Voluntary imitation in alzheimer's disease patients

Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) primarily manifests as cognitive deficits, the implicit sensorimotor processes that underlie social interactions, such as automatic imitation, seem to be preserved in mild and moderate stages of the disease, as is the ability to communicate with other persons. Nevertheless, when AD patients face more challenging tasks, which do not rely on automatic processes but on explicit voluntary mechanisms and require the patient to pay attention to external events, the cognitive deficits resulting from the disease might negatively affect patients' behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether voluntary motor imitation, i.e., a volitional mechanism that involves observing another person's action and translating this perception into one's own action, was affected in patients with AD. Further, we tested whether this ability was modulated by the nature of the observed stimulus by comparing the ability to reproduce the kinematic features of a human demonstrator with that of a computerized-stimulus. AD patients showed an intact ability to reproduce the velocity of the observed movements, particularly when the stimulus was a human agent. This result suggests that high-level cognitive processes involved in voluntary imitation might be preserved in mild and moderate stages of AD and that voluntary imitation abilities might benefit from the implicit interpersonal communication established between the patient and the human demonstrator

Philosophie et outils de gestion

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Cognition Impairment and Gait Disorders in Older Adults

Thanks to the increase in life expectancy linked to scientific and medical progress and improvements in hygiene conditions, the population of people aged 75 years and over continues to grow worldwide, particularly in industrialized countries [...

[Geriatric investigation in front of a balance disorders in the older elderly].

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Spécification de conception, de dimensionnement et de qualification des structures des lanceurs spatiaux : évolution suite à retour d'expérience de 30 ans d'exploitation

La famille des lanceurs Ariane aborde une phase de transition. Après le développement de 5 versions successives et en particulier de la version Ariane 5 en cours de production et qui vient de passer le cap des 50 lancements successifs sans échecs, une phase initiale de développement vient d’être décidée lors de la dernière conférence ministérielle européenne de Naples. C’est une période propice pour la mise à jour et la refonte des spécifications de conception qui s’est engagée depuis quelque temps. La première à avoir été mise à jour par un groupe de travail constitué par les industriels maitre d’œuvre du système et de la propulsion ainsi que par la maitrise d’ouvrage est la spécification de conception, dimensionnement et essais de structure qui n’avait fait l’objet que de retouches mineures depuis les années 80. Un retour d’expérience a permis d’identifier les lacunes de la spécification, les sujets à expliciter voire même à introduire. La présente communication vise à donner les grandes lignes de ces évolutions

Use of Digital Tools, Social Isolation, and Lockdown in People 80 Years and Older Living at Home

The COVID-19 crisis and associated lockdowns have exposed the extent of social isolation among older adults (OAs). Currently, the French government and medical, social, and charitable organizations are working to find means of limiting the multiple psychological and physical consequences of social isolation on the health of OAs. One proposal is to help the elderly become more comfortable using digital tools (DTs). However, the ability of DTs to reduce social isolation is disputed in the literature. This study aimed to collect the views of OAs on social isolation; to identify the determinants of the use or not of DTs, in particular in the context of a lockdown; and the role of DTs in the strategy to reduce social isolation. This qualitative study was based on 27 semi-structured individual interviews with OAs ≥ 80 years, in Côte-d’Or and Haute-Marne (French departments), from March to May 2021. A total of 96.3% of participants had already owned one or more DTs (mobile phone, tablet, or computer) for several years. The lockdown had not prompted the population to equip themselves more. The most common reason for using DTs was to maintain contact with relatives, and 63% of the participants said that DTs have a positive impact in reducing social isolation. However, there is a significant need for assistance and training in their use, especially since many services are now offered online. The participants suggested that the key to minimizing social isolation remained the maintenance of social contacts. In conclusion, DTs appear to be useful for helping the elderly maintain social links with relatives and, therefore, have a strategic place in the reduction of social isolation. However, these tools should not replace in-person interactions

Impact of ambulatory physiotherapy on motor abilities of elderly subjects with Alzheimer's disease

International audienceAimWe investigated the impact of ambulatory physiotherapy (AP) on motor abilities in elderly subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD). MethodsSubjects with mild to moderate AD were included and divided into physiotherapy group (PG) and no physiotherapy group (NPG) according to whether or not they received AP between inclusion (T0) and the second time of assessment, between 15 and 36months after inclusion (T1). The follow-up duration, Mini-Mental State Examination, Tinetti and mini motor test (MMT) scores, Timed Up & Go test (TUG), gait speed (GS), one-leg balance (OLB), history of falls within the last 6months (HF), ability to rise from the floor (RFF) and the use of a walking aid (UWA) were recorded at T0, and after at least 15months of follow up (T1). ResultsA total of 50 subjects were included in the NPG and 20 in the PG. At baseline, these groups were not significantly different for all the parameters recorded. The anova showed a progression of cognitive disorders in the two groups between T0 and T1 (P<0.001), which was similar in the two groups (P=0.83). For each postural and motor quantitative test (Tinetti, MMT, TUG, GS) the anova showed a main effect of time of assessment (All P<0.05) associated with a groupxtime of assessment interaction (All P<0.05). The comparison between the two groups with regard to the evolution of qualitative parameters showed a significant difference for the OLB test only. No significant difference was found for RFF, HF and UWA. ConclusionsThere was a significant improvement or stability of motor abilities in the PG; while these abilities decreased in the NPG. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 167-175

Changement organisationnel et théorie de l’activité, Cadre conceptuel et étude de cas

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