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Inverse association between insulin resistance and gait speed in nondiabetic older men: Results from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: IR is inversely associated with HGS among older men without diabetes. The results suggest that IR, an important indicator of gait function among men, could be further investigated as an intervenable target to prevent walking limitation. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - November 19, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Chen-Ko KuoLian-Yu LinYau-Hua YuKuan-Han WuHsu-Ko Kuo Source Type: journals

The rationale and design of the antihypertensives and vascular, endothelial, and cognitive function (AVEC) trial in elderly hypertensives with early cognitive impairment: Role of the renin angiotensin system inhibition.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Prior evidence suggests that the renin angiotensin system and antihypertensives that inhibit this system play a role in cognitive, central vascular, and endothelial function. Our objective is to conduct a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, the antihypertensives and vascular, endothelial, and cognitive function (AVEC), to compare 1 year treatment of 3 antihypertensives (lisinopril, candesartan, or hydrochlorothiazide) in their effect on memory and executive function, cerebral blood flow, and central endothelial function of seniors with hypertension and early objective evidence of executive or mem...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - November 18, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Ihab HajjarMeaghan HartWilliam MilbergVera NovakLewis Lipsitz Source Type: journals

A frailty index to predict the mortality risk in a population of senior mexican adultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The frailty index shows the properties found in the other studies, it allows stratifying older Mexican into several groups different by the degree of the risk of mortality, and therefore the frailty index can be used in assessing health of elderly. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - November 3, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Jose Garcia-GonzalezCarmen Garcia-PenaFrancisco Franco-MarinaLuis Gutierrez-Robledo Source Type: journals

Falls among community-residing stroke survivors following inpatient rehabilitation: a descriptive analysis of longitudinal dataEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Longitudinal data suggest that falls most likely linked to first time strokes occur in the first six months post discharge, particularly month one. Data routinely available at discharge does not distinguish fallers from non-fallers. Once a fall incident has occurred, however, preventive intervention is warranted. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - October 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Laura WagnerVictoria PhillipsAmanda HunsakerPamela Forducey Source Type: journals

Self reported health status, and health service contact, of illicit drug users aged 50 and over: a qualitative interview study in Merseyside, United KingdomEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The concurrent effects of drug use and ageing are not well understood but are thought to exacerbate, or accelerate the onset of, medical conditions which are more prevalent in older age. Here, interviewees had poor physical and mental health but low expectations of health services. Older drug users who are not in contact with services are likely to have greater unmet needs. The number of drug users aged 50 and over is increasing in Europe and America; this group represent a vulnerable, and in Europe, a largely hidden population. Further work to evaluate the impact of this change in demography is urgently neede...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - October 8, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Caryl BeynonBrenda RoePaul DuffyLucy Pickering Source Type: journals

WHEDA study: Effectiveness of occupational therapy at home for older people with dementia and their caregivers - the design of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial evaluating a Dutch programme in seven German centresEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionThe transfer from the Dutch mono-centre design to the pragmatic multi-site trial in a German context implicates several changes in design issues including differences in recruitment time, training of interventionists and active control group treatment.The study is registered under DRKS00000053 at the German register of clinical trials, which is connected to the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - October 1, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Sebastian Voigt-RadloffMaud GraffRainer LeonhartKatrin SchornsteinMyrra Vernooij-DassenMarcel Olde-RikkertMichael Huell Source Type: journals

Association between subjective memory complaints and health care utilisation: a three-year follow upEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The data of this study indicated that in an elderly primary care population the presence of SMC increased the cost of health care utilisation by 60% over three years. Thus, inquiry into SMC may contribute to a risk profile assessment of elderly patients and may identify patients with an increased use of health care services. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - September 22, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Frans Boch WaldorffVolkert SiersmaGunhild Waldemar Source Type: journals

Evaluation of an evidence-based guidance on the reduction of physical restraints in nursing homes: a cluster-randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN34974819]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionIf successful, the intervention should be implemented throughout Germany. In case the intervention does not succeed, a three-month pre-post-study with an optimised intervention programme within the control group will follow the randomised trial.Trial registration: ISRCTN34974819 (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - September 6, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Antonie HautSascha KopkeAnja GerlachIngrid MuhlhauserBurkhard HaastertGabriele Meyer Source Type: journals

Dual-tasking and gait in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment. The effect of working memoryEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, our aim was to determine whether specific cognitive factors have a more identifiable effect on gait velocity during dual-tasking in people with MCI.MethodS: Fifty-five participants, mean age 77.7 (SD=5.9), 45% women, with MCI were evaluated for global cognition, working memory, executive function, and attention. Gait Velocity (GV) was measured under a single-task condition (single GV) and under two dual-task conditions: 1) while counting backwards (counting GV), 2) while naming animals (verbal GV). Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine associations with an alpha-level of 0.05. Results:...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - August 31, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Manuel Montero-OdassoHoward BergmanNatalie PhillipsChek WongNadia SourialHoward Chertkow Source Type: journals

Implementation of an active aging model in Mexico for prevention and control of chronic diseases in the elderlyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionWe propose that the implementation of the model active aging framework will permits the empowerment of older adults, which constitutes basic social capital for chronic disease prevention and control in old age. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - August 25, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Victor Manuel Mendoza-NunezMaria de la Luz Martinez-MaldonadoElsa Correa-Munoz Source Type: journals

Challenges to conducting research with older people living in nursing homesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Although we experienced many challenges to conducting this study, they were not insurmountable, and once overcome, allowed this often unheard vulnerable group to express their views, with potential long-term benefits for future delivery of care. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - August 23, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Sue HallSusan LonghurstIrene Higginson Source Type: journals

Current experiences and educational preferences of general practitioners and staff caring for people with dementia living in residential facilitiesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The effectiveness and sustainability of an educational intervention based on these findings needs to be tested. In addition, future interventions should focus on supporting cultural change to facilitate sustainable improvements in care. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - August 11, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Christopher BeerBarbara HornerOsvaldo AlmeidaSamuel SchererNicola LautenschlagerNick BretlandPenelope FlettFrank SchaperLeon Flicker Source Type: journals

Stroke awareness in the general population: knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs in older adultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Knowledge deficits in this study suggest that most of the common early symptoms or signs of stroke were recognized as such by less than half of the older adults surveyed. As such, many older adults may not recognise early symptoms of stroke in themselves or others. Thus, they may lose vital time in presenting for medical attention. Lack of public awareness about stroke warning signs and risk factors must be addressed as one important contribution to reducing mortality and morbidity from stroke. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - August 4, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Anne HickeyAnn O'HanlonHannah McGeeClaire DonnellanEmer ShelleyFrances HorganDesmond O'Neill Source Type: journals

Quality of care assessment in Geriatric evaluation and management units: construction of a chart review tool for a tracer conditionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Content validity and reliability results, as well as the feasibility of the process, suggest that the chart abstraction tool can gather standardized and pertinent clinical information for further evaluating quality of care in GEMU using admission due to falls as a tracer condition. However, the GCT should be evaluated in other models of acute geriatric units and new strategies should be developed to improve reliability of peer assessments in characterizing the quality of care for elderly patients with complex conditions. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Marie-Jeanne KergoatBernard-Simon LeclercNicole LeducJudith LatourKatherine BergAline Bolduc Source Type: journals

Cognitive function, social integration and mortality in a U.S. national cohort study of older adultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Prior research suggests an interaction between social networks and Alzheimer's disease pathology and cognitive function, all predictors of survival in the elderly. We test the hypotheses that both social integration and cognitive function are independently associated with subsequent mortality and there is an interaction between social integration and cognitive function as related to mortality in a national cohort of older persons. Methods: Data were analyzed from a longitudinal follow-up study of 5,908 American men and women aged 60 years and over examined in 1988-1994 followed an average 8.5 yr. Measurements a...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 27, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Thomas ObisesanR. Gillum Source Type: journals

Magnitude of potentially inappropriate prescribing in Germany among older patients with generalized anxiety disorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: GPs in Germany often prescribe medications that have been designated as potentially inappropriate to their elderly patients with GAD--especially those with comorbid depressive disorders. Further research is needed to ascertain whether there are specific subgoups of elderly patients with GAD for whom the benefits of these medications outweigh their risks. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 26, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Ariel BergerMarko MychaskiwEllen DukesJohn EdelsbergGerry Oster Source Type: journals

Evaluation of dipstick analysis among elderly residents to detect bacteriuria: a cross-sectional study in 32 nursing homesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: When investigating for bacteriuria in elderly people at nursing homes we suggest nitrite and leukocyte esterase dipstick be combined. There are no clinically relevant differences between visual and analyzer dipstick readings. When dipstick urinalysis for nitrite and leukocyte esterase are both negative it is unlikely that the urine culture will show growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria and in a patient with an uncomplicated illness further testing is unnecessary. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 26, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Par-Daniel SundvallRonny Gunnarsson Source Type: journals

Inappropriate medication use and risk of falls - A prospective study in a large community-dwelling elderly cohortEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Our study showed that use of inappropriate medications was associated with an increased risk of falling in elderly persons. This increase was mainly due to long-acting benzodiazepines and other inappropriate psychotropics, and to medications with anticholinergic properties. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 22, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Sarah BerdotMarion BertrandJean-Francois DartiguesAnnie FourrierBeatrice TavernierKaren RitchieAnnick Alperovitch Source Type: journals

Effectiveness of balance training exercise in people with mild to moderate severity Alzheimer's disease: protocol for a randomised trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionBy introducing a balance programme at an early stage of the dementia pathway, when participants are more likely capable of safe and active participation in balance training, there is potential that balance performance will be improved as dementia progresses, which may reduce the high falls risk at this later stage. If successful, this approach has the potential for widespread application through community based services for people with mild to moderate severity Alzheimer's disease.Trial registration:The protocol for this study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN1260800004...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 15, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Keith HillDina LoGiudiceNicola LautenschlagerCatherine SaidKaren DoddPlaiwan Suttanon Source Type: journals

Closing the osteoporosis care gap - Increased osteoporosis awareness among geriatrics and rehabilitation teams.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: A care gap exists between recommendations and practice regarding the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in fracture patients. The current study was designed to determine rates and predictors of in-hospital diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in patients admitted with fragility hip fractures, and to assess differences in these rates since the outset of the multipronged "Fracture? Think Osteoporosis" (FTOP) Program, which includes education of geriatrics and rehabilitation teams. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted with data from two Hamilton, Ontario, university-based tertiary-care h...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Derek HaalandDana CohenCourtney KennedyNadir KhalidiJonathon AdachiAlexandra Papaioannou Source Type: journals

Standardised assessment of patients' capacity to manage medications: a systematic review of published instruments.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: A number of performance-based instruments exist to assess patients' capacity to manage their own medications. These may be useful for identifying physical and cognitive barriers to successful medication management, but further studies are needed to determine whether they are able to accurately and reliably predict medication outcomes. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Rohan ElliottJennifer Marriott Source Type: journals

Social participation and independence in activities of daily living: a cross sectional studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: A review of the few Spanish works using similar methodology shows that the percentage of non-institutionalised persons who are independent enough to carry out ADLs is considerably lower than that found in this study of socially-active persons. Participation in recreational activities as part of a community may delay the onset of the dependence associated with ageing. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - July 6, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Encarnacion RubioAngelina LazaroAntonio Sanchez-Sanchez Source Type: journals

Cost-effectiveness analysis of cognitive behaviour therapy for treatment of minor or mild-major depression in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: study protocol for the economic evaluation alongside the MIND-DIA randomized controlled trial (MIND-DIA CEA)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The objective of the economic evaluation (MIND-DIA CEA) is to examine incremental cost-effectiveness of a diabetes-specific cognitive behaviour group therapy (CBT) as compared to intensified treatment as usual (TAU) and to a guided self-help group intervention (SH). Methods: A total number of 315 patients (aged 65-85) will be included in the study and followed for 15 months. During this period data on health sector costs, patient costs and societal productivity/time costs will be collected in addition to clinical data. Person-years free of moderate/severe major depression, quality adjusted life years (QALYs), and cumulativ...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - June 30, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Nadja ChernyakFrank PetrakKristin PlackMartin HautzingerMatthias MuellerGuido GianiAndrea Icks Source Type: journals

Gender differences in the use of transportation services to community rehabilitation programsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study was based on surveys of the program administrators and the primary caregivers of the program participants from 55 randomly selected community rehabilitation programs (CRP) in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Questions included sociodemographic characteristics of program participants, types of transportation services provided by the CRP, caregiver's relationship to participant, and the nature of family support. Bivariate statistical analysis was conducted. Results: Although there were more females than males with disability residing in communities, our findings showed that females were less likely to use CRP than mal...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - June 26, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Nanako TamiyaLi-Mei ChenYasuki KobayashiMariko KanedaEiji Yano Source Type: journals

Lewy bodies and neuronal loss in subcortical areas and disability in non-demented older people: a population based neuropathological cohort studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Neuronal loss in subcortical regions is associated with functional disability in the older population. The causal relationships are not defined and require further investigation. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - June 15, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: M ByfordC BrayneI McKeithM ChatfieldP InceF MatthewsMRC CFAS Neuropathology Group Source Type: journals

Systematic care for caregivers of people with dementia in the ambulatory mental health service: designing a multicentre, cluster, randomized, controlled trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionA novelty in the SCPD is the pro-active and systematic approach. The focus on the caregiver's sense of competence is relevant to economical healthcare, since this sense of competence is an important determinant of delay of institutionalization of people with dementia. The SCPD might be able to facilitate this with a relatively small cost investment for caregivers' support, which could result in a major decrease in costs in the management of dementia. Implementation on a national level will be started if the SCPD proves to be efficient.Trial Registration: NCT00147693 (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - June 7, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Anouk SpijkerFrans VerheyMaud GraffRichard GrolEddy AdangHub WollersheimMyrra Vernooij-Dassen Source Type: journals

Are sedatives and hypnotics associated with increased suicide risk in the elderly?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Sedatives and hypnotics were both associated with increased risk for suicide after adjustment for appropriate indications. Given the extremely high prescription rates, a careful evaluation of the suicide risk should always precede prescribing a sedative or hypnotic to an elderly individual. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - June 4, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Anders CarlstenMargda Waern Source Type: journals

Psychotropic drug use among nursing home residents in Austria: a cross-sectional studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Frequency of psychotropic medication prescription is high in Austrian nursing homes compared to recent published data from other countries. Interventions should aim at reduction and optimisation of prescriptions. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - May 21, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Eva MannSascha KopkeBurkhard HaastertKaisu PitkalaGabriele Meyer Source Type: journals

A polymorphic variant of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor correlates with male longevity in the Italian population: a genetic study and evaluation of circulating IGF-1 from the "Treviso Longeva (TRELONG)" studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: These findings confirm the importance of the rs2229765 minor allele as a genetic predisposing factor for longevity in Italy where a sex-specific pattern for IGF-1 attenuation with ageing was found. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - May 21, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Diego AlbaniSara BatelliLetizia PolitoAngelica VittoriMarzia PesaresiGiovanni GajoSergio De AngeliAndrea ZanardoMaurizio GallucciGianluigi Forloni Source Type: journals

A 12-Year prospective study of stroke risk in older medicare beneficiariesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The effect of our health shock marker (a time-dependent recent hospitalization indicator) was large and did not mediate the effects of the traditional risk factors. This suggests an especially vulnerable post-hospital transition period from adverse effects associated with both their underlying health shock (the reasons for the recent hospital admission) and the consequences of their treatments. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - May 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Fredric D Wolinsky, Suzanne E Bentler, Elizabeth A Cook, Elizabeth A Chrischilles, Li Liu, Kara B Wright, John F Geweke, Maksym Obrizan, Claire E Pavlik, Robert L Ohsfeldt, Michael P Jones, Robert B Wallace and Gary E Rosenthal Source Type: journals

A randomised controlled trial investigating motor skill training as a function of attentional focus in old ageEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: A 5-week balance training improved weight shifting scores and dynamic balance parameters as well as functional abilities. The observed improvements were independent from the type of attentional focus instructions. The findings provide support for the proposition of different motor learning principles in older adults. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN44627088 (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - May 8, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Eling D de Bruin, Jaap Swanenburg, Elsbeth Betschon and Kurt Murer Source Type: journals

Hypertension in the very old; prevalence, awareness, treatment and control: a cross-sectional population-based study in a Spanish municipality.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension in population aged 80 or more was over 70%. Most patients were aware of this condition and they had antihypertensive medication prescribed. Approximately one third of treated patients had blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. Patients with heart disease and with diuretics had more frequently blood pressure below this value. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - May 8, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Alba Aguado, Flora Lopez, Sonia Miravet, Pilar Oriol, M. Isabel Fuentes, Belen Henares, Teresa Badia, Lluis Esteve and Javier Peligro Source Type: journals

Evaluation of the effect of patient education on rates of falls in older hospital patients: Description of a randomised controlled trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionThis trial will examine the effect of a single intervention (specifically designed patient education) on rates of falls in older patients in hospital and after discharge. The results will provide robust recommendations for clinicians and researchers about the role of patient education in this population. The study has the potential to identify a new intervention that may reduce rates of falls in older hospital patients and could be readily duplicated and applied in a wide range of clinical settings. Trial Registration: ACTRN12608000015347 (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - April 24, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Anne-Marie Hill, Keith Hill, Sandra Brauer, David Oliver, Tammy Hoffmann, Christopher Beer, Steven McPhail and Terry P Haines Source Type: journals

Don't lose sight of the importance of the individual in effective falls prevention interventionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Falls remain a major public health problem, despite strong growth in the research evidence of effective single and multifactorial interventions, particularly in the community setting. A number of aspects of falls prevention require individual tailoring, despite limitations being raised regarding some of these, including questions being raised regarding the role of falls risk screening and falls risk assessment. Being able to personalise an individual's specific risk and risk factors, increase their understanding of what interventions are likely to be effective, and exploring options of choice and preference, can all impact...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - April 22, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Keith D Hill Source Type: journals

Maximum (prior) brain size, not atrophy, correlates with cognition in community-dwelling older people: a cross-sectional neuroimaging studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Brain size is associated with cognitive ability in adulthood (correlation ~.3), but few studies have investigated the relationship in normal ageing, particularly beyond age 75 years. With age both brain size and fluid-type intelligence decline, and regional atrophy is often suggested as causing decline in specific cognitive abilities. However, and association between brain size and intelligence may be due to the persistence of this relationship from earlier life. Methods: We recruited 107 community-dwelling volunteers (29% male) aged 75-81 years for cognitive testing and neuroimaging. We used principal componen...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - April 2, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Susan D Shenkin, Carly S Rivers, Ian J Deary, John M Starr and Joanna M Wardlaw Source Type: journals

Validity and reliability of the Arabic version of Activities of Daily Living (ADL)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Overall, the translated ADL was consistent and valid measure for assessing daily activities in elderly nursing home residents. As it is quick and easy to use, the ADL in Arabic could help caregivers and doctors to prescribe appropriate physical exercise for elderly Arabic speaking patients. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - March 29, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Ramzi Nasser and Jacqueline Doumit Source Type: journals

Preventing falls in older multifocal glasses wearers by providing single-lens distance glasses: the protocol for the VISIBLE randomised controlled trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The study will determine the impact of providing single-lens glasses, with advice about appropriate use, on preventing falls in older regular wearers of multifocal glasses. This pragmatic intervention, if found to be effective, will guide practitioners with regard to recommending appropriate glasses for minimising the risk of falls in older people. Trial Registration: The protocol for this study was registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System on June 7th 2006 (#350855). (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - March 26, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Mark J Haran, Stephen R Lord, Ian D Cameron, Rebecca Q Ivers, Judy M Simpson, Bonsan B Lee, Mamta Porwal, Marcella M.S Kwan and Connie Severino Source Type: journals

A Phase II randomised controlled trial assessing the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of Dignity Therapy for older people in care homes: Study protocolEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionDignity Therapy is brief, can be done at the bedside and could help both patients and their families. This detailed exploratory research shows if it is feasible to offer Dignity Therapy to residents of care homes, whether it is acceptable to them, their families and care home staff, if it is likely to be effective, and determine whether a Phase III RCT is desirable. Trial registration: Current Controlled Clinical Trials: ISRCTN37589515 (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - March 24, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Sue Hall, Harvey Chochinov, Harding Richard, Scott Murray, Alison Richardson and Irene J Higginson Source Type: journals

Minimising disability and falls in older people through a post-hospital exercise program: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial and economic evaluationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionThe study will determine the impact of this exercise intervention on mobility-related disability and falls in older people who have been in hospital as well as cost-effectiveness and predictors of adherence to the program. Thus, the results will have direct implications for the design and implementation of interventions for this high-risk group of older people. Trial Registration: The protocol for this study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12607000563460. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - February 26, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Catherine Sherrington, Stephen R Lord, Constance M Vogler, Jacqueline CT Close, Kirsten Howard, Catherine M Dean, Lindy Clemson, Elizabeth Barraclough, Elisabeth Ramsay, Sandra D O'Rourke and Robert G Cumming Source Type: journals

Emotional stress as a trigger of falls leading to hip or pelvic fracture. Results from the ToFa study – a case-crossover study among elderly people in Stockholm, SwedenEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Emotional stress seems to have the potential to trigger falls and subsequent hip or pelvic fracture among autonomous older people. Further studies are needed to clarify how robust the findings are – as the number of exposed cases is small – and the mechanisms behind them – presumably balance and vision impairment in stress situation. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - February 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Jette Möller, Johan Hallqvist, Lucie Laflamme, Fredrik Mattsson, Sari Ponzer, Siv Sadigh and Karin Engström Source Type: journals

Emotional stress as a trigger of falls leading to hip or pelvic fracture. Results from the ToFa study - a case-crossover study among elderly people in Stockholm, Sweden.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Emotional stress seems to have the potential to trigger falls and subsequent hip or pelvic fracture among autonomous older people. Further studies are needed to clarify how robust the findings are - as the number of exposed cases is small - and the mechanisms behind them - presumably balance and vision impairment in stress situation. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - February 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Jette Moller, Johan Hallqvist, Lucie Laflamme, Fredrik Mattsson, Sari Ponzer, Siv Sadigh and Karin Engstrom Source Type: journals

Health status transitions in community-living elderly with complex care needs: a latent class approachEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Our approach may prove useful at organization and policy levels where many issues call for classification of individuals into pragmatically meaningful groups. In dealing with attrition biases, our analytical strategy could provide critical information for the planning of longitudinal studies of aging. Combined, these findings address a central challenge in geriatrics by making the multidimensional and dynamic nature of health computationally tractable. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - February 3, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Louise Lafortune, Francois Beland, Howard Bergman and Joel Ankri Source Type: journals

Inappropriate prescribing and adverse drug events in older peopleEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Inappropriate prescribing (IP) in older patients is highly prevalent and research evidence suggests that it is associated with an increased risk of adverse drug events (ADEs), morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilisation. IP is a major safety concern and with changing population demographics, it is likely to become even more prevalent in the future. IP can be detected using explicit or implicit prescribing indicators. Theoretically, the routine clinical application of these IP criteria could represent an inexpensive and time efficient method to optimise prescribing practice. However, IP criteria must be sensitive, speci...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - January 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Hilary J Hamilton, Paul F Gallagher and Denis O'Mahony Source Type: journals

Delayed transfer of care from NHS secondary care to primary care in England: its determinants, effect on hospital bed days, prevalence of acute medical conditions and deaths during delay, in older adults aged 65 years and overEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined the determinants and outcomes of delayed transfer of care in older adults. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a district general hospital with a catchment population of 250,000 in England, UK. Those >= 65years admitted to two care of the elderly wards during February 2007 were identified and prospectively followed-up till their discharge. Data was presented descriptively. Results: 36.7% (58/158) of patients had a delay in transfer of care. They tended to be older, had poorer pre-morbid mobility, and were more likely to be confused at the time of admission. Compared to the 2003 Nationa...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - January 22, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Krishantha H Jasinarachchi, Ibrahim R Ibrahim, Breffni C Keegan, Rajaratnam Mathialagan, John C McGourty, James R N Phillips and Phyo K Myint Source Type: journals

The effects of small-scale, homelike facilities for older people with dementia on residents, family caregivers and staff: design of a longitudinal, quasi-experimental study.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionA longitudinal, quasi-experimental study is presented to investigate effects of small-scale living facilities. Although some challenges concerning this design exist, it is currently the most feasible method to assess effects of this relatively new dementia care setting. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - January 20, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Hilde Verbeek, Erik van Rossum, Sandra MG Zwakhalen, Ton Ambergen, Gertrudis IJM Kempen and Jan PH Hamers Source Type: journals

Quantifying the profile and progression of impairments, activity, participation, and quality of life in people with Parkinson disease: protocol for a prospective cohort studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study has the potential to identify baseline characteristics of PD for different Hoehn & Yahr stages, to determine the influence of disease duration on performance, and to calculate the costs associated with idiopathic PD. Valid clinical and economic measures for quantifying the natural history and progression of PD will also be identified. Trial Registration: ACTRN12609000008224 (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - January 20, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Meg E Morris, Jennifer J Watts, Robert Iansek, Damien Jolley, Donald Campbell, Anna T Murphy and Clarissa L Martin Source Type: journals

Resistive Exercise for Arthritic Cartilage Health (REACH): A randomized double-blind, sham-exercise controlled trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article provides the rationale and methodology of the first randomised controlled trail to our knowledge designed to assess the efficacy of progressive resistance training on cartilage morphology in women with knee osteoarthritis. Development and progression of osteoarthritis is multifactorial, with obesity, quadriceps weakness, joint malalignment, and abnormal mechanical joint forces particularly relevant to this study. Progressive resistance training has been reported to improve pain and disability in osteoarthritic cohorts. However, the disease-modifying potential of progressive resistance training for the articul...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - January 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Angela K Lange, Benedicte Vanwanseele, Nasim Foroughi, Michael K Baker, Ronald Shnier, Richard M Smith and Maria A. Fiatarone Singh Source Type: journals

Hip fracture incidence in the elderly in Austria: An epidemiological study covering the years 1994 to 2006Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Hip fractures in the elderly are a major public health burden. Data concerning secular trends of hip fracture incidence show divergent results for age, sex and regions. In Austria, the hip fracture incidence in the elderly population and trends have not been analysed yet. Methods: Hip fractures in the population of 50 years and above were identified from 1994 to 2006 using the national hospital discharge register. Crude incidences (IR) per 100,000 person years and standardised incidences related to the European population 2006 were analysed. Estimate of age-sex-adjusted changes was determined using Poisson reg...
Source: BMC Geriatrics - December 23, 2008 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Eva Mann, Andrea Icks, Burkhardt Haastert and Gabriele Meyer Source Type: journals

Smoking, dementia and cognitive decline in the elderly, a systematic reviewEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Current smoking increases risk of Alzheimeras disease and may increase risk of other dementias. This reinforces need for smoking cessation, particularly aged 65 and over. Nicotine alone needs further investigation. (Source: BMC Geriatrics)
Source: BMC Geriatrics - December 23, 2008 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Ruth Peters, Ruth Poulter, James Warner, Nigel Beckett, Lisa Burch and Chris Bulpitt Source Type: journals