• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.605-614
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• 2016

This study was conducted to apply occupational reminiscence therapy (ORT) to the elderly diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who reside in the local community and determine its effects on cognitive functions, physical health, communication and interaction skills, and depression. The participants were elderly diagnosed with MCI who visited YW community health center on a regular basis and were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received eight one hour sessions of ORT once a week. Individual interviews were then conducted with the participants to determine if an event or activity had been commonly experienced, after which the program was modified and supplemented as necessary by referring to previous programs. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated, and differences before and after ORT's were identified by paired t-tests. Moreover, the Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted to identify differences in variances between groups. Only participants in the experimental group (n=9) reported significant improvements in cognitive function, physical health status, communication and interaction skills, and depression when compared to those in the control group (n=9). Therefore, it is expected that ORT will be actively used as a non-pharmacological intervention for preventing dementia and improving the health of elderly persons with MCI.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

Objectives : Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD) are characterized by progressive decline of cognitive abilities and a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms like depression. Among various diagnostic tools of AD, many studies showed that elevated levels of serum total homocysteine are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated whether elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in MCI and AD. Methods : A total of 86 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD participated. Total serum homocysteine levels in fasting blood samples were measured. We examined cognitive symptoms by MMSE-KC, Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical dementia rating(CDR) and depressive symptoms by Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(K-GDS). Results : The total serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in MCI with depression than in MCI without depression. There was no significant difference in the mean homocysteine levels between AD patients with depression and AD patients without depression. The total homocysteine levels showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with CDR, GDS. Conclusions : These findings suggest that elevated homocysteine level is a risk factor for the decline of cognitive function and depression. We found a significant relationship between elevated serum homocysteine level and depressive symptoms in MCI. But our study had several limitations, thus more research is needed to confirm this finding.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.177-189
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• 2017

Purpose: A meta-analysis was conducted to identify the effect of cognitive improvement programs for the elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Korea. Methods: Five databases, as well as relevant reference lists, of studies published from 2000 to 2016, were searched. Fourteen studies were identified. Quality assessments of included studies were conducted using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network checklist. An R program was used to analyze effect sizes and to identify possible sources of heterogeneity among studies. The potential for publication bias was investigated using a funnel plot, Egger's regression test and sensitivity analysis. Results: The total effect size was large (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD]=1.44, 95% CI: 1.11~1.77), with cognition based intervention (SMD= 1.77, 95% CI: 1.26~2.29) and exercise intervention (SMD=1.13, 95% CI: 0.82~1.44). Statistically significant moderators were identified intervention type by meta-ANOVA analyses. Finally, no significant evidence of publication bias was found. Conclusion: There is clear evidence that cognitive improvement programs can greatly enhance cognition in elderly with MCI. Future research should examine the effects of non-pharmacological interventions targeting elderly populations with mild-to-severe cognitive impairment in order to develop and enhance the effectiveness of cognitive improvement programs in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

Objectives : Anemia is a common problem in the management of elderly patients. Recent studies reported that anemia was associated with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. This study was aimed to analyze the differences of hemoglobin levels in Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD) dementia, mild cognitive impairment(MCI), and healthy controls. Furthermore, the study also examined if any association between hemoglobin levels and cognitive functions existed. Methods : A total of 116 Korean elderly adults were participated in this study(mean age 74.67 years ; 60.3% female). The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE-K), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR) and Global Deterioration Scale(GDS) were applied to all subjects. Hematological and related blood chemistry values were investigated. Results : We found that patients with AD dementia had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels than MCI subjects and healthy control group. The hemoglobin levels showed a positive correlation with MMSE-K and negative correlation with CDR, GDS. Conclusions : Among Korean elderly, low hemoglobin level is associated with a cognitive impairment. This study indicates that AD is associated with anemia, and low hemoglobin levels may contribute to potentially useful clinical markers of AD. The risk factor for dementia needs to be confirmed by prospective longitudinal studies in a larger group of patients.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.02b
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• pp.507-512
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• 2008

This study investigated the navigation ability of patients with MCI in Virtual Environments(VE) and on the visual functioning. The participants consisted of elderly adults with/without MCI. Neuropsychological tests(RCFT, BVRT, TMT, and Digit Span), the Groton Maze Learning Test(12trials), and the VE navigation learning task(6 trials) were performed. As a result, there were significant group differences for the RCFT and BVRT, but not for the GMLT. For the VE task, there was a significant difference between the MCI and normal group and no interactions between the groups and trials were found. The VE task was correlated with The RCFT, the BVRT, and the GMLT and omnibus the RCFT and the BVRT accounted for 45% of VE performances. Thus, we concluded that patients with MCI are inferior to VE navigation and visual retention/memory play a role in navigation abilities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.3 s.58
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• pp.630-642
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to examine the mortality risk associated with cognitive impairment among the rural elderly. The subjective of study was 558 of 'A Study on the Depression and Cognitive Impairment in the Rural Elderly' of Jung Ae Rhee and Hyang Gyun Jung's study(1993). Cognitive impairment and other social and health factors were assessed in 558 elderly rural community residents. For this study, a Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSEK) was used as a global indicator of cognitive functioning. And mortality risk factors for each cognitive impairment subgroup were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. At baseline 22.6% of the sample were mildly impaired and 14.2% were severely impaired. As the age increased, the cognitive function was more impaired. Sexual difference was existed in the cognitive function level. Also the variables such as smoking habits, physical disorders had the significant relationship with cognitive function impairment. Across a 3-year observation period the mortality rate was 8.5% for the cognitively unimpaired, 11.1% for the mildly impaired, and 16.5% for the severly impaired respendents. And the survival probability was .92 for the cognitively unimpaired, .90 for the mildly impaired, and .86 for the severly impaired respondents. Compared to survival curve for the cognitively unimpaired group, each survival curve for the mildly and the severely impaired group was not significantly different. When adjustments models were not made for the effects of other health and social covariates, each hazard ratio of death of mildly and severely impaired persons was not significantly different as compared with the cognitively unimpaired. But, as MMSEK score increased, significantly hazard ratio of death decreased. Employing Cox univariate proportional hazards model, statistically other significant variables were age, monthly income, smoking habits, physical disorders. Also when adjustments were made for the effects of other health and social covariates, there was no difference in hazard ratio of death between those with severe or mild impairment and unimpaired persons. And as MMSEK score increased, significantly hazard ratio of death did not decrease. Employing Cox multivariate proportional hazards model, statistically other significant variables were age, monthly income, physical disorders. Employing Cox multivariate proportional hazards model by sex, at men and women statistically significant variable was only age. For both men and women, also cognitive impairment was not a significant risk factor. Other investigators have found that cognitive impairment is a significant predictor of mortality. But we didn't find that it is a significant predictor of mortality. Even though the conclusions of our study were not related to cognitive impairment and mortality, early detection of impaired cognition and attention to associated health problems could improve the quality of life of these older adults and perhaps extend their survival.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.216-225
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• 2020

This study was conducted to qualitatively analyze the selected research through a systematic review to find out application method, outcome measures, and intervention effects of dual task. We searched for published studies from January 2010 to December 2019. Electrical database were PubMed and ProQuest. Search terms were 'dual task' OR 'multi modal' AND 'mild cognitive impairment' OR 'dementia' OR 'Alzheimer's disease'AND 'intervention' OR 'rehabilitation. There were 8 studies selected finally. The dual task was applied not as a single intervention but as a combined intervention with other exercises. The contents of dual task were consisted of motor and cognitive tasks to be independent each other. The outcome measures included general cognitive function such as MMSE and CERAD, executive function, and memory. Additionally the dual task cost was also used to identify the direct improvement of the dual task. This study could provide informations of dual task application on elderly with cognitive impairment.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.231-248
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to implement a cognitive stimulation activity program and examine its effects elderly people who is capable of daily life and community activities but suffering from per sistent cognitive decline on the elderly's cognitive function, self-efficacy, and depression. The purpose of this study was to help elderly people who is capable of daily life and community activities but suffering from persistent cognitive decline improve their ability to perform and adapt to activity-based tasks incorporating a variety of actions of different subdomains and difficulty levels, ac cording to their characteristics and cognitive levels. The aim of the program created was to systemati cally improve the subdomains of cognitive functions and eventually preventing these conditions develo ping into dementia in those affected. This study also enabled the subjects to improve their self-effica cy through newly gained positive perceptions and attitudes toward their own abilities by successfully expressing their experience or thoughts about circumstantially and relationally meaningful events and memories, and performing activities that promote sensory stimulations. The group activities conducted as part of the study helped the subjects reduce their symptoms of depression not only by expressing their thoughts and emotions, but also by encouraging empathy with, understanding of, and caring for others. Given that this study confirmed the potential of the cognitive stimulation program designed fo r it as a clinical intervention for elderly people with cognitive impairment, it is suggested as a useful preventive program for early stage dementia.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the Spaced Retrieval Training (SRT) with Errorless learning on the elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)'s memory, Instrumental Activities Daily Living, Depression symptom. Methods: A single subject experimental research with ABA design was conducted in this study on the 78-years-old person who was enrolled in day-care center. The total experimental sessions were 16 which composed of 3 sessions for baseline, 10 sessions for intervention and 3 sessions for second baseline. K-Auditory Verbal Learning Test (K-AVLT) was measured for the memory each session. For the measurement of cognitive function, IADL, depression Symptom, Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), Philadelphia Geriatric Center Instrumental Activities Daily Living (PGC IADL), Geriatric Depression Scale Korean Version (GDS-K) was measured at pre-post test. Results: Memory at the phase B was improved than Phase A. At the phase B, the scores trend was ascending, but after the intervention at the phase A', the scores trend was descending. The scores of MoCA-K were improved, PGC IADL were maintained, GDS-K were decreased. Conclusion: This results support the evidence of the SRT with EL on the elderly with MCI in the clinical setting. In the future, the correlation researches about MCI's memory and other functional factors will be needed for effective occupational therapy service.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.77-85
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• 2018

Dementia among the diseases occurring in the old age is recognized as a disease to be solved at the national level and systematic management is being carried out. However, the awareness and response of the mild cognitive disorder, which is the middle stage of normal aging and dementia, are insufficient and social costs are increasing every year. The subjects of the study were 303 hospitalized patients whose primary diagnosis was mild cognitive impairment (F067) in a nursing hospital located in one district in 2016. The number of days of hospitalization was shorter in autumn and longer in winter or in hospital discharge. The cost of treatment for patients with mild cognitive impairment is lower in autumn and higher in winter or in 'discharge' of medical treatment results. The total cost of medical treatment was high in the winter by season in the ADL 6-12 and ADL 13-20 groups. Difference in the cost of medical treatment according to the characteristics of medical treatment, the medical expenses were the highest when the number of corporal disease was 5 ~ 8. In the medical treatment results, the ADL 6-12 point group and the ADL 13-20 point group had high medical expenses in 'continue'. Considering the clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment and considering that 10-15% of the patients with mild cognitive impairment progress to dementia every year, early detection and treatment of mild cognitive impairment is an effective and potentially important task for reducing potential social and dementia patients.