scholarly journals Cognitive toxicity of drugs used in the elderly

2001 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-190
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Older People ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Heterogeneous Population ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cognitive Disturbances ◽  
Toxicity Of Drugs ◽  
Package Labeling

The aged are an extremely heterogeneous population that is growing worldwide, included are healthy and agile individuals in their early sixties, as well as an increasing number of people over the age of 35. Pharmacotherapy is expected to continue its prominent role in the medical management of a wide range of conditions that affect older people. Adverse consequences of all kinds complicate the use of medications, and such events seem to increase in incidence with polypharmacy. Cognitive impairment can occur during the course of treatment with a wide range of medications and can have a variety of presentations, Both the number of concurrent medications that older individuals routinely use and physiologic changes in these patients render them more susceptible to developing cognitive toxicity. Most of the frequently implicated medications carry documentation of their ability to cause cognitive disturbances in their package labeling, suggesting that the level of vigilance for adverse effects during the course of their use should always be high. Such caution can be used to guide appropriate drug treatment of the aged so that clinicians do not need to opt for undertreatment to avoid toxicity.

Subjective Memory Complaints and Mild Cognitive Impairment

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Simoes ◽  
L.C. Castro ◽  
O. Ribeiro ◽  
T. Salgado ◽  
C. Paz
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Subjective Memory Complaints ◽  
Subjective Memory ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Memory Complaints ◽  
Increased Risk

Background:Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) are common in clinical practice. the clinical significance of these subjective complaints among older individuals is not well understood.Aim:To study and discuss the association between SMC and MCI, underlining the importance of an adequate clinical assessment of SMC in the elderly.Methods:Review of the literature.Results:There is no consistent definition of SMC in the literature. Some prospective studies showed an association with objective memory impairments, conceptualizing SMC as a Pre-Mild Cognitive Impairment. SMC are also currently considered to be a core feature of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies showed conflicting results concerning the association between SMC and MCI.Discussion:The understanding of the predictive value of SMC in cognitive decline is still poorly understood. It is important to define criteria aimed to increase specificity of memory complaints, allowing an earlier identification of populations with higher risk of MCI. Future research on this complex association is important to identify SMC individuals at increased risk of conversion to MCI and dementia.

scholarly journals Social Assistant Humanoid Robots for Dementia of the Elderly: A Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangyu Liu
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Older People ◽  
Research Method ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Humanoid Robots ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Method Analysis

In recent years, many cognitive care robots have been developed. There is also a form of the companion pet, and there are also robots that can be personified and talk with the elderly. Also, some telecommunications equipment can be replaced to help older people connect to the telecommunications community. However, the need for such robots is still unclear in the focus of this area of being able to interact, talk to, and connect with family and society. Although many studies in the existing literature that tell how to research to verify their efficacy, methods of defining effects can pave the way for future studies. This is what this article will show. The article included qualitative research searches and screenings, effect summaries, and research method analysis. The problem to be solved in this article is how to use and measure the effectiveness of conversational humanoids in nursing elderly patients with cognitive impairment. We also hope to provide some guidance for future research on cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Mental Disorders, Cognitive Impairment and the Risk of Suicide in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kułak-Bejda ◽  
Grzegorz Bejda ◽  
Napoleon Waszkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Older People ◽  
Mood Disorders ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The World

More than 600 million people are aged 60 years and over are living in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that this number will double by 2025 to 2 billion older people. Suicide among people over the age of 60 is one of the most acute problems. The factors strongly associated with suicide are mentioned: physical illnesses, such as cancer, neurologic disorder, pain, liver disease, genital disorders, or rheumatoid disorders. Moreover, neurologic conditions, especially stroke, may affect decision-making processes, cognitive capacity, and language deficit. In addition to dementia, the most common mental disorders are mood and anxiety disorders. A common symptom of these disorders in the elderly is cognitive impairment. This study aimed to present the relationship between cognitive impairment due to dementia, mood disorders and anxiety, and an increased risk of suicide among older people. Dementia is a disease where the risk of suicide is significant. Many studies demonstrated that older adults with dementia had an increased risk of suicide death than those without dementia. Similar conclusions apply to prodromal dementia Depression is also a disease with a high risk of suicide. Many researchers found that a higher level of depression was associated with suicide attempts and suicide ideation. Bipolar disorder is the second entity in mood disorders with an increased risk of suicide among the elderly. Apart from suicidal thoughts, bipolar disorder is characterized by high mortality. In the group of anxiety disorders, the most significant risk of suicide occurs when depression is present. In turn, suicide thoughts are more common in social phobia than in other anxiety disorders. Suicide among the elderly is a serious public health problem. There is a positive correlation between mental disorders such as dementia, depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety and the prevalence of suicide in the elderly. Therefore, the elderly should be comprehensively provided with psychiatric and psychological support.

Dietary factors and controversies in dementia prevention

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (37) ◽  
pp. 69-89
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Kurczyńska ◽  
Kamila Ślusarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Intellectual Activity ◽  
Dementia Prevention ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Omega 6

Dementia is affecting growing numbers of people. Consequently, we are inclined toper ceive it as a crucial public health issue. Although cognitive impairment relates mainly to the elderly, it also significantly burdens their caretakers. However, the development of dementia is not inevitable. The cognitive functions are influenced by a wide range of factors, starting with those at the beginning of the prenatal period. The most important determinants of cognitive impairment involve genetic defects, diseases, intellectual activity, physical activity and nutrition. The role played by anti-inflammatory, low in sugar and highly-processed foods is emphasized. Particular importance is attributed to the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, proper amounts of EPA and DHA and the lowest possible trans fatty acids intake. The controversial aspects include, among others, high-fat diet and alcohol consumption. The aim of this paper is to conduct an analysis of controversial aspects and nutritional strategies related to cognitive impairment prevention, based on available scientific data.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Evaluation of Studies on the Adverse Effects of Medications in Australian Aged care Facilities: A Scoping Review

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Haider Qasim ◽  
Maree Simpson ◽  
Yann Guisard ◽  
Barbora de Courten
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Older People ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Adverse Drug Events ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities

Aim: this scoping review was designed to identify studies that assess adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for older people in Australian aged care facilities. This review critically evaluates each published study to identify the risk of, or actual, adverse drug events in older people. Inclusion criteria: this review considered any clinical studies that examined the adverse effects of medications in older people who were living in aged care facilities. This review considered qualitative studies, analytical studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), descriptive cross-sectional studies, and analytic observational studies that explored the use of medications and their adverse effects on older people in clinical settings (including aged care facilities). Methods: an initial search of the PubMed (United State National Library of Medicine), OvidSP, EBSCOHost, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online, SAGE, and SCOPUS databases, with full text was performed, followed by an analysis of the article’s title and abstract. Additionally, MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) was used to describe the article. The initial round of the database search was based on inclusion criteria from studies that assessed tools or protocols aiming to identify the adverse effects of medications on the elderly population suffering chronic conditions or multiple co-morbidities. Two reviewers screened the retrieved papers for inclusion. The data presented in this review are in tabular forms and accompanied by a narrative summary which aligns with the review’s objectives. Results: seven studies were identified, and the extracted data from these studies were grouped according their characteristics and the auditing results of each study. Conclusion: it would be beneficial to design a comprehensive or broadly adverse drug reaction assessment tool derived from Australian data that has been used on the elderly in an Australian healthcare setting.

The Assessment of Social Skills Deficits in the Elderly

1983 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Furnham ◽  
David Pendleton
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Older People ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Difficulty Scale ◽  
Social Skills Deficits ◽  
And Training

This paper tested the hypothesis that a sample of elderly people compared to a matched sample of younger people reports an increase in difficulty and social anxiety in dealing with a wide range of everyday social situations. The literature on assertiveness and social skills training with the elderly was first reviewed. Then an assertiveness and social difficulty scale was administered to a group of eighty participants divided by age and sex. It was found that older people experienced less discomfort in situations requiring assertiveness, yet were less likely to respond assertively. Older people reported higher incidence of social anxiety across forty everyday situations. In general females reported more difficulty than males, though there were no interaction effects. The results are discussed in terms of the assessment and training of social skills in the elderly.

Effects of education, literacy, and dementia on the Clock Drawing Test performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1138-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
HOYOUNG KIM ◽  
JEANYUNG CHEY
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Clock Drawing Test ◽  
Korean People ◽  
Clock Drawing ◽  
Drawing Test ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractThe Clock Drawing Test (CDT) has been recognized as an effective tool for dementia detection. This study investigated the clock drawing performance of 240 non-demented elderly Korean people with a wide-range of educational levels and 28 patients with mild dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT). We examined the effects of demographic factors, including education, and established norms for the elderly population. We found that the educational attainment and literacy status of older people influenced performance on the CDT significantly (p < .001). Furthermore, qualitative error analysis revealed that normal participants with low educational background committed errors similar to errors of the DAT patients. The DAT patients performed significantly worse than the non-demented participants in the CDT Total score (p < .001). However, the CDT has better criterion validity in participants with more than 6 years of education. In conclusion, the CDT performance in older people who are either illiterate or with 6 or less years of education should be interpreted with caution. Conceptual errors in the CDT can be the result of not only dementia but also lack of education. (JINS, 2010, 16, 1138–1146.)

scholarly journals Outcomes and interventions in the elderly with and without cognitive impairment: a longitudinal study

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-402
Author(s):  
Anne Caroline Soares da Silva ◽  
Juliana Hotta Ansai ◽  
Natália Oiring de Castro Cezar ◽  
Francisco Assis Carvalho Vale ◽  
Julimara Gomes dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Older People ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Home Visit ◽  
Geriatric Patients ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Community Dwelling Older People

ABSTRACT. Background: Clinical follow-up studies are necessary for a better understanding of the evolution of cognitive impairment as well as the development of better assessment and intervention tools. Objective: To investigate whether older people with preserved cognition (PC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) show differences in clinical outcomes and interventions after a 32-month period. Methods: One hundred twenty-four community-dwelling older people were included and classified in one of three groups (PC, MCI and mild AD). Information on clinical outcomes (deaths, new diagnoses, falls, need for assistance or changes in routine and hospitalizations) and interventions (increased use of medication, physiotherapeutic intervention, practice of physical exercise, etc.) in the 32-month period were collected by telephone or during a home visit on a single day. Results: Ninety-five participants (35 with PC, 33 with MCI and 27 with AD) were reevaluated after 32 months. The need for assistance/changes in routine was significantly higher in the AD group, especially with regard to basic activities of daily living. Unlike the other groups, the PC group did not show “other diagnoses” (urinary incontinence, prolapse, change in vision or autoimmune disease). No significant differences were found regarding other variables. Conclusions: Older people with and without cognitive impairment exhibited differences in some clinical outcomes after 32 months, such as need for assistance or changes in their routine and new diagnoses of specific diseases. Therefore, the multidimensionality of geriatric patients should be considered when planning assessments and interventions.

Correlates of physical activity among community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or older with anxiety in six low- and middle-income countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davy Vancampfort ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Mats Hallgren ◽  
Nicola Veronese ◽  
James Mugisha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
World Health ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Low And Middle Income

ABSTRACTBackground:Given the important health benefits of physical activity (PA) and the higher risk for physical inactivity in people with anxiety, and the high prevalence of anxiety and low PA among the elderly, there is a need for research to investigate what factors influence PA participation among anxious older individuals. We investigated PA correlates among community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years with anxiety symptoms in six low- and middle-income countries.Methods:Cross-sectional data from the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health were analyzed. PA level was assessed by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. 980 participants with anxiety (mean age 73.3 years; 62.4% females) were grouped into those who do and do not (low PA) meet the 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week recommendation. Associations between PA and the correlates were examined using multivariable logistic regressions.Results:The prevalence of low PA was 44.9% (95% CI = 39.2–50.7%). Older age, male gender, less consumption of alcohol, mild cognitive impairment, pain, a wide range of somatic co-morbidities, slow gait, weak grip strength, poor self-rated health, and lower levels of social cohesion were identified as significant positive correlates of low PA.Conclusions:Our data illustrate that a number of sociodemographic and health factors are associated with PA levels among older people with symptoms of anxiety. The promotion of social cohesion may increase the efficacy of public health initiatives, while from a clinical perspective, somatic co-morbidities, cognitive impairment, pain, muscle strength, and slow gait need to be considered.

scholarly journals Treating overactive bladder in the elderly

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (5-S2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Adrian Wagg
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Overactive Bladder ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Conventional Treatment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Lifestyle Measures ◽  
Cognitively Intact

The prevalence of the overactive bladder (OAB) symptom complexincreases with age. Older people also appear to experience moresevere incontinence syndromes, including OAB, than their youngercounterparts. Older patients are more likely than younger individualsto ask for medication for bladder problems and to requirehigher doses of medication. Conventional treatment for OAB withconservative and lifestyle measures in combination with antimuscarinicpharmacotherapy is effective in older people. Althoughthere is a theoretical potential for cognitive impairment with antimuscarinicagents, the newer antimuscarinics are cognitively safein cognitively intact older people.

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