• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.294-303
• /
• 2017

As the elderly population increases, the prevalence of various geriatric chronic diseases and dementia diseases is also rapidly increasing; accordingly, dementia is becoming a major concern of our society. In this study, 48 elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment located in K district were selected from a group of experimental groups in one building and a control group in one building and evaluated for blood homocysteine levels and cognitive function changes after 4,8, and 12 weeks of taking vitamin supplements. The Chi-squared test, Fisher's Exact test, independent t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, contrast test, repeated measures ANCOVA, and Wilks' lambda test were utilized to analyze the data. The results revealed that the cognitive function of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 12 weeks (p<0.05), and so, the experimental group higher than that of the control group (p<0.01), the effect of taking vitamins was significantly increased, indicating that homocysteine was decreased relative to the control group. Therefore, vitamin supplements may prevent decreases in cognitive functions and dementia among elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2013

Background: Prevalence of depression comorbid with neurologic disorders such as Alzheimer' disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and vascular dementia (VD) is higher than that of primary depression. Antidepressant medications, suggested by many researches for depression comorbid with neurologic disorders such as AD, PD and VD, are mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Objective: The primary objective of this study is the evaluation of antidepressant drug therapy for AD, PD and VD. Method: This study was a retrospective study based on medical records, carried out for 3 years and 6 months (Jan. 2007~Jul. 2010). Patients, diagnosed as comorbid depression through Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Cornell Depression Scale (CDS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) among neurologic out-patients of Chungnam National University Hospital because of AD, PD and VD, were selected. The results were evaluated by efficacy and safety of antidepressant drug therapy. Results: In result, the prescribing rates of antidepressants were 30%, 55% and 40% for each AD, PD and VD. Depression cure rates of patients receiving antidepressants vs patients not receiving antidepressants were 40% vs 39%, 33% vs 23% and 38% vs 30% for AD, PD and VD. The frequencies of prescriptoin of SSRI were 21%, 11% and 27% for each AD, PD and VD. The frequencies of prescriptoin of benzodiazepine (BZD) was 61%, 82% and 61% for each AD, PD and VD. The ratio of single BZD prescription was more than that of combination prescription of antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) were rarely prescribed. The rate of patients with BZD-related side effects was 54%. The most frequent side effects of BZD were dizziness (30%), drowsiness (21%) and headache (16%). Side effects of SSRI were rare. Conclusion: In conclusion, the frequencies of prescription of antidepressants were not common for AD, PD and VD. There was little difference in depression cure rate between patient receiving antidepressants and not receiving. Even though SSRI has to be the highest priority of usage, the frequencies of prescription of SSRI were lower than those of BZD. Additional researches and efforts are required to improve antidepressant drug therapy for neurologic disorders such as AD, PD and VD.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.28-42
• /
• 2023

Background and Purpose: We investigated the correlation between the deep distribution of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) (dWMH: WMH in deep and corticomedullary areas, with minimal periventricular WMH) and a positive agitated saline contrast echocardiography result. Methods: We retrospectively recruited participants with comprehensive dementia evaluations, an agitated saline study, and brain imaging. The participants were classified into two groups according to WMH-distributions: dWMH and dpWMH (mainly periventricular WMH with or without deep WMH.) We hypothesized that dWMH is more likely associated with embolism, whereas dpWMH is associated with small-vessel diseases. We compared the clinical characteristics, WMH-distributions, and positive rate of agitated saline studies between the two groups. Results: Among 90 participants, 27 and 12 met the dWMH and dpWMH criteria, respectively. The dWMH-group was younger (62.2±7.5 vs. 78.9±7.3, p<0.001) and had a lower prevalence of hypertension (29.6% vs. 75%, p=0.008), diabetes mellitus (3.7% vs. 25%, p=0.043), and hyperlipidemia (33.3% vs. 83.3%, p=0.043) than the dpWMH-group. Regarding deep white matter lesions, the number of small lesions (<3 mm) was higher in the dWMH-group(10.9±9.7) than in the dpWMH-group (3.1±6.4) (p=0.008), and WMH was predominantly distributed in the border-zones and corticomedullary areas. Most importantly, the positive agitated saline study rate was higher in the dWMH-group than in the dpWMH-group (81.5% vs. 33.3%, p=0.003). Conclusions: The dWMH-group with younger participants had fewer cardiovascular risk factors, showed more border-zone-distributions, and had a higher agitated saline test positivity rate than the dpWMH-group, indicating that corticomedullary or deep WMH-distribution with minimal periventricular WMH suggests embolic etiologies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.134-138
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Season of birth, an exogenous indicator of early life environment, has been related to higher risk of adverse psychiatric outcomes but the findings for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been inconsistent. We investigated whether the month or season of birth are associated with AD. Methods: A nationwide nested case-control study including all community-dwellers with clinically verified AD diagnosed in 2005 to 2012 (n=70 719) and up to four age- sex- and region of residence-matched controls (n=282 862) residing in Finland. Associations between month and season of birth and AD were studied with conditional logistic regression. Results: Month of birth was not associated with AD (p=0.09). No strong associations were observed with season (p=0.13), although in comparison to winter births (December-February) summer births (June-August) were associated with higher odds of AD (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.05). However, the absolute difference in prevalence in winter births was only 0.5% (prevalence of those born in winter were 31.7% and 32.2% for cases and controls, respectively). Conclusions: Although our findings do not support the hypothesis that season of birth is related to AD/dementia risk, they do not invalidate the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis in late-life cognition. It is possible that season does not adequately capture the early life circumstances, or that other (postnatal) risk factors such as lifestyle or socioeconomic factors overrule the impact of prenatal and perinatal factors.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.179-187
• /
• 2004

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the degree of cognitive function of elderly by MMSE-K performances and of that effect. Method: The subjects were 185 aged over 65 in Daejeon Metropolitan city. Data were collected through personal interview using the questionnaire from 10 to 31, Jan. 2003. The measures were Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE-K). Results: The mean score of MMSE-K was $22.60{\pm}5.39$. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was estimated as 48.6% by MMSE-K ${\leq}23$ and significantly age, gender, and education effect. The subtype score of MMSE-K were significantly lower in female group in each items : orientation in time and place, attention/calculation, language except registration and recall. And the scores were significantly lower in the older group and non-educated group in the all items of MMSE-K. Conclusion: Gender, age, and education showed significant effects on total and subtype MMSE-K score. Cognitive function decline were higher in female, older age group, and non-educated group. Therefore, those three factors are thought to be one of important risk factors for development of dementia, also it is assumed to be affected by other variables than age, gender, education effect.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the depression and cognitive function of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: 243 aged over 65 in Won-Ju in South Korea participated in this study. Data were collected from April to June 2013 through interviews. This study utilized the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form, the Korean version of MMSE-DS (MMSE for Dementia Screening), and infirmity testing for basic health status. Descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$, t-test, ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}^{\prime}s$ test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used. Results: 75.3% of the participants belonged to the depression group, and the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 17.3%. There were significant differences in depression and cognitive function according to gender, educational level, type of insurance, subjective health, frailty, and whether to be a client of home care service. The level of depression was significantly higher and the level of cognitive functions was significantly lower in older adults in home care services than in community-dwelling older adults. Conclusion: This study is meaningful in that it included older adults in home care services to provide information to develop effective prevention programs for improving cognitive functions. The results of this study can be used to develop future community prevention and intervention.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2021

Gaucher disease (GD, OMIM #230800 OMIM#230800) is a rare, autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder caused by mutation in GBA1 encoding the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase. The deficiency of glucocerebrosidase leads to an accumulation of its substrate, glucosylceramide in macrophages of various tissues. Common clinical manifestations include cytopenia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and bone lesions. The phenotype of GD is classified into three clinical categories: Type 1 (non-neuronopathic) is characterized by involvements on the viscera, whereas types 2 and 3 (neuronopathic) are associated with not only visceral symptoms but also neurological impairment, either severe in type 2 or variable in type 3. A diagnosis of GD can be confirmed by demonstrating the deficiency of acid glucocerebrosidase activity in leukocytes. Mutations in the GBA1 should be identified as they may be of prognostic value in some cases. Biomarkers including Chitotriosidase, CCL18, and glucosylsphingosine (lyso-GL1) are useful in diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Currently available disease-specific treatment in Korea consists of intravenous enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy. For enhancing long-term prognosis, the onset of Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, or the occurrence of a blood disease or cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) should be monitored in older patients. The development of new strategies that can modify the neurological phenotype are expected, especially in Asia including Korea, where the prevalence of neuronopathic GD is relatively higher than that in western countries.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.122-130
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study was aimed at finding factors influencing cognitive impairment which is one of the typical symptoms among the demented elderly. Methods: The number of subjects was 417 elderly residents aged over 65 yr in a community. A cognitive function and a depression level were measured using the Korean Version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) and the Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS). Alcohol abuse was measured using the CAGE instrument. Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify factors affecting cognitive impairment. Results: The prevalence rates of cognitive impairment of the sample was 43.5%. Sex, age, educational level, perceived health and alcohol abuse were strong factors influencing cognitive impairment. However, the effects of smoking, living alone, depression, family history in dementia and stroke were not strong. Conclusion: Risk for cognitive impairment were increased by being female and older than 70 yr, having low education, perceiving health as poor, and drinking alcohol abusively. Therefore, a reinforcement system, continuous research and the development of proper programs should be preformed in order to prevent cognitive impairment.

• Industry Promotion Research
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2020

WIn Korea, the rapid rise of elderly population and dementia prevalence resulting from the unprecedently rapid aging in the world is being emerged as a serious social issue. Caring the elderly with dementia is a different way from a general life and is a world which new cultural existential relationships are interlaced from the relationship viewpoint. From this aspect, the psychological matter of family caring a demented elderly needs to be studied for existential understanding in depth and fundamentally. This study focused on in-depth understanding and description of the stress phenomena experienced by family caregivers with a demented elderly based on Giorgi's method among phenomenological research methods and using existential group counseling techniques. Total 8 sessions of existential group counseling were conducted. This study drew out the outcomes(emotional stress, psychosocial stress, time-dependent stress) of participants' self-awareness experiences by applying 4 steps of Giorgi's phenomenological research methodology based on the Existential Philosophy to participant's intensive statements about stress of family caring a demented elderly drawn out of the existential group counselling sessions. It is hoped that understanding the pain of the supporters who cannot express their own pains through the research results and their self-help group counseling activities will become active, contributing to the health of our society which is about to enter post-aged society.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.313-322
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the relationship among cognitive function, nutrition screening initiative (NSI) score, and food intake status. Methods: A total of 409 subjects aged over 60 years were recruited from the Yongin dementia prevention and control center. Mini Mental State Examination Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) method was used to assess the cognitive function of the subjects. Information on health related behaviors and food intake was collected by face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaires included the NSI DETERMINE checklist, food intake sheets by 24 hr recall method and by semi-quantified food frequency questionnaire. Results: Subjects were divided into low cognitive or normal groups according to the MMSE-DS result. The prevalence of low cognitive function in the subjects was 25.7%. The low cognitive group exercised less and had higher nutritional health risk than the normal group. The low cognitive group had lower consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acid and higher tendency of thiamin, riboflavin, and iron deficiency. The low cognitive group had less frequency of eating mackerel, pepper, tangerine, and watermelon and higher frequency of eating white rice and cookies than the normal group. Conclusion: The results of this study imply that the cognitive function of elderly is related to exercise behavior, nutritional health risk, and food and nutrient intake status.