Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Simona Cintoli, Claudia Radicchi, Marianna Noale, Stefania Maggi, Giuseppe Meucci, Gloria Tognoni, Ubaldo Bonuccelli, Alessandro Sale, Nicoletta Berardi, Lamberto Maffei
Summary: The study aimed to test the effects of physical and cognitive training on neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Results showed that after 7 months of training, participants in the training group exhibited a significant reduction in neuropsychiatric symptoms and a significant increase in quality of life compared to the control group.
AGING CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
L. M. Chahine, R. Feldman, A. Althouse, B. Torsney, L. Alzyoud, S. Mantri, B. Edison, S. Albert, M. Daeschler, C. Kopil, C. Marras
Summary: Caregiver burden is high among caregivers of PD patients, with neuropsychiatric symptoms playing a significant role. Different symptoms and demographic factors have differential impacts on various domains of caregiver burden in PD. Tailored interventions are necessary to provide support for CPD.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Weibing Liu, Tatsuya Yamamoto, Yoshitaka Yamanaka, Masato Asahina, Tomoyuki Uchiyama, Shigeki Hirano, Keisuke Shimizu, Yoshinori Higuchi, Satoshi Kuwabara
Summary: Frontal lobe functions, depression, and verbal fluency significantly worsened 3 years after STN-DBS. The UPDRS part I score and higher impulsivity might be associated with QOL after STN-DBS.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Amy L. Shaw, Joanna B. Ringel, Ariel C. Avgar, Catherine A. Riffin, John Kallas, Madeline R. Sterling
Summary: A survey in New York State showed that a quarter of residents are willing to work as paid home care workers. Willingness to consider this occupation is associated with factors such as age, gender, race, income, and unpaid caregiving experience. Improving working conditions and compensation can help attract and retain home care workers to address the growing need for home care.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Ronat Lucas, Monchi Oury, Hanganu Alexandru
Summary: The potential impact of sex on cognitive performance in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease patients has been discussed. This study found that cognitive performance differs according to sex and clinical stage. Depression and apathy have different effects on cognitive performance in women and men.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Kok Pin Ng, Tharick A. Pascoal, Sulantha Mathotaarachchi, Yiong Huak Chan, Lai Jiang, Joseph Therriault, Andrea L. Benedet, Monica Shin, Nagaendran Kandiah, Celia M. T. Greenwood, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Serge Gauthier, Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network
Summary: NPS in cognitively intact DIAD mutation carriers may serve as a clinical indicator of subsequent metabolic decline in brain networks vulnerable to AD, suggesting that NPS represent early manifestations of neuronal injury in AD. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and identify NPS in preclinical AD using different methodological approaches.
TRANSLATIONAL NEURODEGENERATION
(2021)
Article
Family Studies
Jesus Martin-Martin, Mercedes Perez-Diez-Del-Corral, Maddi Olano-Lizarraga, Socorro Valencia-Gil, Maria Isabel Saracibar-Razquin
Summary: The dying process in Spain is increasingly taking place in the home environment, putting the responsibility of care on family members and testing the stability of the family. Research has shown that illness has a significant impact on the well-being of family members, who often feel abandoned and neglected while caring for terminally ill family members. Society and end-of-life care need a paradigm shift to better support families in these situations.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY NURSING
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Rebecca K. F. Lassell, Shih-Yin Lin, Kimberly Convery, Jason Fletcher, Tracy Chippendale, Tessa Jones, Aditi Durga, James E. Galvin, Randall W. Rupper, Abraham A. Brody
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) among people living with dementia from diverse racial and ethnic groups. NPS were found to be more prevalent and severe in individuals with higher dementia severity, and there were some differences in symptom prevalence among different racial and ethnic sub-groups.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Inmaculada Valero-Cantero, Cristina Casals, Milagrosa Espinar-Toledo, Francisco Javier Baron-Lopez, Francisco Javier Martinez-Valero, Maria Angeles Vazquez-Sanchez
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the association between satisfaction of cancer patients with in-home palliative care and the impact of disease symptoms and self-perceived quality of life. The study was conducted in the primary health care sector with 72 patients recruited over six months. Symptom severity was assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), while quality of life was evaluated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3) questionnaire. Patient satisfaction with care received was measured using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). The study found that patient satisfaction with health care received was average, indicating room for improvement. Additionally, more severe symptoms and lower quality of life were associated with lower satisfaction with health care received, highlighting the importance of individualized symptom management plans for cancer patients.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Laura N. Gitlin, Katherine Marx, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Nancy A. Hodgson, Jin Huang, David L. Roth, Constantine Lyketsos
Summary: The Tailored Activity Program (TAP) did not reduce agitation/aggression symptoms, but it decreased the need for assistance in instrumental and activities of daily living, improved caregiver wellbeing, and confidence in using activities.Participants assigned to TAP had a lower rate of health-related events compared to the control group.
Article
Oncology
Linda Koehler, Lauren Elyse Penz, Florence John, Ashley Stenzel, Patricia Jewett, Deanna Teoh, Anne Blaes, Colleen Rivard, Rachel Vogel
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the differences in function, quality of life, body image, and distress levels between gynecologic cancer survivors with and without lymphedema symptoms, and determine the number of individuals who received rehabilitation treatment following treatment for gynecological malignancy. The findings showed that participants in the symptomatic group had lower quality of life, lower function scores, and greater cancer-related distress, with higher rates of clinically significant levels of distress. These results remained largely consistent in multivariable models.
GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Nancy A. Hodgson, Nalaka Gooneratne, Adriana Perez, Sonia Talwar, Liming Huang
Summary: Sleep-wake disorders are common in persons with dementia and impact family caregivers significantly. Timing cognitive, physical, and sensory-based activities strategically may be an effective way to reduce these disorders.
Article
Cell Biology
Magdalena Mroczek, Christopher Clark, Loic Dayon, Gene L. Bowman, Julius Popp
Summary: This study identified cerebrospinal fluid proteome alterations associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). These alterations are related to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitive decline, and may represent independent processes from AD. Furthermore, some of these protein changes were found to be associated with accelerated cognitive decline.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Annelies E. Veldwijk-Rouwenhorst, Martin Smalbrugge, Sytse U. Zuidema, Suzan A. J. Hanssen, Raymond T. C. M. Koopmans, Debby L. Gerritsen
Summary: The study explored the trajectory leading to continuous palliative sedation in NH residents with dementia and refractory neuropsychiatric symptoms, revealing a complex and burdensome journey that ultimately brought relief and contentment to those involved. Continuous palliative sedation was identified as a valuable treatment option for these residents. External consultation and administering intermittent sedation as a preceding step were recommended in the decision-making process.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Clare Yu, Andrew Sommerlad, Lena Sakure, Gill Livingston
Summary: Although socially assistive robots are generally feasible and acceptable, there is currently no clear evidence that people with dementia benefit from robots in terms of cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, or quality of life.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Eric Jutkowitz, Laura T. Pizzi, Jonah Popp, Katherine K. Prioli, Danny Scerpella, Katherine Marx, Quincy Samus, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Laura N. Gitlin
Summary: Family caregivers are willing to pay more for an intervention immediately following participation in a program similar to which they were asked to value. The Tailored Activity Program (TAP) had a positive impact on caregivers' willingness to pay.
INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Nursing
Jenny Martinez, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Sherrie Holloway, Lauren Terhorst, Natalie E. Leland
Summary: This article introduces a method called SCPI for evaluating the engagement in research partnerships, reflecting the collaboration between research teams and stakeholders. The method can help monitor the application effectiveness of evaluation tools and make adjustments for improvement when needed.
WESTERN JOURNAL OF NURSING RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Alexandra Martini Oliveira, Marcia Radanovic, Patricia Cotting Homem de Mello, Patricia Cardoso Buchain, Adriana Dias Barbosa Vizzotto, Janaina Harder, Florindo Stella, Laura N. Gitlin, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Leandro L. C. Valiengo, Orestes Vicente Forlenza
Summary: The Tailored Activity Program (TAP), a personalized occupational therapy method, has shown efficacy in reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals with dementia and caregiver burden. However, improvement was not observed in certain symptoms such as hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and appetite disorders.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Laura T. Pizzi, Eric Jutkowitz, Katherine M. Prioli, Ember (Yiwei) Lu, Zachary Babcock, Heather McAbee-Sevick, Dorothy B. Wakefield, Julie Robison, Sheila Molony, Catherine Piersol, Laura N. Gitlin, Richard H. Fortinsky
Summary: This study examines whether incorporating the Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) program into Connecticut's home- and community-based services (HCBS) achieves cost savings. The results show that the average cost savings for individuals who received the COPE program were $2,354 over a 12-month period. Additionally, COPE costs would consume 5.6%-11.3% of Connecticut's HCBS annual spending limit. Therefore, HCBS programs can serve as an important and sustainable payment model for delivering nonpharmacological dementia interventions like COPE.
INNOVATION IN AGING
(2022)
Book Review
Rehabilitation
Paul Arthur
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN HEALTH CARE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jenny Martinez, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Kenneth Lucas, Natalie E. Leland
Summary: Clear strategies and procedures are necessary to enhance stakeholder engagement in research studies, fostering inclusive and sustainable partnerships. Guidelines, such as a governance charter, can encourage the participation and inclusion of stakeholders with limited research experience or underrepresentation.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Chih-Ying Li, Paul Arthur, Brian Downer, Craig A. Velozo, Yong-Fang Kuo, Huey-Ming Tzeng, Kenneth J. Ottenbacher
Summary: The clinical utility of the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) in identifying cognitive impairment in skilled nursing facilities and long-term care facilities is limited, particularly for patients with mild cognitive impairment.
RESEARCH IN GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING
(2022)
Article
Gerontology
Kathy Kellett, Julie Robison, Heather McAbee-Sevick, Laura N. Gitlin, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Richard H. Fortinsky
Summary: This study evaluated the acceptability of the care of persons with dementia in their environments (COPE) intervention in a Medicaid and state-revenue funded home and community-based services (HCBS) program. The results showed that care managers and interventionists had a shared understanding of the intervention's aims and values, and the training and cognitive participation played a crucial role in the implementation of the intervention and program sustainability.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Laura N. Gitlin, Katherine Marx, Catherine Piersol, Nancy A. Hodgson, Lauren J. Parker, Tom Cidav, David L. Roth
Summary: In this study, the effects of the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) on agitated and aggressive behaviors in Black and White families were evaluated. The results showed that Black families derived greater behavioral benefits from TAP despite having less treatment exposure.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Gerontology
Laura T. Pizzi, Katherine M. Prioli, Eric Jutkowitz, Catherine V. Piersol, Constantine G. Lyketsos, Ilze Abersone, Katherine A. Marx, Laura N. Gitlin
Summary: This study examined the costs and cost savings of delivering the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers (dyads) compared to attention control (AC). The evaluation included intervention delivery costs and caregiver-reported healthcare utilization. The total cost of TAP was $1707/dyad, while the cost of AC was $864/dyad. From a healthcare perspective, TAP dyads had cost savings of $1299 (CI: -$10,496, $7898) over 6 months compared to AC, and from a societal perspective, the cost savings were $761 (CI: -$10,133, $8611). These savings were mainly driven by reduced use of healthcare services among participating dyads, but further analysis with larger samples is needed to confirm the financial impact.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Brigitte Belanger, Olivia Weeks, Ashli Suiters, Paul Arthur
Summary: An emerging crisis of care exists in the United States for aging adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCD), as families struggle to find resources for appropriate caregiving options. Occupational therapy practitioners can assist by providing training and support services, including Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) programs, to enhance safety, independence, and quality of life. This feasibility study explored the effectiveness of AAT interventions, showing promising qualitative themes for future research.
HOME HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Paul Arthur, Chih-Ying Li
Summary: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons living with dementia and their caregivers is significant. There is a need for practitioners to play a vital role in public health and prevention, addressing the challenges faced by this vulnerable group and preparing for future emergencies.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Gerontology
Lindy Clemson, Kate Laver, Miia Rahja, Jennifer Culph, Justin N. Scanlan, Sally Day, Tracy Comans, Yun-Hee Jeon, Lee-Fay Low, Maria Crotty, Sue Kurrle, Monica Cations, Cathy Piersol, Laura N. Gitlin
Summary: This study demonstrated that the implementation of reablement programs, specifically the COPE program, is possible in multiple health systems, leading to increased well-being for individuals living with dementia and their families. The key factors contributing to successful implementation included therapist's strong intent, confidence, sense of control, and belief in the program's usefulness.
Review
Gerontology
Alexandra E. Harper, Lauren Terhorst, Marybeth Moscirella, Rose L. Turner, Catherine Piersol, Natalie E. Leland
Summary: A total of 114 articles were reviewed, identifying nine key themes related to caregivers' perspectives of nursing home care for residents with dementia, including communication, transition to nursing home, quality of care, quality of life, informal caregiver role, knowledge of dementia, end-of-life preferences, medication use, and finances. Communication issues were the most frequently discussed, highlighting the need for improvement in this area. Researchers may view these themes separately, but caregivers perceive them to be interconnected in relation to person-centered care delivery.
DEMENTIA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Emily Mueller, Paul Arthur, Mack Ivy, Loree Pryor, Amber Armstead, Chih-Ying Li
Summary: Patients receiving hospice care have significant occupational challenges, but only a small percentage receive occupational therapy. Those who do receive therapy tend to be older and have a shorter duration of hospice care, while the majority require assistance with daily living activities. Efforts are needed to increase the use of occupational therapy in hospice care and emphasize its value in this setting.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN HEALTH CARE
(2021)