The Use of Aroma-acupoint Therapy and Aromatherapy to Treat Depression in Dementia Patients with Severe Cognitive Impairment

2017 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Hua Yang ◽  
Li Chan Lin ◽  
Shiao Chi Wu ◽  
Jen Hwey Chiu ◽  
Jaung Geng Lin

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the severity of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) and the serum antioxidant status of uric acid (UA), albumin (ALB) and bilirubin (BIL) in female patients. The cross-sectional study included 90 subjects, aged ≥65, divided into three groups: 30 patients with AD, 30 patients with VD and 30 control subjects. For cognitive assessment, all participants underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Serum concentrations of ALB, UA and BIL were determined spectrophotometrically. The AD patients had a significant decrease of UA and increase of serum BIL. Upon stratification according to the degree of cognitive impairment, lower UA concentrations were found in patients with severe cognitive impairment, whereas increased BIL was found in patients with moderate cognitive impairment. Patients with VD were characterized by hypoalbuminemia and upon stratification this finding was evident among patients with severe cognitive impairment. The MoCA score correlated positively with BIL in AD patients. The obtained data supports the protective role of serum antioxidants in the pathogenesis of dementia. Further on, we suggest further longitudinal research to confirm the combined use of these parameters as potential biomarkers in AD and VD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1022-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula D. Cebrián ◽  
Omar Cauli

Background: Many neurological disorders lead to institutionalization and can be accompanied in their advanced stages by functional impairment, and progressive loss of mobility, and cognitive alterations. Objective: We analyzed the relationship between functional impairment and cognitive performance and its related subdomains in individuals with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease accompanied by motor dysfunction, and with other neurological disorders characterized by both motor and cognitive problems. Methods: All participants lived in nursing homes (Valencia, Spain) and underwent cognitive evaluation with the Mini-Mental State Examination; functional assessment of independence in activities of daily living using the Barthel score and Katz index; and assessment of mobility with the elderly mobility scale. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 82.8 ± 0.6 years, 47% of the sample included individuals with Parkinson’s disease, and 48 % of the sample presented severe cognitive impairment. Direct significant relationships were found between the level of cognitive impairment and functional capacity (p < 0.01) and mobility (p < 0.05). Among the different domains, memory impairment was not associated with altered activities of daily living or mobility. The functional impairment and the risk of severe cognitive impairment were significantly (p<0.05) higher in female compared to male patients. Among comorbidities, overweight/obesity and diabetes were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with poor cognitive performance in those individuals with mild/moderate cognitive impairment. Conclusion: In institutionalized individuals with movement disorders there is an association between functional and cognitive impairment. Reduction of over-weight and proper control of diabetes may represent novel targets for improving cognitive function at such early stages.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 396-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Gandin ◽  
Flavio Faletra ◽  
Francesca Faletra ◽  
Massimo Carella ◽  
Vanna Pecile ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1575-1587
Author(s):  
Zhouyuan Peng ◽  
Hiroyuki Nishimoto ◽  
Ayae Kinoshita

Background: With the rapid aging of the population, the issue of driving by dementia patients has been causing increasing concern worldwide. Objective: To investigate the driving difficulties faced by senior drivers with cognitive impairment and identify the specific neuropsychological tests that can reflect specific domains of driving maneuvers. Methods: Senior drivers with cognitive impairment were investigated. Neuropsychological tests and a questionnaire on demographic and driving characteristics were administered. Driving simulator tests were used to quantify participants’ driving errors in various domains of driving. Results: Of the 47 participants, 23 current drivers, though they had better cognitive functions than 24 retired drivers, were found to have impaired driving performance in the domains of Reaction, Starting and stopping, Signaling, and Overall (wayfinding and accidents). The parameters of Reaction were significantly related to the diagnosis, and the scores of MMSE, TMT-A, and TMT-B. As regards details of the driving errors, “Sudden braking” was associated with the scores of MMSE (ρ= –0.707, p < 0.01), BDT (ρ= –0.560, p < 0.05), and ADAS (ρ= 0.758, p < 0.01), “Forgetting to use turn signals” with the TMT-B score (ρ= 0.608, p < 0.05), “Centerline crossings” with the scores of MMSE (ρ= –0.582, p < 0.05) and ADAS (ρ= 0.538, p < 0.05), and “Going the wrong way” was correlated with the score of CDT (ρ= –0.624, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Different neuropsychological factors serve as predictors of different specific driving maneuvers segmented from driving performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 514-520
Author(s):  
Brandon Hamm ◽  
Bryn S. Esplin

Both law and medicine rely on self-regulation and codes of professionalism to ensure duties are performed in a competent, ethical manner. Unlike physicians, however, judges are lawyers themselves, so judicial oversight is also self-regulation. As previous literature has highlighted, the hesitation to report a cognitively-compromised judge has resulted in an “opensecret” amongst lawyers who face numerous conflicts of interest.Through a case study involving a senior judge with severe cognitive impairment, this article considers the unique ethical dilemmas that cognitive specialists may encounter when navigating duties to patient, society, and the medical profession, without clear legal guidance.Systemic self-regulatory inadequacies in the legal profession are addressed, as well as challenges that arise when trying to preserve the trust and dignity of an incapacitated patient who must fulfill special duties to society.Ultimately, because of their unique neurological expertise and impartial assessments, we submit that allowing cognitive specialists to submit their assessments to an internal judiciary board may act as an additional check and balance to ensure the fair and competent administration of justice.


Author(s):  
Oreoluwa O Coker‐Ayo ◽  
Samuel Nathaniel ◽  
Chika Onuoha ◽  
Nneoma Madubuike ◽  
Lidadi Agbomi ◽  
...  

Introduction : The role that specific clinical factors play in contributing to gender differences in Alzheimer’s patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not yet fully understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that pharmacological, demographic, and risk factors may contribute to gender difference in Alzheimer’s patients with MCI. Methods : Methods Data collected for 5 years was analyzed using a retrospective data analytical approach on 33,064 Alzheimer patients, including 13,569 men and 19,495 women that presented with MCI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariate regression models were used to identify specific factors that contribute to gender differences in MCI patients. Results : Results Our records indicate that women that presented with MCI were more likely to be taking Buspirone (OR = 0.767, 95% CI, 0.683‐0.861, P<0.001) while men within this population were more likely to be taking Galantamine (OR = 0.559, 95% CI, 0.382‐0.818, P<0.001). ETOH use was associated with MCI in both men (OR = 0.696, 95% CI, 0.638‐0.760, P<0.001) and women with Alzheimer’s Dementia (OR = 0.484, 95% CI, 0.442‐0.529, P<0.001). Conclusions : Conclusion Our findings reveal gender differences in men and women that presented with MCI. Management strategies should consider identified factors to provide better care for Alzheimer patients with MCI.


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