The neuropsychology of depression in the elderly: a comparative study of normal aging and Alzheimer's disease

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-168 ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Niures P.S. Matioli ◽  
Arnaldo Etzel ◽  
João A.G.G. Prats ◽  
Wares F. de O. Medeiros ◽  
Taiguara R. Monteiro ◽  
...  

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Efforts to determine risk factors for the development of AD are important for risk stratification and early diagnosis. Furthermore, there are no standardized practices for memory screening. Lack of knowledge on AD, perception of memory loss as part of normal aging, and poor socioeconomic conditions may also be implicated in the current situation of dementia. Objective: To evaluate knowledge of AD in a literate population of elders and correlate these findings with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A descriptive survey design study enrolled 994 volunteers from September 2007 to May 2008 in the city of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, to answer a brief questionnaire consisting of 8 simple questions about knowledge of AD and worries about memory loss. Results: Greater knowledge about AD was associated with eight or more years of education, female gender and age between 60 and 70 years. Also, 52.8% of responders (95% CI - 49.5-56.0%) answered that memory loss is part of normal aging and 77.5% (95% CI - 74.7-80.1%) had never sought a doctor to evaluate their memories. Conclusion: Our study results reinforced that the first line of preventing late diagnosis of dementia is to act in health promotion, especially by targeting subjects older than 70 years of male gender and with lower educational level. It also provided evidence that strategies to promote physician initiative in treating memory problems are also paramount.


2002 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuru Kikuchi ◽  
Yuji Wada ◽  
Yoshifumi Koshino

In order to investigate whether Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the end result of aging of the brain or the result of some other mechanism, we analyzed EEGs showing the absolute power of harmonic responses to photic stimulation (PS) in younger subjects, non-demented elderly subjects and AD patients. At rest, the AD patients generally showed less absolute power than the younger and elderly subjects, with significant differences found at 10Hz and 20Hz. Analysis of EEGs recorded during PS indicated that the elderly subjects generally demonstrated more absolute power than the younger subjects and AD patients. These findings suggest a failure of stimulation-related brain activation in AD patients, and provide further evidence that normal aging and AD employ different mechanisms for functional organization during PS.


2000 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Hua-Li Wang ◽  
Hong-yan Zhang ◽  
Gui-Lan Huang ◽  
Qi-Wen Mu ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 876-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carla Borghi ◽  
Vivian Carla de Castro ◽  
Sonia Silva Marcon ◽  
Lígia Carreira

OBJECTIVE: to compare the overload of the main and secondary family carers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease, and identify which dimension generates most impact. METHOD: a comparative study conducted in the city of Maringá, State of Paraná, with 20 primary carers of elderly patients with Alzheimer's Disease and 20 secondary caregivers. The data was collected in May and June 2012, using the Scale for Assessment of Overload of Members of Psychiatric Patients' Families (FBIS-BR), and the results were analysed using the Mann-Whitney test and analysis of variance. RESULTS: the global objective overload, and also in each subscale, was significantly greater in the group of main caregivers; the subjective overload showed no difference between the groups. Comparing the subscales, the routine assistance provided to the patient had greater influence on objective overload in both groups, and the concern with the elderly patient was the dimension that had most influence on the subjective overload of main caregivers and also of secondary caregivers. CONCLUSION: the differences in overload between the different groups reinforces the need for planning of health care actions for each type of caregiver, seeking to reduce these differences.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Chinonye A Maduagwuna ◽  

Study background: Chronic neuroinflammation is a common emerging hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among the elderly and is characterized by loss of memory and other cognitive functions.


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