scholarly journals Proof of Concept of Novel Visuo-Spatial-Motor Fall Prevention Training for Old People

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Henk Koppelaar ◽  
Parastou Kordestani-Moghadam ◽  
Sareh Kouhkani ◽  
Farnoosh Irandoust ◽  
Gijs Segers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Motor Training ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Old People ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Falls In Older Adults

Falls in the geriatric population are one of the most important causes of disabilities in this age group. Its consequences impose a great deal of economic burden on health and insurance systems. This study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team with the aim of evaluating the effect of visuo-spatial-motor training for the prevention of falls in older adults. The subjects consisted of 31 volunteers aged 60 to 92 years who were studied in three groups: (1) A group under standard physical training, (2) a group under visuo-spatial-motor interventions, and (3) a control group (without any intervention). The results of the study showed that visual-spatial motor exercises significantly reduced the risk of falls of the subjects.

scholarly journals Effects of water aerobics on posture alignment and risk of falls of older adults: an intervention study

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Costa Ibiapina Reis ◽  
Marcos Antônio Pereira dos Santos ◽  
Camila Feitosa da Costa ◽  
Edna Maria Silva Araújo ◽  
Luiz Roberto Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Body Segments ◽  
Experimental Intervention ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Falls In Older Adults

ABSTRACT Considering that aging leads to losses in postural control and balance, our objective was to analyze the effects of water aerobics on posture alignment and risk of falls in older adults. A quasi-experimental intervention study included 49 older adults in the Intervention Group (IG) and 34 in the Control Group (CG). A plumbed symmetrograph assessed posture alignment, while a Time Up & Go test determined the fall risk. The IG performed water aerobics twice a week for three months. Posture alignment significantly improved in most body segments assessed for the IG, and worsened in the CG. The low risk of falls in the IG increased by 28% in relation to the CG. We concluded that water aerobics improved posture alignment and reduced fall risk in older adults.

scholarly journals Animal-Assisted Therapy Improves Communication and Mobility among Institutionalized People with Cognitive Impairment

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5899
Author(s):  
Maylos Rodrigo-Claverol ◽  
Belén Malla-Clua ◽  
Carme Marquilles-Bonet ◽  
Joaquim Sol ◽  
Júlia Jové-Naval ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Animal Assisted Therapy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Global Deterioration Scale ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Therapy Dog ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Experimental Group

Disorders of communication, social relationships, and psychomotricity are often characterized by cognitive impairment, which hinders daily activities and increases the risk of falls. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an animal-assisted therapy (AAT) program in an institutionalized geriatric population with cognitive impairment. The variables evaluated included level of communication and changes in gait and/or balance. We performed a two-arm, parallel controlled, open-label, nonrandomized cluster clinical trial in two nursing home centers from an urban area. Patients in the two centers received 12 weekly sessions of physiotherapy, but the experimental group included AAT with a therapy dog. The study included a total of 46 patients (23 Control Group [CG], 23 Experimental Group [EG]) with a median age of 85.0 years. Of these, 32.6% had mild–moderate cognitive decline (Global Deterioration Scale of Reisberg [GDS] 2–4) and 67.4% severe cognitive decline (GDS 5–6). After the intervention, patients in the CG and EG showed a statistically significant improvement in all the response variables. When comparing both groups, no statistically significant differences were found in any of the Tinetti scale results (measuring gait and balance). However, the communication of patients in the EG, measured on the Holden scale, showed a statistically significant greater improvement postintervention than that of patients in the CG. AAT can be useful as a complementary, effective treatment for patients with different degrees of cognitive decline.

scholarly journals 42 Fall Brain: Cognitive and Biological Perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. iv9-iv12
Author(s):  
Joe Verghese
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Clinical Predictors ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
Reduce Risk ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract While many fall prevention strategies targeted against clinical risk factors have been tested, their success in reducing falls has been modest. Current falls research in aging is mostly focused on clinical predictors of falls. Hence, there is a knowledge gap regarding the underlying biological and neural mechanisms of falls. Emerging evidence from our and other studies implicates biological derangements in inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular pathways in the occurrence of disorders of gait, balance, and cognition, which in turn are major risk factors for falls in older adults. A growing understanding of the relationship between cognitive and mobility processes in aging opens up the possibility of novel interventions to improve mobility and reduce risk of falls.

scholarly journals Clinical trials in geriatrics: actual status and international regulatory guidlines

2021 ◽  
pp. 97-104
Author(s):  
I. P. Malaya
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Old People ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
International Guidelines ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Regulatory Authorities ◽  
Growing Age ◽  
Further Development

The number of old and very old people is increasing every year. Geriatric population is considered as the most growing age group. By different estimations about 60% of medicines are prescribed to patients of 65 and older. In the same time this age group is underrepresented in clinical trials. Participation of elderlies in clinical trials is really actual now and requires further development form regulatory authorities, drug manufactures and investigators. This review summarizes actual international guidelines on clinical trials in geriatric population.

scholarly journals Effects of High-Frequency Proprioceptive Training on Single Stance Stability in Older Adults: Implications for Fall Prevention

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Riva ◽  
Mara Fani ◽  
Maria Grazia Benedetti ◽  
Angelo Scarsini ◽  
Flavio Rocca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Ankle Sprains ◽  
Powerful Activator ◽  
Proprioceptive Training ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
Recurrent Injuries ◽  
Different Levels

Single-limb stance instability is a major risk factor for falls in older adults. Thus, improvement of stance stability could play an important role in fall prevention. This study aimed to determine whether high-frequency proprioceptive training (HPT) could significantly improve single stance stability (SSS) in older adults, by increasing proprioceptive control and optimizing the contribution of vision. Sixty-one subjects (30 men, 31 women) aged 65-85 years were investigated. The subjects were randomly assigned to three intervention groups, i.e., HPT, treadmill, and no intervention, stratifying by gender and proprioceptive control at baseline. Stability tests and HPT, consisting of 12 sessions (6 weeks), were performed with computerized postural stations. Pre-post analysis showed that HPT significantly improved SSS by increasing proprioceptive control (p<0.001) and postural control (p<0.01). The treadmill and no intervention groups did not show any significant change. The results showed that different levels of proprioceptive control may activate, inhibit, or minimize the stabilizing intervention of vision. Given that HPT significantly reduced ankle sprains and low back pain in professional athletes (previous study), we discuss the hypothesis that the risk of falls in older adults and the risk of recurrent injuries in athletes would have a common origin: lack of proprioceptive control consequent to reduced interaction with uneven ground. The findings suggest that HPT may be a powerful activator of refined proprioceptive control, which allows increased SSS, safer interaction with the ground, and mitigation of other risk factors.

A STUDY OF SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS IN PREECLAMPSIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushma Goad ◽  
Anita Verma ◽  
Subhash Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Uric Acid ◽  
Serum Uric Acid ◽  
Uric Acid Level ◽  
Acid Level ◽  
Serum Uric Acid Level ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy ◽  
Level Elevation ◽  
The Mean

Background: To Study Serum Uric Acid level elevation in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. Methods: 50 Patients diagnosed as having Pre-eclampsia with age between 18-37 years and 50 controls with similar age group. Results: The mean serum uric acid level in control group was 3.41 ± 0.62 and in patient 7.01 ± 0.58 which was statistically significant (p =0.001). Conclusion: Serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in preeclampsia could be a useful indicator of fetal complication in preeclampsia patients. Keywords: serum uric acid, preeclampsia, laboratory.

Motor Recovery after Chronic Spinal Cord Transection in Rats: A Proof-of-Concept Study Evaluating a Combined Strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Ibarra ◽  
Erika Mendieta-Arbesú ◽  
Paola Suarez-Meade ◽  
Elisa García-Vences ◽  
Susana Martiñón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Motor Recovery ◽  
Neural Regeneration ◽  
Histological Evaluation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Concept Study

Background: The chronic phase of Spinal Cord (SC) injury is characterized by the presence of a hostile microenvironment that causes low activity and a progressive decline in neurological function; this phase is non-compatible with regeneration. Several treatment strategies have been investigated in chronic SC injury with no satisfactory results. OBJECTIVE- In this proof-of-concept study, we designed a combination therapy (Comb Tx) consisting of surgical glial scar removal plus scar inhibition, accompanied with implantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and immunization with neural-derived peptides (INDP). Methods: This study was divided into three subsets, all in which Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to a complete SC transection. Sixty days after injury, animals were randomly allocated into two groups for therapeutic intervention: control group and animals receiving the Comb-Tx. Sixty-three days after treatment we carried out experiments analyzing motor recovery, presence of somatosensory evoked potentials, neural regeneration-related genes, and histological evaluation of serotoninergic fibers. Results: Comb-Tx induced a significant locomotor and electrophysiological recovery. An increase in the expression of regeneration-associated genes and the percentage of 5-HT+ fibers was noted at the caudal stump of the SC of animals receiving the Comb-Tx. There was a significant correlation of locomotor recovery with positive electrophysiological activity, expression of GAP43, and percentage of 5-HT+ fibers. Conclusion: Comb-Tx promotes motor and electrophysiological recovery in the chronic phase of SC injury subsequent to a complete transection. Likewise, it is capable of inducing the permissive microenvironment to promote axonal regeneration.

Issues of geriatric otolaryngologic emergency have not been widely applied despite increase in geriatric population. (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waheed Atilade Adegbiji ◽  
Shuaib Kayode Aremu ◽  
AbdulAkeem Adebayo Aluko
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Body ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Common Diagnosis ◽  
Foreign Body Impaction ◽  
Nose And Throat

BACKGROUND Issues of geriatric otolaryngologic emergency have not been widely applied despite increase in geriatric population. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at determining prevalence, sociodemographic features, aetiology, clinical features, Complications and sources ofreferral of geriatric otorhinolaryngological, head and neck emergency in our center. METHODS This was a prospective hospital based study of geriatric otorhinolaryngology emergency in the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital. The study was carried out between October 2016 and September 2018. Data were obtained by using pretested interviewers questionnaire.All data were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 18.0. The data were expressed by frequency table, percentage, bar charts and pie charts. RESULTS Geriatric otorhinolaryngology, head and neck emergency accounted for 5.3%. Major prevalence age group was 43.9% in the age group (60-64). There were 38.6% males with male to female ratio of 1:1.5. The main aetiology of geriatric otorhinolaryngology emergency was 29.5% trauma/road traffic accident/foreign body impaction and 25.8% tumour. Main anatomical distribution of geriatric otorhinolaryngology emergency were 38.6% throat diseases and 31.1% ear diseases. The most frequent clinical features were pain in 27.3%, hearing loss in 21.2%, tinnitus in 15.9%, bleeding in 14.4%, difficulty breathing in 12.9% and discharge in 11.4%. Common diagnosis in this study were 15.9% sinonasal tumour, 14.4% upper aerodigestive foreign body impaction, 10.6% earwax impaction and 19.8% otitis externa. Acute presentation (<13 weeks) occurred in 1 week in 74.2% and 2-13 weeks In 19.7%. Commonest time of presentation was daytime in 65.9%. Major sources of referral were 43.2% general practitioner and 31.1% casualty officers. Presentation of geriatric otorhinolaryngology emergency were mainly ear, nose and throat clinic in 59.8% with accident and emergency in 28.8%. Commonest associated comorbid illnesses among the geriatric patients were 18.2% hypertension, 14.4% arthritis and 9.8% diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS Geriatric otorhinolaryngological emergency are common pathology with associated with comorbid illnesses. Detailed clinical assessment are mandatory for effective management outcome.

scholarly journals Minimal shoes improve stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Cudejko ◽  
James Gardiner ◽  
Asangaedem Akpan ◽  
Kristiaan D’Août
Keyword(s):  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Stability Margin ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Margin Of Stability ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
History Of ◽  
Falls In Older Adults

AbstractPostural and walking instabilities contribute to falls in older adults. Given that shoes affect human locomotor stability and that visual, cognitive and somatosensory systems deteriorate during aging, we aimed to: (1) compare the effects of footwear type on stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls, and (2) determine whether the effect of footwear type on stability is altered by the absence of visual input or by an additional cognitive load. Thirty participants performed standing and walking trials in three footwear conditions, i.e. conventional shoes, minimal shoes, and barefoot. The outcomes were: (1) postural stability (movement of the center of pressure during eyes open/closed), (2) walking stability (Margin of Stability during normal/dual-task walking), (3) mobility (the Timed Up and Go test and the Star Excursion Balance test), and (4) perceptions of the shoes (Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes questionnaire). Participants were more stable during standing and walking in minimal shoes than in conventional shoes, independent of visual or walking condition. Minimal shoes were more beneficial for mobility than conventional shoes and barefoot. This study supports the need for longitudinal studies investigating whether minimal footwear is more beneficial for fall prevention in older people than conventional footwear.

scholarly journals Age-specific cut-off levels of anti-Müllerian hormone can be used as diagnostic markers for polycystic ovary syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani ◽  
Maryam Rahmati ◽  
Fatemeh Mahboobifard ◽  
Faezeh Firouzi ◽  
Nazanin Hashemi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Method ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Pcos Group

Abstract Background The majority of available studies on the AMH thresholds were not age-specific and performed the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, based on variations in sensitivity and specificity rather than positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively), which are more clinically applicable. Moreover, all of these studies used a pre-specified age categorization to report the age-specific cut-off values of AMH. Methods A total of 803 women, including 303 PCOS patients and 500 eumenorrheic non-hirsute control women, were enrolled in the present study. The PCOS group included PCOS women, aged 20–40 years, who were referred to the Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Tehran, Iran. The Rotterdam consensus criteria were used for diagnosis of PCOS. The control group was selected among women, aged 20–40 years, who participated in Tehran Lipid and Glucose cohort Study (TLGS). Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to identify the optimal cut-off points for various age categories. The cut-off levels of AMH in different age categories were estimated, using the Bayesian method. Main results and the role of chance Two optimal cut-off levels of AMH (ng/ml) were identified at the age of 27 and 35 years, based on GAMs. The cut-off levels for the prediction of PCOS in the age categories of 20–27, 27–35, and 35–40 years were 5.7 (95 % CI: 5.48–6.19), 4.55 (95 % CI: 4.52–4.64), and 3.72 (95 % CI: 3.55–3.80), respectively. Based on the Bayesian method, the PPV and NPV of these cut-off levels were as follows: PPV = 0.98 (95 % CI: 0.96–0.99) and NPV = 0.40 (95 % CI: 0.30–0.51) for the age group of 20–27 years; PPV = 0.96 (95 % CI: 0.91–0.99) and NPV = 0.82 (95 % CI: 0.78–0.86) for the age group of 27–35 years; and PPV = 0.86 (95 % CI: 0.80–0.94) and NPV = 0.96 (95 % CI: 0.93–0.98) for the age group of 35–40 years. Conclusions Application of age-specific cut-off levels of AMH, according to the GAMs and Bayesian method, could elegantly assess the value of AMH in discriminating PCOS patients in all age categories.

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