摘要:

ABSTRACTRecent research indicates a possible cholinergic involvement in memory processes and thus the possibility that acetylcholine deficiency may underlie memory impairment in senile dementia. Deanol (2‐dimethylaminoethanol), which is assumed to increase brain acetylcholine, was given openly for 4 weeks to 14 senile outpatients, to determine the safety of the drug and whether or not it reduces cognitive impairment. The dosage was gradually increased to 600 mg three times daily during the first two weeks, with no adverse effects. Ten patients improved globally and 4 were unchanged (p<.01). The total score on the Sandoz Clinical Assessment‐Geriatric (SCAG) was lowered by the third week (p<.01), primarily as a result of reduced depression, irritability and anxiety, and increased motivation‐initiative. However, neither the clinical ratings nor an extensive pre‐ versus post‐treatment series of cognitive tests revealed changes in memory or other cognitive functions. Since a similar separate study with a different compound produced no behavioral changes, it is unlikely that the improvement with deanol was due entirely to placebo effects. The results thus suggest that although deanol may not improve memory, it may produce positive behavioral changes in some senile

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00407.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTAlthough the rate for suicide in old age is high, the rate forattempted(unsuccessful) suicide is low. Among the elderly, suicide‐attempt groups have more physical disorders, more psychoses, and more psychopathologic findings, and are under‐represented demographically. Fifty percent of the elderly suicide attempters have organic brain syndrome (OBS), compared to only 5–10 percent of the “normal” population over age 60. Among what might be expected to be a high‐risk suicide population, OBS apparently interferes with the success of suicide attempts by impairing coordination, planning, determination, and awareness

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00408.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of Silver's Cerebral Function Test in predicting the management and placement of patients admitted to a psychogeriatric hospital. Overall, 205 consecutively admitted patients and 54 age‐matched controls living in the community were examined, thereby greatly extending the normative data for the test. The results indicated that this brief, easily administered test could distinguish the patients from the controls. Also, the selected cut‐off score of 28 significantly differentiated between patients able to benefit from rehabilitation and occupational therapy programs and those who required primarily maintenance care. The test‐retest reliability of the test was good (r =

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00409.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTA survey was conducted on age‐related changes in various measures of calcium metabolism in 609 men and women over the age of 30 (more than half were over the age of 60) in two communities of the Kii Peninsula at the central southern tip of the Japanese mainland. One community was on Oshima Island, with adequate nutritional intake; the other community was in the mountainous Shichikawa district, with a low intake of calcium and protein. The subjects of the Shichikawa study showed shorter stature, higher prevalence of lumbago, thinner clavicular cortex, lower serum levels of phosphorus, total protein and cholesterol, and a higher level of alkaline phosphatase than did the subjects of the Oshima study. There was no difference in the serum calcium level

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00410.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTA clinico‐epidemiologic prevalence survey was conducted in the submountainous area of Northern Bohemia, which is distinguished by the highest proportion of aged people in Bohemian countries. It involved 6057 persons of the 70–79 age group, 1718 persons of the 80–89 age group and 139 persons of the 90+ group, plus control subjects in various other groups. In this study an attempt was made to find an effective measure of the presumed risk factors of pathologic aging in persons of the 70–105 age group. The data were analyzed by the method of coincidence of two parameters of binomial decomposition on the computer Odra. The quantity dependence of the signs was determined, and an index of the compound‐risk factor of pathologic aging was calculated. When the numerical value of the index is lower than 56.9 ± 4.36 for a group of males or 50.3 ± 3.55 for a group of females, the probability is that a given person in those groups will survive to an advanced age. The total risk is higher for the male sex. Of considerable importance are the genetic burden, external environmental causes, harmful habits, certain “civilization”. diseases, and other factors such as disturbed social contacts and defe

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00411.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe Assessment and Placement Service (APS) of the Hamilton‐Wentworth District Health Council assists health professionals in identifying the needs of persons with chronic disabling diseases, and in finding appropriate resources or programs. More than 80 percent of the 9,300 persons referred between September 1971 and December 1975 were over the age of 64. Although most referrals were local, some came from as far away as British Columbia and Florida for persons wishing placement locally. Of the 2,005 persons referred and placed in 1975, 1,063 came from acute disease hospitals, 201 from other institutions, 628 from the community within this District, and the remainder from elsewhere. There were 1,187 women, of whom 89.5 per cent were over the age of 64, and 811 men, of whom 65.8 per cent were over that age. In the opinion of their physicians, only 20 percent of all persons referred had normal memory, and only 13 percent had normal judgment. In the 64+ age group, 71.1 percent of the women were widows, and 25.9 percent of the men were widowers. One‐third of those referred were living alone, and one‐fourth with a spouse only. For placement, 453 patients went to private residences or boarding homes, often with the support of community services, and the remainder went to various institutions according to identified needs. Follow‐up contact one month later showed conditions to be satisfactory in most instances. Deficiencies in the health care system were identified and reported to the Health

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00412.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTDuring a 7.5‐year liaison between a 152‐bed residential (multi‐level care) home for the aged and a psychiatrist‐social worker team, 58 of the 339 residents were referred to the team. With increasing expertise of the staff of the home and with early psychosocial intervention, the need for psychiatric hospitalization dropped virtually to zero. Of the 23 persons currently referred, 65 percent are recovering well with psychiatric‐social‐nursing support and psychotropic drugs; another 26 percent are achieving significant behavioral improvement without change in their chronic mental confusion. The average time required of the psychiatrist proved to be four hours monthly; telephone consultations averaged two hours monthly. About half an hour per week was spent in conference between the psychiatrist and social worker, to allow achievement of mutual goals. Appropriate one‐site psychiatric‐social therapy permitted continuity of care and usually prevented threatened disruption of the residents' lives. Thus the modest investment of time by the psychiatrist and social worker improved the level of life satisfaction, not only for the patients b

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00413.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe advance of industrialization in Mexico and elsewhere has brought about psychosocial problems of aging similar to those encountered in the United States. A case study is presented of a 64‐year‐old Mexican widow who had suicidal thoughts and feelings of uselessness. External constraints on the therapist dictated that psychotherapy be completed within 15 days. A strategy of brief psychotherapy was adopted. The focus was not on establishing transference, probing the unconscious or reconstructing the patient's personality, but on identifying problems and formulating practical solutions promptly. Four hour‐long sessions were sufficient to gather information and to counsel the patient and her family. The diagnosis was depression. Treatment centered around increasing the quality of the patient's activity. The initial success of these measures made for a good prognosis. Both patient and family were advised of the availability of antidepressant drugs, and advised against relocating the pa

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00414.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTFive patients with Parkinson's disease, when first seen, manifested an abnormal increase in appetite. This bulimia decreased concomitantly with clinical improvement in the parkinsonism during treatment with L‐dopa plus a decarboxylase inhibitor. A possible role of dopamine in the central control of appetite is discussed. Abnormally increased appetite (bulimia) is proposed as a new autonomic sign in Parkinson's diseas

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00415.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTEkbom's syndrome of restless legs is common but not restricted primarily to the elderly. Records of familial occurrence and association with several pathologic disorders preclude exclusive age‐association. Most cases of the syndrome in the general population are seen in persons of middle or old age. Lack of awareness of the frequency of the syndrome and lack of an adequate dependable form of treatment attest the need for additional study. Historical documentation is one way of alerting the profession to the nature, frequency and lineage of a clinical disorder that requires an accepted form of amelioration. Notes from the 1870–73 diary of a Nantucket farmer are presen

ISSN:0002-8614    

DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00416.x

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY