Computed Tomography in the Elderly 2. Senile Dementia: Diagnosis and Functional Impairment

1980 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin J. Jacoby ◽  
Raymond Levy
Keyword(s):  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Cerebral Atrophy ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cortical Atrophy ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Computed Tomographic ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Ct Data

SummaryClinical, psychometric and computed tomographic (CT) data are presented on three groups of elderly subjects: 50 normals, 40 patients with senile dementia and 41 suffering from affective disorder. Demented subjects showed significantly more CT evidence of cerebral atrophy than non-demented subjects, but there was considerable overlap. Although patients with a history or clinical signs of cerebral infarction were specifically excluded, such infarcts were found more often in CT scans of the dementia subjects than in the others, particularly when the diastolic blood pressure was raised. When correlating cognitive impairment with CT changes, ventricular size emerged as more important in the dementia patients, in contrast to the controls, in whom cortical atrophy was related to lower scores on a cognitive test. Other interesting findings included an inverse relationship between cortical atrophy and paranoid delusions.

Computed Tomography in the Elderly: 1. the Normal Population

1980 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin J. Jacoby ◽  
Raymond Levy ◽  
John M. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Cortical Atrophy ◽  
Global Rating ◽  
Computed Tomographic ◽  
Methodological Problems ◽  
Ct Data ◽  
Healthy Community

SummaryComputed tomographic (CT) and brief psychometric findings on 50 psychiatrically and neurologically healthy community residents over 60 years old are presented. The need for normative CT data is emphasized, and the methodological problems in obtaining them are discussed. Measures of ventricular size were generally found to be greater than those reported by other workers, and variation with age was also found to be less marked than hitherto reported. A reciprocal relationship was found between a global rating of cortical atrophy and a test of memory and orientation. This communication forms the basis for comparison with groups of psychiatric patients to be presented in subsequent articles.

Computed Tomography in the Elderly 3. Affective Disorder

1980 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin J. Jacoby ◽  
Raymond Levy
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Ventricular Size ◽  
Radiological Criteria ◽  
Computed Tomographic ◽  
Ct Data

SummaryClinical and computed tomographic (CT) data on a consecutive series of 41 elderly patients with affective disorders are presented, and comparisons made with a group of 50 healthy controls. In both groups ventricular size increased with age, but only in the controls was there an age correlation with sulcal widening. Using clinical and radiological criteria, the prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in the patient group was 12 per cent. A sub-group of patients with enlarged ventricles emerged, whose first depression began later in life, and who at the time of this study were older and showed more ‘endogenous’ features than the remainder. It is suggested that this provides further evidence that organic cerebral factors may have aetiological significance in some depressions of old age.

Scales for Mental State and Daily Living Activities for the Elderly: Clinical Behavioral Scales for Assessing Demented Patients

1993 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Nishimura ◽  
Toshiko Kobayashi ◽  
Shiro Hariguchi ◽  
Masatoshi Takeda ◽  
Tomoko Fukunaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Living ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Daily Life Activities ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Moderate Dementia

In the diagnosis, treatment, and care of dementia patients in the senile stage, comprehensive evaluation of ability in daily life and mental function is needed. Using a simple behavioral rating scale for the mental states (NM scale) and activities of daily living (N-ADL) of the elderly, we evaluated 250 elderly subjects. According to the NM scale, the scores for subjects in whom the severity was clinically diagnosed were as follows: normal, 50–48; borderline, 47–43; mild dementia, 42–31; moderate dementia, 30–17; and severe dementia, 16–0. Screening for dementia and determining its severity were readily accomplished using the NM scale, and basic activities in the daily life of the elderly could be evaluated effectively using the N-ADL. There was a significant correlation (r=0.863) between the Hasegawa dementia scale and the NM scale (p<0.001), a significant correlation (r=−0.947) between intellectual function scores of the GBS scale and the NM scale, and a significant correlation (r=0.944) between motor function score of the GBS scale and the N-ADL score. Evaluations of daily life activities can be made not only by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, but by nonspecialists as well, because they are based on data obtained by observation of daily life behaviors; thus, assessment is appropriate both in clinical settings and in places of living.

GHRH-induced GH response in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type

1988 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón Cacabelos ◽  
Hisayoshi Niigawa ◽  
Yoshiaki Ikemura ◽  
Yuji Yanagi ◽  
Shigemi Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Onset ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Bioelectrical Activity ◽  
Alzheimer Type ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Ghrh Test ◽  
Senile Dementia Of The

Abstract. To clarify the functional state of the somatotropinergic system at the hypothalamo-hypophyseal level in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, the GHRH test was performed in three groups of subjects: a) healthy elderly subjects; b) early onset senile dementia patients; and c) late onset senile dementia patients. Intravenous administration of GHRH(1–44)NH2 (100 μg) elicited a marked plasma GH response with a maximum peak (709.54 ± 259.0 pmol/l; P < 0.005) 60 min after injection in patients with early onset senile dementia, but no significant response was detected in the other two groups. Electroencephalographic recording showed that GHRH modifies brain bioelectrical activity, decreasing frequency (0.52 ± 0.15 Hz) and increasing amplitude (8.25 ± 4.5 μV) of the electroencephalogram basic rhythm. The evaluation of mental performance and behaviour with a battery of different tests for mental assessment revealed that GHRH induces transient clinical changes in psychomotor behaviour. According to these results, it seems likely that the somatostatin deficiency reported in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type may account for the enhanced GHRH-induced GH response observed in patients with early onset senile dementia. In consequence, the GHRH test might constitute a useful antemortem marker for senile dementia of the Alzheimer type if the present results can be replicated in early stages of the disease.

Anti-Cholinergic Drugs and Memory: the Effects of Benzhexol on Memory in a Group of Geriatric Patients

1982 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 470-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Potamianos ◽  
J. M. Kellett
Keyword(s):  
Short Story ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Word List ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Associate Learning ◽  
Immediate Recall

SummaryA double blind trial on the effects of 2 mg of benzhexol on memory was performed on thirteen elderly subjects without cognitive impairment. The tests given 90 minutes after the drug or placebo involved learning a list of ten words, a paired-associate learning task, learning a short story and a test of digit span. Subjects were asked to recall the word list one minute after an interfering task, and 6 items from the story directly. Digit span involved immediate recall and the paired learning was measured by the number of trials necessary to learn. All tests were significantly impaired by the benzhexol except for digit span. This suggests that muscarinic blocking drugs should be avoided in the elderly, as they mimic the memory deficits found in senile dementia of Alzheimer type.

Differences between young and elderly subjects in seasonal and circadian variations of total plasma proteins and blood volume as reflected by hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte counts.

1986 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 801-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Touitou ◽  
C Touitou ◽  
A Bogdan ◽  
A Reinberg ◽  
A Auzeby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Volume ◽  
Plasma Protein ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Plasma Proteins ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Young Men ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Total Plasma ◽  
Circadian Variations

Abstract Circadian and seasonal rhythms in total plasma proteins were documented in healthy young men (around 24 years old), and in elderly subjects (both sexes), including senile-dementia patients in their eighties. The concentration of plasma proteins within a given group changed predictably (7-13%), depending on the hour of sampling and the season. Concentrations decreased noticeably around 04:00 h, then peaked around 08:00 h (shortly after waking). The 24-h mean concentrations of total plasma proteins were lower in the elderly groups than in the young men. But the seasonal variations of the 24-h mean values were strikingly larger in the elderly groups (7-8 g/L) than in the young men (2-5 g/L). Moreover, the circadian profiles of plasma proteins differed from the profiles of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte counts. Evidently, circadian variations of blood volume may not be the only element accounting for the variations of plasma protein concentrations. We suggest that the rhythms in plasma protein concentrations be taken into account when reference values are set. Circadian and seasonal variations in plasma proteins may also significantly affect the transport and binding of drugs, especially in the aged.

scholarly journals Effect of cognitive stimulation workshops on the self-esteem and cognition of the elderly A pilot project

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thais Sisti De Vincenzo Schultheisz ◽  
Regiane Ribeiro de Aquino ◽  
Ana Beatriz Ferreira Alves ◽  
André Luis Maiera Radl ◽  
Antonio de Pádua Serafim
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
The Self ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Cognitive Complaint

ABSTRACT According to the WHO, by 2025 Brazil will be ranked sixth in the world in terms of proportion of elderly in the population. Within this scope, cognition plays a central role in the aging process, having an important association with quality of life, which suggests the need to develop intervention programs, such as cognitive training. Objective: To determine the effects of a program of cognitive stimulation workshops on the self-esteem and cognition of elderly people. Methods: Thirty-eight elderly subjects completed the three-step protocol: 1) Survey of demographic data and evaluation of cognition by a neuropsychological battery and of self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSS), prior to training; 2) Participation in twelve cognitive stimulation workshops; and 3) Cognitive evaluation and RSS after the training. Results: Results showed that the use of training produced positive effects on cognitive test performance of the elderly with and without cognitive impairment. By extension, this demonstrates positive impact on their self-esteem. Conclusion: These findings encourage investment in cognitive stimulation programs as a resource for improved cognition and quality of life for the elderly. Subjective cognitive complaint may have served as a predictor of decreased self-esteem; therefore, as training improved cognition, it also improved self-esteem.

Impact of Anesthesia on the Cognitive Functioning of the Elderly

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Ritchie ◽  
Catherine Polge ◽  
Guilhem de Roquefeuil ◽  
Michel Djakovic ◽  
Bernard Ledesert
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Disorder ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Anesthetic Agents

Exposure to general anesthesia has been suggested as a possible cause of long-term cognitive impairment in elderly subjects. The present study reviews the literature in this field in order to describe postoperative cognitive impairment in elderly populations, to determine to what extent this may be attributed to anesthetic agents, and to consider evidence of a causal relationship between anesthesia and onset of senile dementia. A systematic literature search was conducted using five bibliographic databases (PASCAL, Medline, Excerpta Medica, Psychological Abstracts, and Science Citation Index). Significant cognitive dysfunction was found to be common in elderly persons 1 to 3 days after surgery, but reports of longer-term impairment are inconsistent due to the heterogeneity of the procedures used and populations targeted in such studies. Incidence rates vary widely according to type of surgery, suggesting that factors other than anesthesia explain a significant proportion of the observed variance. Anesthesia appears to be associated with longer-term cognitive disorder and the acceleration of senile dementia, but only in a small number of cases, suggesting the existence of other interacting etiological factors.

The Association Between Quantitative Measures of Dementia and of Senile Change in the Cerebral Grey Matter of Elderly Subjects

1968 ◽  
Vol 114 (512) ◽  
pp. 797-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Blessed ◽  
B. E. Tomlinson ◽  
Martin Roth
Keyword(s):  
Senile Dementia ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Community Practice ◽  
Cerebral Grey Matter ◽  
The Social ◽  
Calculated Risk ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Morbidity Risk

The ageing of many populations in recent years has directed increasing attention to the social, medical and biological problems of senescence. The psychological changes associated with ageing occupy a central position in inquiries in this field. The expectation of mental disorder shows a steep increase with advancing chronological age, and beyond 75 years a large part of this increase is accounted for by disorders associated with degenerative changes in the central nervous system for which we lack remedies at the present time. Larsson et al. (1963) have estimated that the aggregate morbidity risk for these disorders up to the age of 70 is 0·4 per cent., up to age 75, 1·2 per cent. and up to age 80, 5 per cent. For higher ages estimates were probably less reliable, but the calculated risk up to the age of 90 was 5·2 per cent. In a survey of a random sample of elderly people aged 65 and over in the general population, Kay et al. (1964), found a total of 4·2 per cent. of elderly subjects to be suffering from senile dementia, 2·9 per cent. being mild cases. The condition is generally recognized as being a major cause of serious infirmity among the elderly in psychiatric, geriatric, general medical and community practice alike.

Life Events and Senile Dementia Affective Symptoms

1995 ◽  
Vol 166 (5) ◽  
pp. 613-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Orrell ◽  
Paul Bebbington
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Affective Symptoms ◽  
The Social ◽  
Severe Life Events

BackgroundPrevious research in the elderly has linked threatening life events with depression. Dementia sufferers are known to be sensitive to stressful changes in their daily life such as relocation. This study investigates whether threatening life events are associated with depressive symptoms in dementia sufferers.MethodUsing the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule, this study examined life events before admission in a group of 70 dementia patients compared with two control groups: dementia sufferers in the community and mentally fit elderly people matched for age and sex.ResultsLife events with severe threat were not significantly more frequent in the dementia patients than in two control groups. However, depressive symptoms in the dementia sufferers were significantly associated with independent severe life events. This strong association was maintained when a multivariate analysis was used to control for the effects of other social factors and severity of cognitive impairment. This association appears to be specific to the threat aspect of life events since there was no association between depressive symptoms and events relating to change in the social environment.ConclusionIn dementia sufferers, threatening life events are associated with depressive symptoms. This means that dementia sufferers are responsive to stress in the same way as cognitively intact individuals, and clinicians need to be more aware of the social influences on them.

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