13 research outputs found

    Functional Decline Associated with Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Dementia

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    This study provides empirical evidence on whether polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescription medications (PIRx, as defined by the 2003 Beers criteria) increase the likelihood of functional decline among community-dwelling older adults with dementia. Data were from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, Uniform Data Set (9/2005-9/2009). Study sample included 1,994 community-dwelling subjects aged ≥65 with dementia at baseline. Results showed that subjects having ≥5 medications were more likely to have functional decline than subjects having <5 medications. However, the increased likelihood was only apparent in subjects who did not have PIRx. Instead of magnifying the associated risk as hypothesized, PIRx appeared to have a protective effect albeit marginally statistically significant. Therefore, increased medication burden may be associated with functional decline in community-dwelling older adults with dementia who are not prescribed with PIRx. More research is needed to understand which classes of medications have the most deleterious effect on this population

    Pulmonary function testing and Computed Tomography findings.

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    <p>*Total lung capacity, in all other cases FVC and TLC were similar</p><p>NSIP- non-specific interstitial pneumonia</p><p>UIP- usual interstitial pneumonia</p><p>Fib nos- fibrosis not otherwise specified</p><p>EMPHY- emphysema</p><p>NA- not assessed/available</p><p>Pulmonary function testing and Computed Tomography findings.</p

    Demographics, smoking history and SSc subtype and serology.

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    <p>NA- not assessed/available</p><p>lcSSc- limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis</p><p>dcSSc- diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis</p><p>SSc/PPM- Systemic sclerosis and polymyositis overlap</p><p>ACA- anticentromere antibody</p><p>SCL-70- anti-SCL 70 antibody</p><p>RNA Pol- anti-RNA polymerase III antibody</p><p>* SCL-70 not assessed</p><p>Demographics, smoking history and SSc subtype and serology.</p

    Demographic & neuropsychological characteristics of the sample.

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    <p>There were no significant between-group differences in age, education, gender, or race. SuperAgers outperformed their cognitively average-for-age peers on measures of episodic memory and category fluency. There were no other significant between-group differences on neuropsychological measures, including estimated premorbid intelligence.</p

    Psychological well-being in elderly adults with extraordinary episodic memory

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    <div><p>Objectives</p><p>The Northwestern University SuperAging Program studies a rare cohort of individuals over age 80 with episodic memory ability at least as good as middle-age adults to determine what factors contribute to their elite memory performance. As psychological well-being is positively correlated with cognitive performance in older adults, the present study examined whether aspects of psychological well-being distinguish cognitive SuperAgers from their cognitively average-for-age, same-age peers.</p><p>Method</p><p>Thirty-one SuperAgers and 19 cognitively average-for-age peers completed the Ryff 42-item Psychological Well-Being questionnaire, comprised of 6 subscales: Autonomy, Positive Relations with Others, Environmental Mastery, Personal Growth, Purpose in Life, and Self-Acceptance.</p><p>Results</p><p>The groups did not differ on demographic factors, including estimated premorbid intelligence. Consistent with inclusion criteria, SuperAgers had better episodic memory scores. Compared to cognitively average-for-age peers, SuperAgers endorsed greater levels of Positive Relations with Others. The groups did not differ on other PWB-42 subscales.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>While SuperAgers and their cognitively average-for-age peers reported similarly high levels of psychological well-being across multiple dimensions, SuperAgers endorsed greater levels of positive social relationships. This psychological feature could conceivably have a biological relationship to the greater thickness of the anterior cingulate gyrus and higher density of von Economo neurons previously reported in SuperAgers.</p></div
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