scholarly journals Transdisciplinary Assistance and Translational Research Strategies to Improve the Quality of Life of Older Adults at Early Stages of Alzheimer Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J Barrantes
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Translational Research ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Early Stages

scholarly journals Why scientists, academic institutions, and investors fail in bringing more products to the bedside: the Active Compass model for overcoming the innovation paradox

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaron Ilan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Translational Research ◽  
High Potential ◽  
Academic Institutions ◽  
Good Science ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Diagnosis And Therapy ◽  
Technology Transfer Offices

AbstractThe vast majority of good science and excellent ideas do not translate into products. Many good products that have the potential to assist in diagnosis and therapy do not mature into everyday care. This often becomes a source of frustration for innovators, academic institutions, companies both small and large, and investors. The “innovation paradox” , wherein excellent ideas and good science fail to reach the bedside, is a major challenge. This study presents the Active Compass model as a way to overcome this obstacle. The model is designed to assist projects at early stages by redirecting and reshaping them in a way that increases their chances of reaching the markets. The model is based on the use of next-generation translational research and on creating differentiators at the early stages of development. The proposed model’s implementation by innovators, scientists, technology transfer offices, academic institutions, analysts, and investors can help move forward high-potential projects to improve the quality of life and alleviate the burdens of disease.

scholarly journals Quality of Life Assessment in Older Adults with Dementia: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Helen B. Burks ◽  
Jude K.A. des Bordes ◽  
Riya Chadha ◽  
Holly M. Holmes ◽  
Nahid J. Rianon
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Study Characteristics

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In the absence of a cure, dementia is often managed by minimizing risk factors contributing to quality of life (QOL). Attitudes to dementia in older adults may differ from those in relatively younger adults. The aim was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine how QOL was assessed in adults, 65 years and older with dementia, and identify factors that influence the reported scores. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A systematic review of full-text articles addressing QOL in older adults with dementia, published in English from January 1995 to September 2020, was conducted using PubMed and PsycINFO. We included studies that assessed QOL and involved participants 65 years and older. Studies were evaluated for inclusion by 2 independent pairs of reviewers. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Critical Appraisal Checklist. Study characteristics and findings were summarized. Analysis was by narrative synthesis. We identified social and clinical factors influencing QOL scores. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the 1,010 articles identified, 19 met the inclusion criteria. These 19 studies involved 6,279 persons with dementia, with sample sizes from 32 to 1,366. Mean age of participants ranged from 77.1 to 86.6 years. Five measurement tools were identified; Quality of Life in Alzheimer Disease (QOL-AD), Alzheimer Disease-Related Quality of Life (ADRQL), Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID), QUALIDEM (a dementia-specific QOL tool), and DEMQOL (health-related QOL for people with dementia). Self-ratings of QOL were higher than proxy ratings. Factors commonly influencing self-ratings of QOL included depression, functional impairment, and polypharmacy. Common factors that influenced proxy ratings included functional impairment, presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment, and caregiver burden. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In evaluating QOL in dementia, self- and proxy reports may complement each other to ensure that all perspectives are addressed.

Fear of memory decline predicts lower quality of life and increased memory failures in older adults: Preliminary findings from a novel fear-avoidance of memory decline scale.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Farina ◽  
Marc Patrick Bennett ◽  
James William Griffith ◽  
Bert Lenaert
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Fear Avoidance ◽  
Subjective Memory ◽  
Memory Decline ◽  
General Anxiety ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
The Impact

Evidence concerning the impact of fear of memory decline on health-related outcomes is limited. To determine the relationship between fear-avoidance of memory decline, quality of life and subjective memory in older adults using a novel scale to measure fear of memory decline. Sixty-seven older adults (59-81 years) completed a 23-item self-report questionnaire designed to capture experiential, cognitive and behavioral components of fear of memory decline, known as the fear and avoidance of memory decline (FAM) scale. Memory performance was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-IV) and the Memory Failures Scale (MFS). General anxiety was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI). Quality of life was assessed using the Older Person’s Quality of Life scale (OPQOL-35). The FAM scale demonstrated good reliability and validity. Three latent factors were observed including: (1) fear-avoidance, (2) problematic beliefs and (3) resilience. After adjusting for age, education, memory performance and general anxiety, higher fear-avoidance predicted lower quality of life (p=.021) and increased memory failures (p=.022). Increased fear of memory decline predicts lower quality of life and subjective memory failures in healthy older adults. Based on these findings, we propose a preliminary fear-avoidance model that explains the development and maintenance of dementia-related functional disability in terms of psychological processes.

Association between eHealth Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life among Chinese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaojie Li ◽  
Yongtian Yin ◽  
Lijun Chen ◽  
Guanghui Cui ◽  
Jiaqin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Component Summary ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND Older adults’ health literacy levels are crucial to improving health outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the impact of eHealth literacy on HRQoL in older adults is unclear. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the association between eHealth literacy and HRQoL of older adults and provide reference for the development of network intervention measures related to the health quality of life of the older adults. METHODS An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,201 adults aged 60 or older from Jinan, China. The eHealth Literacy Scale and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used to measure eHealth literacy and HRQoL. We used linear regression to test the adjusted association between eHealth literacy and HRQoL. RESULTS Most participants (88.9%) had inadequate eHealth literacy. Lower eHealth literacy was related to older age ( F=12.618, P<.001), female gender( t=3.303, P<.01), living in rural areas( F=11.356, P<.001), having less education( F=59.084, P<.001), being unmarried, divorced or widowed( t=4.416, P<.001), having a lower family income( F=38.017, P<.001), living with others(χ2=4.319, P<.05), and not having health insurance( F=12.713, P<.001). There were significant differences across physical functioning( t=-4.862, P<.001), role- physical( t=-2.485, P<.05), bodily pain( t=-3.470, P<.01), general health( t=-4.449, P<.001), vitality( t=-3.498, P<.001), role-emotional( t=-2.654, P<.01), mental health( t=-4.150, P<.001), physical component summary( t=-6.350, P<.001) and mental component summary( t=-4.483, P<.001) between adequate eHealth literacy and inadequate eHealth literacy. After controlling for age, gender, and other covariates, adequate eHealth literacy was positively related to physical component summary ( beta=7.6, P<.001) and mental component summary(beta=4.6, P=.001). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that Chinese older adults with higher eHealth literacy were more likely to contribute to higher HRQoL. Thus, Older adults’ eHealth literacy levels need to be taken into account when formulating health education and promotion programs for older adults, especially when the expected outcome is to improve HRQoL.

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