The Association of Calf Circumference with Resting Pulse Rate in Community-dwelling Healthy Elderly Women —Pilot Study—

Animal-assisted therapy has positive effects on cognitive function, depression, performance ability, and social functioning in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rearing pet insects on the cognitive function of healthy elderly participants, with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) being used for this purpose. Community-dwelling right-handed elderly women (≥60 years) with normal cognitive function were enrolled and randomized at a 1:1 ratio into two groups: insect-rearing and control (n = 16) groups, with the insect-rearing group being further classified into two groups for analysis according to the subjects’ scores in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) at the baseline fMRI: Insect-rearing group I with a relatively high score (n = 13), and insect-rearing group II with a relatively low score (n = 6). The insect-rearing groups received and reared crickets as pet insects for 8 weeks. The WCST consisted of two variations, a high level baseline (HLB) and semi-WCST version. There was a significant difference accuracy of the HLB–semi-WCST (p < 0.05) in insect-rearing group II after 8 weeks from the baseline test. In the fMRI analysis involving the WCST reaction test, increased activation was observed in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex in insect-rearing group II when the semi-WCST, rather than the HLB, was performed. Rearing pet insects showed positive effects on executive functions and performance improvement in elderly women. Further larger studies on the effects of pet insects on cognitive function are warranted.

Download Full-text

Benefits of home-based rocking-chair exercise for physical performance in community-dwelling elderly women: a randomized controlled trial — a pilot study

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research ◽

10.1007/bf03337754 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 279-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kristiina Niemelä ◽

Ilkka Väänänen ◽

Raija Leinonen ◽

Pia Laukkanen

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Home Based

Download Full-text

Effects of Pet Insects on Cognitive Function Among the Elderly: An fMRI Study

10.20944/preprints201908.0217.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ji-Yeon Park ◽

Hae-Jin Ko ◽

A-Sol Kim ◽

Ha-Na Moon ◽

Hye-In Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Animal Assisted Therapy ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Insect Rearing ◽

Group I ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group Ii

Background: Animal-assisted therapy has positive effects on cognitive function, depression, performance ability, and social functioning in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rearing pet insects on the cognitive function of healthy elderly participants, with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) being used for this purpose. Methods: Community-dwelling elderly women (≥60 years) with normal cognitive function were enrolled during April 2015. They were randomized at a 1:1 ratio into two groups: insect-rearing and control (n=16) groups, with the insect-rearing group being further classified into two groups for analysis according to the subjects’ scores in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) at the first fMRI: insect-rearing group I with a relatively high score (n=13), and insect-rearing group II with a relatively low score (n=6). All subjects were educated on a healthy lifestyle for better cognitive function at every visit, and the insect-rearing groups received and reared crickets as pet insects. The fMRI was performed at baseline and after 8 weeks using the WCST as a stimulus. The WCST consisted of two variations, a high level baseline (HLB) and semi-WCST version. Results: There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics among the three groups. There was a significant difference accuracy of the HLB–semi-WCST (p<0.05) in insect-rearing group II after 8 weeks from the baseline test. In the fMRI analysis involving the WCST reaction test, increased activation was observed in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex in insect-rearing group II when the semi-WCST, rather than the HLB, was performed. There were no significant differences in the other groups. Conclusion: The rearing of pet insects as an animal-assisted therapy is cost-effective, easy, and occupies little space. In this study, it showed positive effects on executive functions and performance improvement in elderly women. Further larger studies on the effects of pet insects on cognitive function are warranted.

Download Full-text

Thigh and calf circumference for the sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling elderly women

10.24816/jcgg.2017.v8i4.01 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

Keyword(s):

Elderly Women ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Calf Circumference

Download Full-text

Feasibility Study of Laser Acupuncture on Static Balance in Healthy Elderly Women: Pilot Study

10.14257/astl.2015.105.04 ◽

2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wonjae Choi ◽

Sajin Tak ◽

Jongeun Yim ◽

Seungwon Lee

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Laser Acupuncture ◽

Static Balance ◽

Healthy Elderly

Download Full-text

The effect of balance training in a group of community-dwelling elderly women: a pilot study of a specific, non-systematic and short-term approach

Acta Fisiátrica ◽

10.5935/0104-7795.20070001 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pollyana Amaral Zambaldi ◽

Thaís Aparecida Braga Nunes da Costa ◽

Gisele do Carmo Leite Machado Diniz ◽

Paula Luciana Scalzo

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Balance Training ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Short Term

Download Full-text

Association of Social Networks with Health-Related Quality of Life and Physical Functioning in Community Dwelling Elderly Women – A Pilot Study

Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - An International Journal ◽

10.37506/ijpot.v16i1.17784 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Networks ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Download Full-text

The Effects of Exergaming Training on Balance in Healthy Elderly Women—A Pilot Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041412 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1412

Author(s):

Anna Brachman ◽

Wojciech Marszałek ◽

Anna Kamieniarz ◽

Justyna Michalska ◽

Michał Pawłowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Quiet Standing ◽

Balance Test ◽

Functional Balance ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Standing Test ◽

Objective Outcomes ◽

Kendall’S W

Our aim was to observe, through objective testing using an assessment module incorporated in a new exergaming system, whether elderly people’s static and functional balance is improved by a balance exergaming training program based on movements performed in everyday life. Thirteen healthy elderly women participated in 12 sessions of balance-based exergaming training (three times a week, 30 min per session). All objective outcomes, the quiet standing test, functional balance test (FBT), and limit of stability (LOS) test, were measured on three occasions: before intervention, after six training sessions, and after the completion of the four-week program. The results showed a significant improvement in LOS performance after the intervention. In FBT, participants exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.01; Kendall’s W = 0.5) in the average time to target hit after six trainings. The average center of pressure velocity increased after six and 12 sessions, however did not reach significance (p = 0.053); nevertheless the size of the effect was large (ηp2 = 0.22). The parameters of the quiet standing test were not significantly affected by the training. The results support the need for more definite and objective studies assessing exergaming for balance in elderly.

Download Full-text

Physical Characteristics Vary According to Body Mass Index in Japanese Community-Dwelling Elderly Women

Geriatrics ◽

10.3390/geriatrics3040087 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 87 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Koji Nonaka ◽

Shin Murata ◽

Kayoko Shiraiwa ◽

Teppei Abiko ◽

Hideki Nakano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Physical Characteristics ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Weight Group ◽

Normal Weight Group ◽

Knee Extension Strength

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is related to health in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical characteristics in underweight, overweight, and obese Japanese community-dwelling elderly women compared to normal-weight elderly women. Methods: The study participants included 212 community-dwelling elderly women. They were categorized as underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI ≤ 22.9), overweight (23 ≤ BMI ≤ 24.9), and obese (BMI ≥ 25). Data on skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), number of trunk curl-ups performed within 30 seconds, knee extension strength, one-leg standing time, and walking speed were recorded. Results: In the underweight group, the number of trunk curl-ups was significantly lower than that of the normal-weight group (p = 0.011) and the correlation between knee extension strength and walking speed was relatively higher than in the normal-weight group (r = 0.612 vs. r = 0.471). In the overweight group, the SMI was significantly increased (p < 0.001), but knee extension strength was not increased (p = 0.235) compared to that of the normal-weight group. In the obese group, one-leg standing time was significantly shorter than in the normal-weight group (p = 0.016). Conclusions: Physical characteristics vary according to BMI and these findings are useful in assessing and planning interventional programs to improve and maintain physical function in elderly women.

Download Full-text