Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 47
Self- and proxy reports across three populations: older adults, persons with Alzheimer's Disease, and persons with intellectual disabilities
- Author:
- PERKINS Elizabeth A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 4(1), March 2007, pp.1-10.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Self-reports are often used to determine general well-being in both research studies and practice settings. Proxy reports are also used to gain insight into the well-being of persons with physical ill-heath, cognitive impairments, or disabilities. The author reviews the utility and limitations of using self- and proxy reports across three populations: older adults, persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). For differing reasons, the use of self- and proxy reports often results in inaccuracies. Among older adults, the level of subjectivity in questions, type of relationship, and levels of carer burden may influence the outcomes, while increasing severity of dementia and decreased deficit awareness may affect data from persons with AD, and question formats, acquiescence, and level of intellectual development may affect data from persons with ID. However, generally, proxy reports can be useful in determining aspects of well-being in people with ID, in people with AD, and in the general older population, as long as researchers keep in mind that factors that can enhance (e.g., experiences/abilities that are more objectively assessed, and attention to question format) or diminish (e.g., experiences/abilities that are more subjectively assessed, severity of dementia, and level of ID) the quality of information obtained. With respect to the use of these techniques with people with ID, the author concludes that careful attention to survey items, especially response format and wording, can greatly enhance self-report completion and proxy concordance.
The Brief Kingston Standardized Cognitive Assessment - Revised
- Authors:
- HOPKINS Robert W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(3), March 2005, pp.227-231.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The Kingston Standardized Cognitive Assessment - Revised (KSCA-R) was designed to be a cognitive screening tool available to health professionals who were not trained in specialized cognitive assessment techniques. It was introduced to bridge the gap between brief, narrowly focused rating scales, and intensive, expensive, full neuropsychological assessments. We now present the Brief Kingston Standardized Cognitive Assessment - Revised (BriefKSCA-R). Groups of Alzheimer's disease patients, patients suffering from other dementias, and a group of normal community dwelling elderly were assessed using the BriefKSCA-R. This shortened version of the full Kingston Standardized Cognitive Assessment - Revised can be given in half the time while retaining most of the full KSCA-R's effectiveness. Suitable for a quick screening, or follow-up of patients already more fully assessed.
Pioneers' progress
- Authors:
- TIBBS Margaret Anne, STOCK Pat, ROTHEN Jeanette
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 9(6), November 2001, p.17.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Describe the Alzheimer's Link Project which helps in the early stages of dementia and offers them ongoing support.
Natural history of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias: review of the literature in the light of the findings from the Kungsholmen Project
- Authors:
- AGUERO-TORRES Hedda, FRATIGLIONI Laura, WINBLAD Bengt
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13(11), November 1998, pp.755-766.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The elderly population is increasing more than any other sector of the population. Dementia increases disability, morbidity and mortality among older people. For these reasons the possibility of predicting progression and prognosis has enormous importance. This article summarises the main findings from the Kungsholmen Project a longitudinal epidemiological study on dementia that started in Stockholm, Sweden. Aims to help give a better understanding of the natural history of dementing disorders and provide hypotheses for further research.
Depression in Alzheimer's disease: specificity of depressive symptoms using three different clinical criteria
- Authors:
- ENGEDAL Knut, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(9), September 2011, pp.944-951.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
It is not clear whether symptoms of depression in Alzheimer's disease patients differ from those seen in other elderly depressed patients. This study aimed to examine the usefulness of the specific criteria for depression in Alzheimer's disease which have been developed, the Provisional Diagnostic Criteria for Depression in Alzheimer's Disease (PDC-dAD), compared to other existing depression criteria. The study used 112 patients with Alzheimer's disease recruited from 2 hospitals of geriatric psychiatry in Norway. The patients were interviewed by a psychiatrist who diagnosed depression according to a range of scales, and were assessed by trained nurses who also interviewed their caregivers. The researchers found that the most prominent and significant symptoms of depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease are the same symptoms that are considered the core symptoms of depression in older people who do not suffer from dementia. They report that using the PDC-dAD, more patients received a diagnosis of depression than when using other existing depression criteria, and discuss the results and their implications.
A longitudinal study of Alzheimer's disease: rates of cognitive and functional decline
- Authors:
- SUH Guk-Hee, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(9), September 2004, pp.817-824.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim was to measure rates of decline in cognition and function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to investigate their accelerating risk factors in Korea. This study presents longitudinal data on a community-based sample of 107 patients with AD, followed at 6 months and 12 months. The cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale (DAD) were given. Mixed model analyses were conducted using the following independent variables: times of repeated assessment (0, 6 or 12 months), severity of dementia assessed by the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) and individual indicators as covariates. Average annual rates of decline in the MMSE, the ADAS-cog and the DAD were 2.3, 11.4 and 15.1 points, respectively. Neither gender, duration of formal education, nor duration of AD since onset was significant predictors of cognitive and functional decline. Patterns of functional decline in total DAD, instrumental ADLs, planning and organization and performance subscale are linear as MMSE score declines, while those of the basic ADLs and the initiation are curvilinear. This naturalistic observational study measured rates of cognitive and functional decline in AD, and can provide reference data for further longitudinal studies or clinical trials. Further study will be necessary to determine whether linear or curvilinear pattern in functional decline is due to progression of AD itself or statistical artifact.
Let's stand up for people with dementia
- Author:
- SMITH Penny
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 17.9.02, 2002, pp.34-35.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Discusses the condition of dementia, the need for residential care, and the importance of a thorough assessment. Also looks at activities which can help people with dementia to retain their cognitive function.
Depressive symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease
- Authors:
- PURANDARE Nitin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16(10), October 2001, pp.960-964.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Compares the depressive symptoms profiles of thirty patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who did not have co-exiting depression and thirty patients with major depression who did not have co-existing dementia. The main objective was to identify symptoms common to both disorders and those which may be able differentiate AD from major depression. Depressive symptoms were profiled using the Hamilton Depression Ratings Scale (HDRS), the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Depressive symptoms were present in AD in the absence of coexistence major depression. Certain depressive symptoms from all the three scales such as sadness, diurnal variation in mood and early or late insomnia were able to differentiate the two disorders with almost 90% accuracy while symptoms such as irritability, retardation and weight loss were common to both and were unable to differentiate the two. Depressive symptoms occur in AD when co-existing depression is ruled out. Their recognition has implications for the diagnosis of major depression in these patients.
Frequency of behavioural symptoms characterizes agitation in Alzheimer's disease
- Authors:
- TRACTENBERG Rochelle E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16(9), September 2001, pp.886-891.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study describes two well-characterized groups of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with similar levels of cognitive functioning, but with different overall behavioural disturbance levels. Seeks to determine the nature of this difference - whether AD patients with higher levels of behavioural disturbance differ from less disturbed AD patients in terms of the range of symptoms exhibited; the frequency of occurrence of these symptoms; or both of these. Results found that differences occurred in the frequency of 10 out of 21 behaviours, rather than in a variety of endorsed behaviours. These 10 behaviours, observed at different frequencies in both groups, may be useful for monitoring change in studies of drugs or behavioural interventions for behavioural disturbance in persons with AD.
Rights and duties
- Author:
- GEORGE Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 1.6.00, 2000, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
An older person with Alzheimer's disease is proving a danger to herself and others but refuses to leave her neglected home to go into residential care. The author talks to a social worker about the case and the difficulty of striking the right balance between clients' rights and her duty of care.