Sleep, Health, and Aging

As people grow older, getting a good night's sleep remains essential to maintaining good health. Insomnia is a common complaint in older adults, and although occasional sleep complaints may not be associated with age, chronic sleep difficulties are experienced more often by older adults than by younger adults

Neuropsychiatric profile of a cohort of perinatally infected HIV positive children after one year of antiretroviral medication

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.The Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) era in the mid-nineties signalled a dramatic change in the long-term outcome of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Many children have shown significant neurologic benefit, and in particular, a decline in the incidence of HIV encephalopathy. As increasing numbers of children have survived into adolescence and early adulthood new challenges have arisen, such as the detection and characterization of milder forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive deficits in children previously thought to be asymptomatic..

Psychosocial Factors Affecting Pregnant Hispanic Women

Prenatal psychosocial stress, anxiety, and depression are common, with higher rates among Hispanic women. While evidence supports an adverse effect of psychosocial factors on glucose intolerance and oral health, studies during pregnancy are sparse, particularly among Hispanic women. Therefore, we examined correlates of psychosocial factors and their associations with glucose intolerance and oral health among pregnant women. The first project examined correlates of high stress among 1,426 pregnant Hispanic participants in Proyecto Buena Salud, a prospective cohort study. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale was administered in early, mid- and late pregnancy. Using multivariable logistic regression, we found that increasing age, pre-pregnancy alcohol, and smoking were positively associated with high early pregnancy stress. Greater number of adults in the household was positively associated with high mid-pregnancy stress; while Spanish language preference and annual household income were inversely associated with high mid-pregnancy stress. Likewise, income was inversely associated with high late pregnancy stress. The second project examined the association between perceived stress and glucose intolerance among 1,115 pregnant Hispanic women from Proyecto Buena Salud. Stress during early and mid-pregnancy was measured using perceived stress scale. Medical records were abstracted for blood glucose values. In multivariable logistic regression models, increase in stress from early-mid pregnancy was positively associated with risk of gestational diabetes. The third project examined the association between anxiety and depression and risk of tooth loss and use of oral health services among 402 pregnant participants in the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based telephone survey among the non-institutionalized U.S. adult population. Using multivariable logistic regression, we found that lifetime diagnosed anxiety was positively associated with tooth loss and non-use of oral health services in the past year. We found no association between depression and oral health. To summarize, this dissertation adds to the limited research on psychosocial factors and their associated impacts on the health of pregnant women. Evaluation of correlates of stress may be useful in identifying women at high risk for prenatal stress, particularly Hispanic women. Early identification of modifiable psychosocial risk factors may provide an opportunity for prevention of glucose intolerance and oral disease during pregnancy

Examination of the Successful Psychopathy Conceptualization in Youth with Callous-Unemotional Traits

Although research has demonstrated that some adults with psychopathic traits show better executive functioning and higher intelligence that make them “successful”, there has been very minimal research testing whether similar distinctions can be made in samples of youth with elevated CU traits. Utilizing a sample of 1216 male adolescent first-time offenders, the current study examined whether executive functioning, intelligence and/or impulse control would moderate the relationship between CU traits and antisocial outcomes. The current study also examined whether CU traits were more strongly associated with a number of positive adjustment indicators at higher levels of the moderators. Results did not support successful psychopathy conceptualizations for youth with CU traits. Unlike findings in adult psychopathy research, adolescents high on CU traits who were also of higher intelligence engaged in more aggressive acts. The current findings also indicated that none of the proposed moderators influenced the relationship between CU traits and the positive adjustment indicators

Examination of the Successful Psychopathy Conceptualization in Youth with Callous-Unemotional Traits

Although research has demonstrated that some adults with psychopathic traits show better executive functioning and higher intelligence that make them “successful”, there has been very minimal research testing whether similar distinctions can be made in samples of youth with elevated CU traits. Utilizing a sample of 1216 male adolescent first-time offenders, the current study examined whether executive functioning, intelligence and/or impulse control would moderate the relationship between CU traits and antisocial outcomes. The current study also examined whether CU traits were more strongly associated with a number of positive adjustment indicators at higher levels of the moderators. Results did not support successful psychopathy conceptualizations for youth with CU traits. Unlike findings in adult psychopathy research, adolescents high on CU traits who were also of higher intelligence engaged in more aggressive acts. The current findings also indicated that none of the proposed moderators influenced the relationship between CU traits and the positive adjustment indicators

Falls Risk, Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin: Current Perspectives

Aging is associated with weakening of the circadian system. The circadian amplitude of most physiological variables is reduced, while the circadian phase becomes more labile and tends to occur earlier with advancing age. As the incidence of falls in older persons could follow circadian variations, a better understanding of conditions in which falls occur can lead to the implementation of countermeasures (such as adjusting the scheduling of hospital staff, or changing the timing of anti-hypertensive medication if falls are related to undesirable circadian patterns of blood pressure and/or heart rate). This includes knowing the times of the day, days of the week, and times of the year when falls are more likely to occur at home or in the hospital. Additionally, the links between aging processes and factors associated with an increased risk of developing autonomic dysfunction are well established. A strong association between heart rate variability indexes and aging has been shown. Circadian rhythms of autonomous nervous system activity may play important role for maintenance of orthostatic tolerance. Whether one is concerned with disease prediction and prevention or maintenance of healthy aging, the study of circadian rhythms and the broader time structure underlying physiopathology is helpful in terms of screening, early diagnosis and prognosis, as well as the timely institution of prophylactic and/or palliative/ curative treatment. Timing the administration of such treatment as a function of circadian (and other) rhythms also could lead to reduction of falls in older persons. Finally, a prominent circadian rhythm characterizes melatonin, which peaks during the night. The circadian amplitude of melatonin decreases as a function of age, raising the questions whether such a decrease in the circadian amplitude of melatonin relates to a higher risk of falls and, if so, whether melatonin supplementation may be an effective countermeasure. This narrative review assesses the relationships between fall risk and the potential role circadian rhythms and melatonin play in mitigating this risk. We aim to provide healthcare workers adequate information about fall risk in older persons, including the potential role of the circadian rhythms and/or melatonin, as well as to lay foundations for future fall prevention interventional studies.Fil: Goswami, Nandu. University of Graz; AustriaFil: Abulafia, Carolina Andrea. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Vigo, Daniel Eduardo. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Moser, Maximilian. University of Graz; AustriaFil: Cornelissen, Germaine. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Cardinali, Daniel Pedro. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentin