Zwart  , Tjeerd Germans  , Suat Simsek  , Jaap Ruiter  and René Jansen

Received: 22 May 2019;  Published: 26 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903071

Background: Geriatric patients are at risk for atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, and the risk of anticoagulation (OAC) related bleeding is presumed to be higher. Detailed knowledge about the prevalence of AF and bleeding pattern in this population is scarce. This study sought to assess the prevalence of AF, use of OAC and rate of major bleeding in geriatric patients who frequently fall. Methods: Observational cohort study at a Fall and Syncope Clinic. Patients of 65 years and older, that underwent both an electro [...]

by Gabriele Cipriani  , Sabrina Danti  , Cecilia Carlesi  , Claudio Lucetti  , Angelo Nuti  and Mario Di Fiorino

Received: 27 March 2019;  Published: 16 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903070

Background. Mania in older adults is associated with a high rate of medical and neurological disease. Objective. The goal of this review is to describe the phenomenon of manic episodes in patients suffering from dementia. Methods. Medline and Google Scholar searches were conducted for relevant articles, chapters, and books published before 2019. Search terms used included dementia, late-onset, mania, elderly. Publications found through this indexed search were reviewed for further relevant references. Results and c [...]

by Sara Schatz  and Melvin Gonzalez Rivera

Received: 15 March 2019;  Published: 13 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903069

Pragmatic competence includes the capacity to express illocutionary force and successfully achieve perlocutionary effects, in order to guarantee fully functional communication exchanges. Improved pragmatic competence in patients has been found in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in the domains of jokes, self-expression and empathy after extended, targeted intranasal insulin therapy. In this paper it is argued that extended intra-nasal insulin treatment can [...]

by Stephen Ames

Received: 08 April 2019;  Published: 13 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903068

Thirty years ago, Tom Kitwood proposed a change in the care of people with dementia, from ‘warehousing’ to ‘person-centred care’. The change had noticeable benefits for those with dementia. Kitwood set out his presuppositions for this change. For example, Kitwood understood personhood as the standing or status bestowed on one human being by others in the context of relationships and social being and held that respect for the absolute value of each person is a key theme in Western ethical discourse. He was clear t [...]