bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial constituents of corpora amylacea and autofluorescent astrocytic inclusions in senescent human brain
Authors: Schipper Hyman M. , Cissé Soriba 
Published: December 2004

AbstractCorpora amylacea (CA) are cytoplasmic inclusions that accumulate in human brain in the course of normal aging, and to an even greater extent, in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. In senescent and Alzheimer‐diseased human brains, astrocytes in limbic and periventricular regions exhibit red autofluorescent inclusions, homologous to Gomori‐positive astrocyte granules previously described in the brains of aging rodents and other vertebrates. We have shown that Gomori inclusions in situ and in culture are derived from autophagocytosed mitochondria exhibiting iron‐mediated peroxidase activity. In the human brain, the autofluorescent inclusions share many properties with CA. Both types of inclusion progressively accumulate in periventricular regions with advancing age, are largely astrocytic in origin, and contain various heat shock proteins and ubiquitin. Using histochemistry in conjunction with confocal microscopy, we demonstrated that both CA and the red autofluorescent granules exhibit non‐enzymatic peroxidase activity and an affinity for CAH and PAS. The only major divergent histochemical feature between the Gomori‐positive astrocyte granules and CA is the presence of orange‐red autofluorescence in the former and the absence of endogenous fluorescence in the latter. On the basis of numerous shared topographic and histochemical features, we hypothesized that CA are largely derived from autofluorescent (Gomori‐positive) astrocyte granules which reside in periventricular regions of the senescent CNS. Immunofluorescent labeling and laser scanning confocal microscopy demonstrated consistent colocalization of the mitochondrial proteins, sulfite oxidase, and heat shock protein 60, to both CA and the autofluorescent astroglial inclusions. In addition, both CA and the autofluorescent astrocyte granules exhibit staining for DNA which colocalizes to mitochondrial antigens and therefore likely represents mitochondrial nucleic acid in dual‐labeled preparations. These observations suggest that a) Gomori‐positive astrocyte granules in human brain are homologous to those described in rodents, b) Gomori‐positive granules may be structural precursors of CA in senescent human brain, and c) in the aging human brain, degenerate mitochondria within periventricular astrocytes give rise to autofluorescent cytoplasmic granules and corpora amylacea. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Forced to be free
Authors: Midwinter Eric 
Published: December 2004

AbstractDr Eric Midwinter MA, became Director of the Centre for Policy on Ageing in September 1980. In the field of ageing he is particularly associated with education and leisure opportunities, income maintenance and the political and cultural dimension of older age. He is General Secretary of the University of the Third Age National Committee, and is author of ‘Age is Opportunity: education and older people’ and ‘Mutual Aid Universities’, as well as ‘The wage of retirement: the case for a new pensions policy’.Social historian, educationist, consumer champion, author and broadcaster, his previous career was principally in the community education field and the public service consumer movement, and he is at present Chairman of the London Regional Passengers Committee.
Dementia psychiatric symptoms and immobility: A one‐year follow‐up
Authors: Ballinger Brian R. , McHarg Anne M. , MacLennan William J. , Ogston Simon 
Published: December 2004

AbstractOne hundred elderly patients investigated for a cross‐sectional relationship between dementia and limited mobility were reviewed a year later. Forty patients had died during this time. While there was a strong relationship between poor mobility and mortality, there was little between psychiatric function or symptoms and mortality. There was also a considerable decline in physical function over the year, but little association between original mental function and this. Finally, there was a decline in cognitive function. There was no increase in the frequency of other psychiatric symptoms, but different patients were affected by particular symptoms initially and one year later.
Cost implications of depression in older adults
Authors: Gottlieb Gary L. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe economic effects of mental disorder on individuals and their families and on society have received little scientific attention. Late life depression imposes substantial disability and it affects all spheres of function. Therefore, the development of rational health policy regarding this disorder requires prospective evaluation of related costs and the determination of the value of proposed interventions. A vigorous review and analysis of the existing literature provides a framework for synthesis of an aggressive research agenda which emphasizes four major areas: (1) Improved diagnostic rigour; (2) Integration of economic and epidemiologic methods; (3) Microscopic studies of individual and family costs; (4) Interventional benefit/cost analysis.
CSF monoamine metabolites in dementia of the Alzheimer type and controls: Evidence for lower levels of homovanillic acid and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid in patients
Authors: Westenberg Herman G. M. , Verhoeven Wim M. A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe monoamine metabolites 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in 15 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 48 controls by means of a sensitive liquid chromotagraphic method. Relative to a large group of control subjects, the mean CSF 5‐HIAA and HVA levels in patients with DAT appeared to be significantly lower. This finding appeared to be sex‐related, in that the decrease in CSF monoamine metabolite levels could be attributed predominantly to male patients. A statistically significant relationship was found between 5‐HIAA and HVA in both patients and controls. Linear regression analysis revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between age and CSF HVA in female controls only. No relationship was found between 5‐HIAA and age either in patients or in controls. It is concluded that CSF 5‐HIAA and HVA levels are decreased in male patients with DAT, probably signalling a sex‐related change in serotonin and probably dopamine functioning in the central nervous system.
Lithium augmentation in the treatment of refractory depression in old age
Authors: Finch E. J. L. , Katona C. L. E. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA retrospective study of treatment and outcome is described in 59 consecutive referrals to a catchment psychogeriatric service meeting ICD9 criteria for manic depressive illness or depressive neurosis. Of 22 who failed to respond to tricyclic antidepressants, nine (of whom four had also failed to respond to ECT) were treated by lithium augmentation. Systematic comparisons between lithium‐treated subjects, tricyclic responders and others failing to respond to tricyclics revealed no significant demographic differences. Lithium augmentation was successful in 6/9 subjects. Two ‘lithium failures’ were treated with tranylcypromine to good effect. At follow‐up (median six months, range 3–20 months) 7/9 subjects in the lithium‐treated group were well. This was similar to the follow‐up status in tricyclic responders and significantly better than outcome in the other tricyclic non‐responders. Lithium augmentation appears to be a relatively well‐tolerated treatment manoeuvre in refractory depression in old age, with treatment response similar to that reported in younger subjects, and may be of particular use where ECT has failed.
Social support networks and formal support as factors influencing the psychological adjustment of spouse caregivers of dementia sufferers
Authors: Morris Lorna W. , Morris Robin G. , Britton Peter G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe study investigated the relationship between social and formal support in promoting the psychological adjustment of spouse caregivers of dementia sufferers. It was found that the quality of social support was negatively correlated with the degree of perceived strain and the level of depression. This result suggests that social support reduces the caregiver's strain or depression. In contrast, formal support was positively correlated with strain, but not with depression, indicating that in the present sample, increased formal support may be reactive to strain in the caregiver. The implications of the findings for the community care of dementia sufferers are discussed.
Positron emission tomography in dementia: A clinical review
Authors: Burns Alistair , Tune Larry , Steele Cynthia , Folstein Marshal 
Published: December 2004

AbstractPositron emission tomography (PET) is a technique which enables direct measurement of cerebral metabolism to be made. The procedure has exciting possibilities for the investigation of brain metabolism but there are limitations and problem which need to be overcome. A review is presented of the current state of knowledge of PET in relation to dementia, the techniques used, the practicalities of performing a scan and the limitations involved.
Alcohol use and abuse in the elderly: Findings from the liverpool longitudinal study of continuing health in the community
Authors: Saunders Paul A. , Copeland John R. M. , Dewey Michael E. , Davidson Ian A. , McWilliam Christopher , Sharma V. K. , Sullivan Caroline , Voruganti L. N. P. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractProblem drinking and patterns of alcohol consumption are examined as part of a follow‐up study of 1070 elderly subjects randomly selected from Liverpool general practitioner lists. Using a community version of the Geriatric Mental State Examination, the prevalence of current drinking problems was found to be 9.4/1000 subjects aged 65 and over. At follow‐up three years later, one‐third were drinking moderately and a similar proportion whose health had seriously deteriorated were abstinent. Detailed examination of drinking patterns reveals a decline with age in the number of subjects drinking regularly. This decline is accompanied by a trend towards reduction in alcohol consumption with age which is less marked for women. Nearly one‐fifth of both males and females who are drinking regularly are exceeding recommended sensible limits of alcohol consumption.
Psychogeriatric consultation within a geriatric hospital: A six–year experience
Authors: De Leo Diego , Baiocchi Antonella , Cipollone Bruno , Pavan Luigi , Beltrame Paolo 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis article describes a six‐year experience of psychiatric consultation in Padua Geriatric Hospital (Italy). Motivation for the request for psychiatric treatment, diagnosis, recommended treatment and compliance with it by the geriatric medical staff are reported. The authors stress the radical change in the activities of the consultants since the establishment in 1986 of a new psychogeriatric unit, probably still the only such unit in formal existence in Italy. The service offered by the team thus underwent considerable innovation, leading to substantial modifications in treatment and, especially, to a reduction in the duration of hospital stay of patients admitted to the psychogeriatric unit.
The prevalence of psychiatric illness among continuing‐care patients under the care of departments of geriatric medicine
Authors: Bond John , Atkinson Ann , Gregson Barbara A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBetween 1983 and 1987, 568 patients in three centres, who were under the care of consultant physicians with a special interest in elderly people, were referred to a randomized controlled trial as part of the evaluation of the three experimental NHS nursing homes. All patients referred to the trial were defined by the referring consultant as ‘long‐stay’ or ‘continuing‐care’ patients. The mental state of patients was assessed as part of the baseline assessments undertaken at entry to the trial. Two methods of assessment were used. First, the presence of organic psychiatric disorders and of affective disorders and psychoneuroses was assessed using the Survey Psychiatric Assessment Schedule. Second, the presence of ‘confusion’ was estimated using the the modified Crichton Royal Behavioural Rating Scale. The prevalence of organic psychiatric conditions was found to be 72% and of affective disorders and psychoneuroses 40%. This substantial proportion of people with psychiatric illness has major implications for the training of both medical and nursing staff working in non‐psychiatric hospitals.
Changes in erythrocyte ouabain binding with age in down's syndrome and in controls
Authors: Naylor G. J. , Shepherd B. , Findlay D. , Young S. , McRae D. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractOuabain binding was estimated in erythrocytes from 31 patients with trisomy 21 and 32 matched mentally handicapped controls. The ouabain binding of the control group decreased significantly with age, as expected, but this change did not occur in the Down's syndrome group. However, the ouabain binding of the younger (less than 40 years) Down's group was significantly lower than that of the younger controls and simply remained low in the older group.
The impact of reminiscence groups in two different settings
Authors: Head Donna Marie , Portnoy Sara , Woods Robert T 
Published: December 2004

AbstractReminiscence groups are being increasingly used as a ‘therapeutic’ activity with elderly people suffering from dementia. A report on two separate reminiscence groups carried out in two different day centres is presented. The settings are described along with the aims, methods and content of the two groups. The study compared the effect of reminiscence with the effect of alternative group activities on elderly people's interaction in the two separate settings using an observational methodology. The interaction pattern of a staff member in each centre was also observed. The impact of the reminiscence groups in the two day centres was quite different, illustrating the need for careful definition of environmental factors in evaluating such approaches. Where there was previously little interaction during an alternative group activity, reminiscence produced a dramatic change in the behaviour of the staff member and elderly people observed. In an initially ‘richer’ environment, reminiscence did not effect a change in either staff or elderly people. Ways in which reminiscence may best be used with elderly people with dementia are discussed, and the extension of observation to include more qualitative aspects of interaction is recommended.
Measures of ageing in senile dementia of Alzheimer type and in controls
Authors: Shepherd Beryl , Naylor Graham J. , Smith Anne H. W. , McHarg Ann , Harper Margaret 
Published: December 2004

AbstractPatients suffering from senile dementia of Alzheimer type, elderly patients suffering from functional psychiatric illness and younger functionally ill patients were tested using a battery of ageing measures. Although the younger group was clearly different from the older groups, there was no statistically significant difference in measures of ageing between the demented and non‐demented elderly groups.
Dexamphetamine may reduce hyperactivity in dementia—a case study using direct observation
Authors: Hope R. A. , Patel Vikram , Series Hugh 
Published: December 2004

AbstractExcessive motor activity (hyperactivity) often causes management problems in people with dementia. We report a 63‐year‐old woman with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease whose hyperactivity dramatically improved when she was given dexamphetamine. The improvement was maintained after the amphetamine was stopped. Assessment included the use of standardized direct observation.
Subclinical dementia. Relation to cognition, personality and psychopathology: A nine‐year prospective study
Authors: Persson Göran , Berg Stig , Nilsson Lars , Svanborg Alvar 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn 1971/72 a representative sample of 70‐year‐olds was studied by means of psychological tests and personality inventories. Subjects showing evidence of dementia were excluded. Those who developed severe dementia between the ages of 70 and 79 were compared with those who did not. At 70, males subsequently developing dementia scored lower on a test of reasoning and on a test of perceptual speed, and needed more time to complete their tests than did the other males. At the same age, females subsequently developing dementia were slow on some of the tests, scored lower on a personality dimension pertaining to available resources of mental energy and scored higher on a personality dimension pertaining to a need to keep other people at a distance than did the other females. A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the time taken to complete some of the cognitive tests and the personality dimension pertaining to mental energy independently predicted the development of severe dementia. There were no differences with regard to psychiatric diagnoses. The question whether these findings might be interpreted as early manifestations of dementia or as predisposing factors is as yet unanswered.
A comparison of care in private nursing homes, geriatric and psychogeriatric hospitals
Authors: Philp Ian , Mutch William J. , Ballinger Brian R. , Boyd Louis 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThere is considerable debate about who should provide long‐term institutional care for the elderly.We describe and compare care in three private nursing homes, 12 long‐term geriatric and 10 psychogeriatric hospital wards which service a Scottish city using measures of patient dependency, patient morale, regime, environment and staff morale.There was overlap of phsyical dependency between geriatric and psychogeriatric wards but lower dependency in nursing homes. There was a high prevalence of cognitive impairment in all sectors (<80%) limiting the use of patient self‐report measures, but nursing home patients were more satisfied with staff than geriatric patients (p < 0.05).Nursing home staff had greater job satisfaction than geriatric (p <0.01) or psychogeriatric (p < 0.05) staff.There were large variations between homes and between wards in measures of regime and environment, with overlap of most measures between the three settings, suggesting that where care is provided is less important than how it is shaped at the level of individual homes and wards.
Neuroticism may be associated with history of depression in the elderly
Authors: Abrams Robert C. , Young Robert C. , Alexopoulos George S. , Holt Jonathan H. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe relationships between geriatric depression and various personality traits have never been fully clarified, and their clinical significance is uncertain. Depression in geriatric patients may differ from the disorder found in younger individuals, and may also have distinctive personality antecedents or consequences. In this study 16 elderly subjects who had recovered from depression and 14 elderly control completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE). On the EPI, neuroticism subscale scores were significantly higher for patients than controls, while mean extraversion scores were not significantly different. On the PDE, recovered depressives had higher dimensional scores than controls in each DSM‐III‐R personality disorder except antisocial. Neuroticism scores correlated significantly with PDE dimensional scores for all but two of the DSM‐III‐R personality disorders, while extraversion scores correlated significantly with only two PDE categories. Together, these findings suggest that neuroticism and criteria for most DSM‐III‐R personality disorders may be associated with history of depression in a geriatric population.
The cognitive efficiency profile: Description and validation in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: De Rotrou Jocelyne , Forette Francoise , Hervy Marie Pierre , Tortrat Daniele , Fermanian Jacques , Boudou Marie‐Renee , Boller Francois 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe rigorous diagnosis of dementia, especially in the early stages, requires clinical observation and neuropsychological tests. This article shows how a short strategy‐oriented neuropsychological battery, the Cognitive Efficiency Profile (CEP), can contribute to the early diagnosis of Alheimer's disease.The CEP was given to 56 subjects who had been independently diagnosed as being cognitively unimpaired (N = 16), as having probable AD with mild dementia (N = 32) or as having “borderline” deterioration (N = 8). One‐year follow‐up showed that all the latter patients developed unequivocal dementia. There was a clear‐cut separation in the test results between the controls and the probable AD cases when the scores were corrected for age and education. There was some overlap between the borderline cases and the probable AD patients but, in all cases, the corrected scores fell below those of normal controls.The usefulness of the CEP rests on the fact that it assesses the efficiency or the failure of strategies applied to a number of abilities related to cognitive efficiency. Coupled with clinical data, a good or a poor performance on the CEP strongly corroborates the diagnosis of normal cognitive functioning or of dementia in the elderly.
Does a mirror deter wandering in demented older people?
Authors: Mayer Robert , Darby Stuart J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe management of wandering behaviour in the confused older person raises a dilemma concerning the contravention of basic human rights and the maintenance of individual safety, balancing an acceptable risk while ensuring the duty to care. In general, where restraint is used, a less restrictive method is to be preferred over one which is more so. Observations on a psychogeriatric ward of nine habitual wanderers compared the rate of successful exit door contact (touching, opening or exiting) over a two‐week period under three experimental conditions. These included the use of a full‐length mirror, placed in front of the door, the mirror reversed, and neither. A reduction in successful exit door rates from 76.2% to 35.7% (p <0.02) was noted with the mirror in use, compared with no mirror. The possible mechanism for the putative effect is discussed.
Psychogeriatric day care outcome: A five‐year follow‐up
Authors: Diesfeldt Han 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAll 224 consecutive new patients who were admitted in 1982 through 1985 to the day care department of a skilled‐care psychogeriatric nursing home were followed longitudinally until death. Dementia was diagnosed in 95.1% of the 133 women and 91 men. Their mean age at admission was 78.7 years (SD = 7.4). Every 12 months after their initial attendance the patients' status was recorded and coded as living in the community, institutionalized or dead. At one year after initial attendance 99 (44.2%) patients still resided in the community, 94 (42.0%) were admitted to a nursing home or (psychiatric) hospital and 31 (13.8%) had died. At five years only nine (4.0%) patients resided in the community, 65 (29.0%) were in long‐term institutional care and 150 (67.0%) had died. Age, gender, socioeconomic status or living alone did not contribute to first‐year outcome, but severity of cognitive impairment was associated with an increased risk of becoming institutionalized. Using logistic regression analysis, a model of three variables, living at home, needing help from caregiving children, and high ratings of dependency, assigned 61.4% of 176 subjects correctly as institutionalized versus residing in the community.