Esophageal Clearance Patterns in Normal Older Adults as Documented with Videofluoroscopic Esophagram

Normal esophageal bolus transport in asymptomatic healthy older adults has not been well defined,potentiallyleading to ambiguity in differentiating esophageal swallowing patterns of dysphagic and healthy individuals. This pilot study of 24 young (45–64 years) and old (65+years) men and women was designed to assess radiographic esophageal bolus movement patterns in healthy adults using videofluoroscopic recording. Healthy, asymptomatic adults underwent videofluoroscopic esophagram to evaluate for the presence of ineffective esophageal clearance, namely, intraesophageal stasis and intraesophageal reflux. Intraesophageal stasis and intraesophageal reflux were visualized radiographically in these normal subjects. Intraesophageal stasis occurred significantly more frequently with semisolid (96%) compared with liquid (16%) barium, suggesting that a variety of barium consistencies, as opposed to only the traditional fluids, would better define the spectrum of esophageal transport. Intraesophageal reflux was observed more frequently in older males than in their younger counterparts. The rates of intraesophageal stasis and intraesophageal reflux were potentially high given that successive bolus presentations were spaced 10 seconds apart. These findings suggest a need for a more comprehensive definition regarding the range of normal esophageal bolus transport to (a) prevent misdiagnosis of dysphagia and (b) to enhance generalization to functional eating, which involves solid foods in addition to liquids.

Download Full-text

Processing gender stereotypes in dementia patients and older healthy adults: a self-paced reading study

Linguistics Vanguard ◽

10.1515/lingvan-2018-0029 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (s2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daniel Müller-Feldmeth ◽

Katharina Ahnefeld ◽

Adriana Hanulíková

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Sentence Processing ◽

Gender Stereotypes ◽

Time Course ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Dementia Patients ◽

Age Related

AbstractWe used self-paced reading to examine whether stereotypical associations of verbs with women or men as prototypical agents (e.g. the craftsman knits a sweater) are activated during sentence processing in dementia patients and healthy older adults. Effects of stereotypical knowledge on language processing have frequently been observed in young adults, but little is known about age-related changes in the activation and integration of stereotypical information. While syntactic processing may remain intact, semantic capacities are often affected in dementia. Since inferences based on gender stereotypes draw on social and world knowledge, access to stereotype information may also be affected in dementia patients. Results from dementia patients (n = 9, average age 86.6) and healthy older adults (n = 14, average age 79.5) showed slower reading times and less accuracy in comprehension scores for dementia patients compared to the control group. While activation of stereotypical associations of verbs was visible in both groups, they differed with respect to the time-course of processing. The effect of stereotypes on comprehension accuracy was visible for healthy adults only. The evidence from reading times suggests that older adults with and without dementia engage stereotypical inferences during reading, which is in line with research on young adults.

Download Full-text

Development of a Dementia-Focused End-of-Life Planning Tool: The LEAD Guide (Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer’s and Dementia)

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kara Dassel ◽

Rebecca Utz ◽

Katherine Supiano ◽

Sara Bybee ◽

Eli Iacob

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Focus Groups ◽

End Of Life ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Early Stage ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Planning Tool ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Life Planning

Abstract Background and Objectives To address the unique characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) that complicate end-of-life (EOL), we created, refined, and validated a dementia-focused EOL planning instrument for use by healthy adults, those with early-stage dementia, family caregivers, and clinicians to document EOL care preferences and values within the current or future context of cognitive impairment. Research Design and Methods A mixed-method design with four phases guided the development and refinement of the instrument: (1) focus groups with early-stage ADRD and family caregivers developed and confirmed the tool content and comprehensiveness; (2) evaluation by content experts verified its utility in clinical practice; (3) a sample of healthy older adults (n = 153) and adults with early-stage ADRD (n = 38) completed the tool, whose quantitative data were used to describe the psychometrics of the instrument; and (4) focus groups with healthy older adults, family caregivers, and adults with early-stage ADRD informed how the guide should be used by families and in clinical practice. Results Qualitative data supported the utility and feasibility of a dementia-focused EOL planning tool; the six scales have high internal consistency (α = 0.66–0.89) and high test–rest reliability (r = .60–.90). On average, both participant groups reported relatively high concern for being a burden to their families, a greater preference for quality over length of life, a desire for collaborative decision-making process, limited interest in pursuing life-prolonging measures, and were mixed in their preference to control the timing of their death. Across disease progression, preferences for location of care changed, whereas preferences for prolonging life remained stable. Discussion and Implications The LEAD Guide (Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer’s and Dementia) has the potential to facilitate discussion and documentation of EOL values and care preferences prior to loss of decisional capacity, and has utility for healthy adults, patients, families, providers, and researchers.

Download Full-text

Exergames for unsupervised balance training at home: A pilot study in healthy older adults

Gait & Posture ◽

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2015.11.019 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 161-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

M. van Diest ◽

J. Stegenga ◽

H.J. Wörtche ◽

G.J. Verkerke ◽

K. Postema ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Balance Training ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

At Home

Download Full-text

Cognitive training-induced short-term functional and long-term structural plastic change is related to gains in global cognition in healthy older adults: a pilot study

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2015.00014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Amit Lampit ◽

Harry Hallock ◽

Chao Suo ◽

Sharon L. Naismith ◽

Michael Valenzuela

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Short Term ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Structural Plastic ◽

Global Cognition ◽

Plastic Change

Download Full-text

Vitamin D3 Supplementation Improved Physical Performance in Healthy Older Adults in Japan: A Pilot Study

Health ◽

10.4236/health.2018.109092 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (09) ◽

pp. 1200-1209

Author(s):

Noboru Hasegawa ◽

Miyako Mochizuki ◽

Mayumi Kato ◽

Nobuko Shimizu ◽

Takako Yamada

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Vitamin D3 ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Vitamin D3 Supplementation

Download Full-text

Exercises and sports participation in healthy older adults with intellectual disability—A pilot study

Health ◽

10.4236/health.2012.429119 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 04 (09) ◽

pp. 769-774 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Eli Carmeli ◽

Joav Merrick ◽

Bita Imam ◽

Ran Levy

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Healthy Older Adults

Download Full-text

Double obstacles increase gait asymmetry during obstacle crossing in people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy older adults: A pilot study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-59266-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Diego Orcioli-Silva ◽

Fabio Augusto Barbieri ◽

Paulo Cezar Rocha dos Santos ◽

Victor Spiandor Beretta ◽

Lucas Simieli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Obstacle Crossing ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Gait Asymmetry

Download Full-text

Effects of Six-Month Aerobic Exercise Intervention on Sleep in Healthy Older Adults in the Brain in Motion Study: A Pilot Study

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports ◽

10.3233/adr-180079 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 229-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Veronica Guadagni ◽

Cameron M. Clark ◽

Amanda Tyndall ◽

Jill K. Raneri ◽

Jillian S. Parboosingh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Motion Study ◽

The Brain

Download Full-text

Greater Step Widths Reduce Internal Knee Abduction Moments in Medial Compartment Knee Osteoarthritis Patients During Stair Ascent

Journal of Applied Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/jab.2014-0166 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 229-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Max R. Paquette ◽

Gary Klipple ◽

Songning Zhang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Step Width ◽

Medial Knee ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Stair Ascent ◽

Peak Knee ◽

Knee Abduction ◽

Second Peak

Increased step widths have been shown to reduce peak internal knee abduction moments in healthy individuals but not in knee osteoarthritis patients during stair descent. This study aimed to assess effects of increased step widths on peak knee abduction moments and associated variables in adults with medial knee osteoarthritis and healthy older adults during stair ascent. Thirteen healthy older adults and 13 medial knee osteoarthritis patients performed stair ascent using preferred, wide, and wider step widths. Three-dimensional kinematics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) using an instrumented staircase were collected. Increased step width reduced first and second peak knee abduction moments, and knee abduction moment impulse. In addition, frontal plane GRF at time of first and second peak knee abduction moment and lateral trunk lean at time of first peak knee abduction moment were reduced with increased step width during stair ascent in both groups. Knee abduction moment variables were not different between knee osteoarthritis patients and healthy controls. Our findings suggest that increasing step width may be an effective simple gait alteration to reduce knee abduction moment variables in both knee osteoarthritis and healthy adults during stair ascent. However, long term effects of increasing step width during stair ascent in knee osteoarthritis and healthy adults remain unknown.

Download Full-text