scholarly journals Stereotypes, stereotype threat and ageing: implications for the understanding and treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
JANE M. SCHOLL ◽  
STEVEN R. SABAT

ABSTRACTOver the past 15 years, a growing body of research has shown that people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are affected not only by brain neuropathology but also by their reactions to its effects, by the environments in which they live, and by how they are treated by others. Nevertheless, three relatively neglected social influences on people with AD remain to be examined: negative stereotyping, negative self-stereotyping and stereotype threat. Numerous studies reviewed in this paper indicate that: (1) negative self-stereotypes at conscious and unconscious levels can have adverse effects on the performance of healthy elderly people on tasks demanding explicit memory (recall in particular), and (2) the mere threat of being stereotyped negatively can have adverse effects on the performance of healthy elderly people on tasks including those involving memory. In this paper, we discuss the relevance of these phenomena for our understanding and treatment of people with AD who are exposed to negative stereotypes about old age and about AD before and after they are diagnosed. There is evidence to suggest that these influences may have significant effects on people with AD. The paper concludes with recommendations for best practice in the treatment of people with AD in the light of the most apparent effects of negative self-stereotyping and stereotype threat. These include advocacy for an approach that involves aspects of counselling.

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (4S_Part_13) ◽  
pp. P409-P409
Author(s):  
David Facal ◽  
Mari Feli González ◽  
Cristina Buiza ◽  
Unai Díaz ◽  
Aitziber Etxaniz ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rabello dos SANTOS ◽  
Monique Siebra KRUG ◽  
Michel Rasche BRANDÃO ◽  
Victória Silva de LEON ◽  
Júlia Cenci MARTINOTTO ◽  
...  

Abstract Music has been debated as a positive factor for the health of elderly people. In a randomized study, the researchers compared an intervention based on percussion and musical improvisation with a choir activity. The objective was to investigate whether improvisation would influence the executive functioning and motor skills of healthy elderly people. A set of instruments for psychological and motor assessment was used before and after the procedure. Differences were found in the performance of the participants of the improvisation group in the Clock Drawing Test suggesting possible gains in executive function. There were gains, regardless of the group, in part A of the Trail Making Test, which indicates a sustained attention. No evidence of motor effects was found in this study. The results suggest that musical activities can contribute to the prevention of cognitive decline caused by aging.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2659
Author(s):  
Ana Júlia De Souza Caparrol ◽  
Francine Golghetto Casemiro Golghetto Casemiro ◽  
Larissa Correa ◽  
Diana Quirino Monteiro ◽  
Marília Graciela Almeida Prado Sanchez ◽  
...  

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o efeito de intervenção cognitiva domiciliar sobre a cognição, a sobrecarga e o estresse em cuidadores de idosos com Doença de Alzheimer. Método: trata-se de estudo quantitativo, tipo quase-experimental, com 17 cuidadores informais de idosos com Doença de Alzheimer. Utilizaram-se o Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), a Escala de Estresse Percebido (PSS) e a Escala de Sobrecarga de Zarit para a avaliação antes e depois da intervenção. Analisaram-se os resultados pelo SPSS, aplicando-se o test t de student para avaliar o efeito da intervenção. Resultados: identificaram-se mulheres (88,2%), com idade média de 52,5 anos e escolaridade média de 8,8 anos. Constatou-se melhora significativa na cognição geral pelo MEEM (p=0,008) e ACE-R (p= 0,003) e nos domínios atenção (p= 0,004), memória (p= 0,017) e fluência verbal (p= 0,023). Conclusão: avaliou-se pela intervenção cognitiva domiciliar melhora na cognição geral em cuidadores de idosos com Doença de Alzheimer, podendo ser uma importante ferramenta de promoção a saúde. Descritores: Idoso; Cuidadores; Cognição; Estresse Psicológico; Estudo de Intervenção, Geriatria.ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the effect of cognitive intervention on cognition, overload and stress in caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease. Method: this is a quasi-experimental quantitative study with 17 informal caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease. The Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Zarit's Overload Scale were used for the evaluation before and after the intervention. The results were analyzed by the SPSS, applying the Student's t-test to evaluate the effect of the intervention. Results: women (88.2%) were identified, with a mean age of 52.5 years and mean schooling of 8.8 years. It was found a significant improvement in the general cognition by the MEEM (p = 0.008) and ACE-R (p = 0.003) and in the attention domains (p = 0.004), memory (p = 0.017) and verbal fluency (p = 0.023). Conclusion: it was evaluated by the cognitive home improvement intervention in general cognition in caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease, and can be an important tool to promote health. Descriptors: Aged; Caregivers; Cognition; Stress, Psychological; Clinical Trial; Geriatrics.RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de intervención cognitiva domiciliaria sobre la cognición, la sobrecarga y el estrés en cuidadores de ancianos con enfermedad de Alzheimer. Método: se trata de un estudio cuantitativo, tipo casi-experimental, con 17 cuidadores informales de ancianos con enfermedad de Alzheimer. Se utilizaron el Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), la Escala de estrés percibido (PSS) y la escala de sobrecarga de Zarit para la evaluación antes y después de la intervención. Se analizaron los resultados por el SPSS, aplicándose el test t de student para evaluar el efecto de la intervención. Resultados: se identificaron mujeres (88,2%), con edad media de 52,5 años y escolaridad promedio de 8,8 años. Se observó una mejora significativa en la cognición general por el MEEM (p = 0,008) y ACE-R (p = 0,003) y en los dominios atención (p = 0,004), memoria (p = 0,017) y fluencia verbal (p = 0,023). Conclusión: se evaluó por la intervención cognitiva domiciliaria mejora en la cognición general en cuidadores de ancianos con Enfermedad de Alzheimer, pudiendo ser una importante herramienta de promoción a la salud. Descriptores: Anciano; Cuidadores; Cognición; Estrés Psicológico; Ensayo Clínico; Geriatria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 300 ◽  
pp. 221-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Vu ◽  
Marjaana Koponen ◽  
Heidi Taipale ◽  
Antti Tanskanen ◽  
Jari Tiihonen ◽  
...  

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Nicolas Amiez ◽  
Carole Cometti ◽  
Éric Mouillon ◽  
Marie José Teisseire ◽  
Pascal Chenut ◽  
...  

The risk of falling increases with age. Individuals wearing unadapted shoes present an aggravating risk factor. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of specifically designed balance shoes on balance and postural stability in healthy elderly people compared to that of their usual shoes. In total, 21 healthy individuals aged 65–84 years (76.0 ± 8.0 years) performed balance tests (bipedal with open or closed eyes, unipedal with open eyes, limits of stability, and step cadence) while wearing their (i) personal shoes or (ii) balance shoes (Axis Comfort Development©). Three test sessions were conducted with personal and balance shoes. The first served as the baseline, and the other two were performed after a familiarization period of several days with the personal or balance shoes. The perception of balance shoe efficiency was documented using a questionnaire. The balance shoes significantly improved bipedal balance with closed eyes. Moreover, the familiarization period significantly improved unipedal balance with open eyes. Most subjects felt safer and stabler using balance shoes. The investigated specifically designed balance shoes were effective in elderly individuals in improving postural balance compared to personal shoes. The balance shoes could, therefore, reduce the falling risk in healthy elderly people.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Hidemasa Takao ◽  
Shiori Amemiya ◽  
Osamu Abe ◽  

Background: Scan acceleration techniques, such as parallel imaging, can reduce scan times, but reliability is essential to implement these techniques in neuroimaging. Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility of the longitudinal changes in brain morphology determined by longitudinal voxel-based morphometry (VBM) between non-accelerated and accelerated magnetic resonance images (MRI) in normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Using data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) 2 database, comprising subjects who underwent non-accelerated and accelerated structural T1-weighted MRI at screening and at a 2-year follow-up on 3.0 T Philips scanners, we examined the reproducibility of longitudinal gray matter volume changes determined by longitudinal VBM processing between non-accelerated and accelerated imaging in 50 healthy elderly subjects, 54 MCI patients, and eight AD patients. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) maps differed among the three groups. The mean ICC was 0.72 overall (healthy elderly, 0.63; MCI, 0.75; AD, 0.63), and the ICC was good to excellent (0.6–1.0) for 81.4%of voxels (healthy elderly, 64.8%; MCI, 85.0%; AD, 65.0%). The differences in image quality (head motion) were not significant (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.18) and the within-subject standard deviations of longitudinal gray matter volume changes were similar among the groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that the reproducibility of longitudinal gray matter volume changes determined by VBM between non-accelerated and accelerated MRI is good to excellent for many regions but may vary between diseases and regions.


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