scholarly journals THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITION, FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES, AND THE LATENT DEMENTIA PHENOTYPE AMONG CENTENARIANS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S965-S965
Author(s):  
Jonathan Sober ◽  
John L Woodard ◽  
L Stephen Miller ◽  
Adam Davey ◽  
Peter Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Functional Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Dementia Severity

Abstract Adequate assessment of cognitive abilities and functional capacity is essential for a diagnosis of dementia. However, cognition is only moderately related to functional status, and this relationship is poorly understood among centenarians, a group of older adults with high risk for dementia. A bifactor structural equation model can be used to delineate the variance attributed to dementia-specific related cognitive changes (i.e., the latent variable delta) and the variance due to general intelligence (i.e., g’). This study aimed to determine the validity of delta as a marker of cognitive decline among centenarians. It was hypothesized that delta was correlated with cognitive status, functional abilities and, dementia severity. Overall, 244 community dwelling centenarians (Mage = 100.58, 84.8% female) were recruited through the Georgia Centenarian Study, a population-based study of octogenarians and centenarians from northern Georgia. Older adults were administered measures of cognition and a self-report measure of functional abilities. Latent variable scores (i.e., g’ and delta) were modeled and correlated with standard global cognitive screening measures (i.e., MMSE) and measures of dementia severity. Results indicate that delta was significantly correlated with functional ability and cognitive abilities. Consistent with our hypotheses, delta was also significantly related to dementia severity. Overall, estimates of the latent dementia phenotype, delta, were significantly related to cognitive and functional abilities among centenarians, providing validation of delta as a useful index of dementia severity.

scholarly journals The Turkish adaptation and psychometric properties of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faika Sanal Karahan ◽  
Erdal Hamarta ◽  
Ali Yavuz Karahan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Turkish Version ◽  
Internal Reliability

The purpose of the present study is to translate and adapt the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS), a 30-item self-report measure of anxiety among older adults, into Turkish and examine its basic psychometric properties. We tested the translated GAS in a sample of community-dwelling older adults in Konya, Turkey (N=100; Mage=71.4 years, SD=6.5; range=65-88) without a history of mental disorder and sufficient cognitive abilities. To assess the convergent validity, Turkish versions of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were administered. The mean GAS total score was 13.33 (SD=11.86). Due to low item-total correlations (<0.30), two items (items 2 and 3) were removed from the Turkish version of the GAS. The internal reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) was excellent for the total score (0.91) and acceptable for the subscales (somatic = 0.71; cognitive = 0.85; affective = 0.84). Regarding the convergent validity, the GAS total score was significantly and positively correlated with the total scores of the BAI (r=0.87, P<0.05) and GDS (r=0.57, P<0.05), with large effect sizes. Implications: The newly translated Turkish version of the GAS has promising utility in an older adult Turkish sample. Future studies of this measure are warranted.

scholarly journals The Turkish adaptation and psychometric properties of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Faika Sanal Karahan ◽  
Erdal Hamarta ◽  
Ali Yavuz Karahan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Turkish Version ◽  
Internal Reliability

The purpose of the present study is to translate and adapt the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS), a 30-item self-report measure of anxiety among older adults, into Turkish and examine its basic psychometric properties. We tested the translated GAS in a sample of community-dwelling older adults in Konya, Turkey (N=100; Mage=71.4 years, SD=6.5; range=65-88) without a history of mental disorder and sufficient cognitive abilities. To assess the convergent validity, Turkish versions of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were administered. The mean GAS total score was 13.33 (SD=11.86). Due to low item-total correlations (<0.30), two items (items 2 and 3) were removed from the Turkish version of the GAS. The internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha) was excellent for the total score (0.91) and acceptable for the subscales (somatic = 0.71; cognitive = 0.85; affective = 0.84). Regarding the convergent validity, the GAS total score was significantly and positively correlated with the total scores of the BAI (r=0.87, P<0.05) and GDS (r=0.57, P<0.05), with large effect sizes. Implications: The newly translated Turkish version of the GAS has promising utility in an older adult Turkish sample. Future studies of this measure are warranted.

scholarly journals Associations Between Fear of COVID-19, Affective Symptoms and Risk Perception Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During a COVID-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline F. Y. Han ◽  
Rathi Mahendran ◽  
Junhong Yu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Affective Symptoms

Fear is a common and potentially distressful psychological response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The factors associated with such fear remains relatively unstudied among older adults. We investigated if fear of COVID-19 could be associated with a combination of psychological factors such as anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risk perception of COVID-19, and demographic factors in a community sample of older adults. Older adults (N = 413, Mage = 69.09 years, SD = 5.45) completed measures of fear of COVID-19, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risk perception of COVID-19, during a COVID-19 lockdown. These variables, together with demographics, were fitted to a structural equation model. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were highly correlated with each other and were combined into the higher order latent variable of affective symptoms for analyses. The final model revealed that fear of COVID-19 was positively associated with psychological factors of affective symptoms and risk perception. Older age was associated with greater fear of COVID-19. Our findings showed that fear of COVID-19 can be a projection of pre-existing affective symptoms and inflated risk perceptions and highlighted the need to address the incorrect risk perceptions of COVID-19 and socio-affective issues among older adults in the community.

scholarly journals Developing a Spatial-Skills-Focused Music Program for Older Adults With Changes in Cognition

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 291-292
Author(s):  
Jennie Dorris ◽  
Juleen Rodakowski
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Music Notation ◽  
Spatial Skills ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Music Program ◽  
Orientation Test

Abstract Older adults with cognitive changes need stimulating programming to maximize their cognitive abilities. One area to maximize includes spatial skills, its decline can lead to disorientation and wandering. Music has potential to maximize spatial skills: reading music’s notation is associated with enhanced spatial skills in children and professional musicians. It’s critical to understand the potential impact of a spatially focused music program for older adults with changing cognition; if successful, future music programs could support people staying orientated in their environments and living independently longer. We developed and assessed a six-week marimba program focused on reading music with 15 older adults ages 65-89 with changes in cognition. We compared their scores on the Orientation Test from the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills pre- and post-intervention and assessed if participants self-selected to read music notation. Participants scored an average Modified Mini Mental State Examination (3MSE) score of 81.3 (SD = 11.0). On average, participants’ scores on the Orientation Test moved from 13.4 (SD =1.9) to 14.1 (SD= 2.7), providing a cohen’s d effect size of 0.3. Over the six weeks, 11 out of the 15 participants selected to read music for at least one class, indicating a statistically significant change using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (Z = -3.16, p &lt; 0.01), suggesting that older adults with cognitive changes may be able to learn to read music. This is important, as a spatially focused music program may maximize spatial skills that older adults need to successfully navigate their world safely and independently.

Self-Perceived Hearing Loss, Hearing-Help Seeking and Hearing Aid Adoption Among Older Adults in Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 127 (11) ◽  
pp. 798-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Zamratol Mai Sarah Mukari ◽  
Wan Fazlina Wan Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Low Sensitivity ◽  
Single Question

Introduction: The aims of this study were to examine the validity of self-perceived hearing loss in detecting hearing loss and factors associated with self-perceived hearing loss and hearing-help seeking and to report hearing aid adoption among a group of community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia. Methods: A total of 301 older adults (⩾60 years of age) participating in a study on aging had their hearing tested using pure-tone audiometry. Self-perceived hearing loss was assessed using a single question. Sociodemographic profile, otologic history, and general cognitive status were also obtained. Results: A single question had low sensitivity in detecting actual hearing loss: 31.3% for 4-frequency average > 25 dBHL and 48.8% for 4-frequency average > 40 dBHL. Besides hearing level, history of otorrhea and tinnitus were factors that were associated with self-perceived hearing loss among older adults with at least mild hearing loss. Hearing-help-seeking behavior was not associated with any of the tested variables. The hearing aid adoption rate was 2.7% and 7.3% among participants with 4-frequency averages > 25 dBHL and > 40 dBHL, respectively. Conclusion: The underestimation of hearing loss in the majority of older adults in this study poses a potential barrier to hearing loss intervention.

scholarly journals Multiple Linear Regression-Structural Equation Modeling Based Development of the Integrated Model of Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Quality of Life of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nanjing, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (24) ◽  
pp. 4933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Dezhi Li
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Neighborhood Environment

Due to the poor functioning in daily living activities, community-dwelling older adults spend more time in their neighborhood environment. The perceived neighborhood environment is crucial to their quality of life (QoL). To explore the complex influences of perceived neighborhood environment on QoL, a questionnaire was designed to measure their perception of each factor of neighborhood environment and each domain of QoL. Based on collected data, the reliability test was applied to revise the questionnaire. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were adopted to hypothesize and test the integrated model for community-dwelling older adults. The results show that community-dwelling older adults’ perceptions of neighbor support, facilities related to physical exercise and recreation, and accessibility to facilities impact their overall QoL with diverse coefficients of 0.437, 0.312, and 0.295, respectively; neighbor support (0.207) on physical health; sidewalk condition (0.134), natural environment (0.260), and facilities related to daily life (0.165) on psychological health; and neighbor support (0.298), facilities related to daily life (0.206), and design-related safety (0.225) on social relationship. This revealed that perceptions of neighborhood environment have diverse impacts on their QoL. This study can provide targeted retrofit strategies for communities to enhance QoL of community-dwelling older adults efficiently.

scholarly journals Changing our thinking about changing their thinking in older adulthood

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1405-1407
Author(s):  
Viviana M. Wuthrich
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
New Learning

It is well-established that as people age, deterioration in cognitive abilities including processing speed, memory, and cognitive flexibility occurs, although vast individual differences occur in the rate and consequences of this decline (Christensen, 2001). Anxiety and depression in late life are also associated with specific cognitive deficits in memory and executive functioning that may impact on new learning (Yochim et al., 2013). Therefore, it is possible that cognitive changes make it more difficult for older adults to learn how to change their thinking particularly in the context of psychological therapy.

scholarly journals Effects of Reallocating Time Spent in Different Physical Activity Intensities on Sarcopenia Risk in Older Adults: An Isotemporal Substitution Analysis

Biology ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Jort Veen ◽  
Diego Montiel-Rojas ◽  
Fawzi Kadi ◽  
Andreas Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Muscle Health ◽  
The Impact

The role of daily time spent sedentary and in different intensities of physical activity (PA) for the maintenance of muscle health currently remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of reallocating time spent in different PA intensities on sarcopenia risk in older adults, while considering PA type (muscle strengthening activities, MSA) and protein intake. In a sample of 235 community-dwelling older adults (65–70 years), a sarcopenia risk score (SRS) was created based on muscle mass assessed by bioimpedance, together with handgrip strength and performance on the five times sit-to-stand (5-STS) test assessed by standardized procedures. Time spent in light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and being sedentary was assessed by accelerometry, and PA type (MSA) by self-report. Linear regression models based on isotemporal substitution were employed. Reallocating sedentary time to at least LPA was significantly (p < 0.05) related to a lower SRS, which remained evident after adjustment by PA type (MSA) and protein intake. Similarly, reallocating time in LPA by MVPA was related to a significantly (p < 0.05) lower SRS. Our results emphasize the importance of displacing sedentary behaviours for more active pursuits, where PA of even light intensities may alleviate age-related deteriorations of muscle health in older adults.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document