Evaluating the Quality of Life of People with Dementia in Residential Care Facilities

Aims: Our purpose was to compare recipient and caregiver perception of the quality of life (QoL) of people with dementia in residential care facilities and to identify the factors associated with their perception of QoL. Methods: Residents' QoL was evaluated by both the patient and the caregiver, using the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease and several other indices. Results: The correlation between the self-rated QoL score and the staff-rated QoL score was low. Conclusions: The staff tended to underestimate QoL. The main determinants of QoL were the functional status and depression. Improving physical function and mood may be beneficial in providing a better QoL.ArticleDEMENTIA AND GERIATRIC COGNITIVE DISORDERS. 32(1):39-44 (2011)journal articl

Association between BDNF and clinical response in OCD

Aim: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family, and it promotes the development and function of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons. The Met allele of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with a decrease in activity-dependent secretion of BDNF compared with the Val allele, and a number of studies have provided evidence for the association between this polymorphism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether this functional variant of the BDNF gene is associated with OCD and treatment response in patients with OCD in the Japanese population. Methods: We first performed a case–control association study between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and OCD (175 cases and 2,027 controls). Then, we examined an association between this polymorphism and treatment response in 96 patients with OCD. Results: We found no significant association between the Met allele and OCD risk or between the Met allele and treatment responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin reuptake inhibitor with an atypical antipsychotic (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may not be associated as a risk factor for developing OCD or with therapeutic response in patients with OCD in the Japanese population