The Differentiation Between Depression and Dementia in the Very Old

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanfried Helmchen ◽  
Michael Linden
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Significant Negative Impact ◽  
Key Questions

ABSTRACTKey questions in the psychiatric understanding of elderly people are the development of psychiatric morbidity, its phenomenology in old age, the differentiation between ‘normal’ and ‘pathological’ ageing, the interrelatedness of different types of mental disorders, their relation to somatic morbidity, and their consequences in daily life. Under the hypothesis of the de-differentiation of psychopathological features in old age, the relation between depression and dementia is studied. Contrary to most gerontopsychiatric research, the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) permits an analysis of these questions in a heterogeneous and primarily non-clinical community population. Initial data from the first 360 intake assessments and the first 156 intensively studied participants of BASE are presented. Results show that, even in very old individuals, depression and dementia still exhibit clearly distinctive psychopathological features. Prevalence rates in consecutive age groups show an age-related increase for dementia but not for depression. Nevertheless dementia and depression do not seem to be fully independent, because our data indicate a masking or extinction of depressive symptoms by dementia. Finally, both disorders have a similarly significant negative impact on independence, comparable to that of somatic morbidity.

Differential Psychological Ageing: Profiles of the Old and Very Old

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqui Smith ◽  
Paul B. Baltes
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Cross Domain ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Structural Relationships ◽  
Age Cohort ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Health Related

ABSTRACTTheoretical positions which argue for age-related and individual variation in profiles of psychological functioning and patterns of predictive relationships are reviewed in the context of the three domains investigated by the Psychology Unit of the Berlin Aging Study (BASE): intelligence and cognition, self and personality, and social relationships. To illustrate the potential of BASE, we report initial data for a small set of variables from these three psychological domains for the first wave of study participants (N = 360, age range 70 to 103 years). Our analyses of these data were targeted toward three key questions about differential psychological ageing: namely, the extent of age/cohort-related differences and individual variation within each domain, possible age differences in the structural relationships between the three domains, and subgroup variations in cross-domain profiles of functioning. Within domains, individual differences in general were very large. Chronological age accounted for a sizeable proportion of the variance only in the domain of cognitive performance. The structural relationships between the domains of psychological functioning were similar for the old and very old age groups and reflected much domain independence. Examination of subgroup variations in cross-domain profiles of functioning revealed ten subgroups. All subgroups showed an uneven, that is, age-selective group membership: five subgroups included more of the very old, two more of the old, and three were age-specific. Preliminary explorations of these subgroups suggested substantial links to selected health-related variables, supporting proposals for multi-disciplinary research into differential ageing.

Prevalence and appropriateness of psychotropic drug use in old age: results from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE)

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Linden ◽  
Thomas Bär ◽  
Hanfried Helmchen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Psychotropic Drug Use ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Study Base

Background: The aim of this epidemiological study is to examine the prevalence and correlates of psychotropic drug use in the very old and to evaluate the appropriateness of psychotropic drug use in very old age.Methods: Data from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE), a multidisciplinary study of an age- and gender-stratified, randomly selected sample of elderly people living in Berlin are presented. Over-sampling, especially very old men, allows for powerful analyses of this population. All participants went through extensive psychiatric and somatic examinations. Medication intake was assessed by different data sources (interviewing patients and their family physicians, drug inspection at home). Results were brought together in a consensus-conference and research physicians gave operationalized ratings of medication appropriateness.Results: The prevalence of elderly people who were taking at least one psychotropic medication within the 14 days immediately preceding investigation was 29.8%. Of these medications, 68.4% had been taken for longer than one year. There was no effect of age or gender on the scope of psychotropic drug use. Benzodiazepines were taken by 19.8% of the elderly. Antidepressants, neuroleptics and anti-dementia drugs were taken by about 3–4% each. People taking psychotropic drugs had significantly higher levels of psychiatric morbidity, as measured by syndromes and specified diagnoses. Psychotropic drugs were significantly less often judged to be indicated than somatic medications. This is mostly due to benzodiazepines.Conclusions: Psychotropic drug use is common in old age, but there is no additional increase in usage beyond the age of 70. Intake of psychotropics is mostly oriented at symptoms or syndromes, which explains why benzodiazepines are still the most commonly prescribed psychotropics

IC-P-100: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study of Age-Related Shrinkage in the Superior,Middle and Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Old and Very Old Age

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. S40-S40
Author(s):  
Olof E. Lindberg ◽  
Carl-Henrik Ehrenkrona ◽  
Linnea Engström ◽  
Leif A. Svensson ◽  
Eva Öhrndahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Very Old Age

IMPACT OF FACEBOOK ADDICTION DISORDER (FAD) ON STUDY HABITS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF ADOLESCENTS

2021 ◽  
pp. 195-207
Author(s):  
Shivani Vashishtha ◽  
Sona Ahuja ◽  
Mani Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Study Habits ◽  
Study Habit ◽  
Significant Negative Impact ◽  
Facebook Addiction ◽  
The Impact

With the present era being technology driven, social media has become an indispensable part of many people irrespective of their age. Among different age groups, the maximum users are adolescents and among different social networking sites (SNS), Facebook shares the major part of usage by them. Many adolescents are tending towards excessive usage of Facebook leading to its addiction. Does this addiction have negative influence on adolescents or it actually helps them to keep up with their counterparts and be socially connected to them for their betterment? This question is unanswered specifically when it concerns the impact that it has on the study habits and academic achievement of adolescents. The hypotheses were tested in order to explore the impact of six dimensions (mood modification, deficient self-regulations, salience, loss of control, withdrawal, and relapse) of Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) using Bergens' Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), developed by Andreassen (2012). The results are based on the survey conducted on 200 adolescents studying in different schools of India. The findings indicate that there is a significant negative impact of Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) on study habits and academic achievement of adolescents. The major implication derived is that the higher the addiction to Facebook the study habit become poor and academic achievement decreases resulting in lower grades.

Concrete and Formal Operational thought Processes in Young Adulthood and Old Age

1976 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Clayton ◽  
Willis F. Overton
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Thought Processes ◽  
Crystallized Intelligence ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Concrete Operational ◽  
Fluid And Crystallized Intelligence

A study was conducted to examine the role of concrete and formal operations in a young and old population. In addition, the present study explored the relation between operational thought and Cattell's concept of fluid and crystallized intelligence, as well as the role of differential living arrangements in maintaining operational thought. Eighty females from three age groups (18–20 years, 60–70 years and 70–80 years of age) were tested on a series of Piagetian tasks and indices of fluid and crystallized intelligence. The findings supported the notion that age-related performance differences occur in the area of formal operational thought prior to the time they occur in concrete operational thought. Except for the young sample, the operational tasks were found to be unrelated to fluid intelligence at the age levels represented in this study. Living independently as opposed to living in an old age home did not appear to be a significant factor in maintaining operational thought. Discussion focused on the necessity of identifying those factors which influence the developmental course of formal operational thought across the life span.

scholarly journals Are masters athletic performances predictive of human aging in men and women?

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon W. Senefeld ◽  
Sandra K. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Athletic Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Human Aging ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Human Function

Human aging particularly after ∼70 years, is associated with declines in physical function and athletic performance, that are accelerated in part by age-associated declines in physical activity and exercise training. Because elite athletes maintain high levels of physical activity across the lifespan, older athletes (Masters) may present as a proxy for healthy human aging. Although longitudinal studies are most informative about human aging, there are substantial practical challenges to conducting longitudinally designed research. Masters athletic records and comparisons of performance across age groups can serve as a practical and unique probe to predict the trajectory of human function throughout the lifespan. While useful, the cross-sectional comparison of elite athletic performance across different age groups, however, has inherent limitations in predicting healthy human aging, particularly among women. This review presents evidence that (1) there is a progressive age-related decline in world class performances in freestyle swim swimming, marathon, and triathlon, that accelerates into very old age (∼70 years), and (2) lower participation rates of women relative to men results in an overestimation of the age-related decline in athletic performance particularly in very old women. Thus, while useful, there are some limitations to predicting biological aging among women using current Masters Athletic performances.

Ranges of psychiatric morbidity in the old and the very old - results from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE)

2000 ◽  
Vol 250 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. F. Wernicke ◽  
Michael Linden ◽  
Reiner Gilberg ◽  
Hanfried Helmchen
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Study Base

Old Age Affects Survival but Not Response in Philadelphia Positive (Ph+) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Patients Treated with Imatinib (IM): A Study of the GIMEMA CML WORKING PARTY.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 1118-1118
Author(s):  
Gabriele Gugliotta ◽  
Fausto Castagnetti ◽  
Francesca Palandri ◽  
Massimo Breccia ◽  
Marilina Amabile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Molecular Response ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Prognostic Importance

Abstract Abstract 1118 Poster Board I-140 Background The median age of an unselected population of Ph+ CML patients is close to 60 years. In the prognostic classifications (Sokal, Blood 1984; Hasford, JNCI 1998) that were elaborated before the introduction of IM, age was a significant and important prognostic factor. The most recent IM studies have not clarified the prognostic importance of age and IM therapy is still denied to several elderly patients. Aim to asses the relationship between age (less and more than 65 years) and outcome, in CML patients treated front-line in early chronic phase (ECP). Methods We analyzed the data of 559 previously untreated ECP patients who were assigned to receive IM 400 mg daily (76%) or 800 mg daily (24%) in three controlled, prospective studies of GIMEMA (Clin Trials Gov. NCT00514488 and NCT00510926; and an observational study of IM 400 mg). The median follow-up is currently 42 (extremes 1 – 64) months. There were 115 patients more than 65 years old (median age 71 years), while 444 (79%) were less than 65 years (median age 46 years). The proportion of patients who were treated with IM 800 mg daily was the same in both age groups. Results The cumulative complete cytogenetic and major molecular response rates were identical in the two age groups (88% vs 88% and 82% vs 83%, respectively). However, overall survival (86% vs 93%, p = 0.01), failure-free survival (72% vs 81%, p=0.03) and particularly event-free survival (calculated based on the intention-to-treat principle, where events were any failure [according to the European LeukemiaNet criteria – Baccarani, Blood 2006] and treatment discontinuation for any cause) (60% vs 71%, p=0.006) were significantly inferior in the older age group. All these difference were mainly due to comorbidities leading to more deaths in CP (table). Conclusions/Methods These data show that response to IM was not affected by old age. Survival curves were affected because of age-related complications and comorbidities. Age should never be a contraindication to IM treatment. Acknowledgments: European LeukemiaNet, COFIN, University of Bologna and BolognAIL. Disclosures Saglio: Novartis: Honoraria. Baccarani:Novartis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Mayer Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

scholarly journals Increasingly capable at the ripe old age? Cognitive abilities from 2004 to 2013 in Germany, Spain, and Sweden

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254038
Author(s):  
Julia Grasshoff ◽  
Johannes Beller ◽  
Beatrice G. Kuhlmann ◽  
Siegfried Geyer
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Cohort Effects ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Starting Point

Background Life expectancy is increasing in most high-income countries, but gains in life years are maximized if spent in good health and if cognitive abilities are maintained until old age. Age-related decline of cognitive abilities does nevertheless occur, but the pace of decline is decisive. This was the starting point for our study that aims to examine cohort effects of cognitive aging in women and men in Germany, Spain and Sweden by analyzing changes from 2004 to 2013 by estimating cohort effects within age groups starting from the age of 50 years. Methods A cohort study was conducted that was based on data of the surveys 2004 (N = 6,081) and 2013 (N = 8,650) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analyses were based on data of female and male respondents aged 50 years and older. Age-specific means of verbal fluency and delayed recall from the German, Spanish and Swedish samples were the cognitive domains considered in the study. Results In both domains of cognitive ability the achievements in the later surveys were higher than in the earlier ones. This was found in all countries, abut achievement levels increased markedly in the German and the Spanish samples, while the scores of the Swedish samples were not significantly different. While the highest scores were found for Sweden, Germany ranked in the middle and the lowest scores were found in the Spanish samples. Over time, the scores of the German samples approached those of Sweden. Conclusions From the first to the second survey, improvements of older adults’ cognitive abilities were found for all countries considered. This may indicate improvements of the underlying educational systems, but also increasingly stimulating general living conditions.

scholarly journals COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE CEREBELLUM OF MEN AT A YOUNG AND OLD AGE ACCORDING TO MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
Anatoly A. Balandin ◽  
Lev M. Zheleznov ◽  
Irina A. Balandina ◽  
Valery S. Shelud'ko
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Tomography ◽  
Cerebellar Hemisphere ◽  
Morphometric Study ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Group I ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Right

Investigation which devoted to the study of the age characteristics of the human body are becoming increasingly important. Magnetic resonance tomography is the most informative diagnostic method for intravital visualization of tissues and structures of the brain. It also allows you to more accurately see the picture of morphological features with age-associated changes. The aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the age-related morphometric characteristics of the cerebellum in male with mesocranic type of cranium in young and old age according to the data of magnetic resonance tomography. The analysis of the results of a morphometric study of the cerebellum on tomograms of 91 men examined for medical reasons was carried out. Depending on the age, the subjects were divided into two groups. Group I included 52 young men (22–27 years old, inclusive), group II included 39 elderly men (from 78 to 83 years old, inclusive). The transverse, longitudinal and vertical dimensions of the cerebellum were determined. When comparing the parameters of the linear dimensions of the cerebellum in the studied age groups of men, a statistically significant decrease in all indicators in old age compared with young age was revealed (p=0.042). There was no statistically significant difference between the parameters of the longitudinal and vertical sizes of the cerebellar hemispheres in individuals of each age group (p>0.05); there is a tendency for these sizes to prevail in the right cerebellar hemisphere. The results obtained can serve as the equivalent of the age-related anatomical norm of the cerebellum in young and old men, which will make it possible to use these data in basic and clinical research, as well as in medical practice.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document