• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1152-1162
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there are regional differences in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of cognitively normal elderly participants and to identify factors influencing BBB permeability with a clinically feasible, 10-minute dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI protocol. Materials and Methods: This IRB-approved prospective study recruited 35 cognitively normal adults (26 women; mean age, 64.5 ± 5.6 years) who underwent DCE T1-weighted imaging. Permeability maps (K_trans) were coregistered with masks to calculate the mean regional values. The paired t test and Friedman test were used to compare Ktrans between different regions. The relationships between K_trans and the factors of age, sex, education, cognition score, vascular risk burden, vascular factors on imaging, and medial temporal lobar atrophy were assessed using Pearson correlation and the Spearman rank test. Results: The mean permeability rates of the right and left hippocampi, as assessed with automatic segmentation, were 0.529 ± 0.472 and 0.585 ± 0.515 (K_trans, x 10^-3 min^-1), respectively. Concerning the deep gray matter, the K_trans of the thalamus was significantly greater than those of the putamen and hippocampus (p = 0.007, p = 0.041). Regarding the white matter, the K_trans value of the occipital white matter was significantly greater than those of the frontal, cingulate, and temporal white matter (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0007, p = 0.0002). The variations in K_trans across brain regions were not related to age, cognitive score, vascular risk burden, vascular risk factors on imaging, or medial temporal lobar atrophy in the study group. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated regional differences in BBB permeability (K_trans) in cognitively normal elderly adults using a clinically acceptable 10-minutes DCE imaging protocol. The regional differences suggest that the integrity of the BBB varies across the brains of cognitively normal elderly adults. We recommend considering regional differences in K_trans values when evaluating BBB permeability in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.124-124
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• 2002

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.210-222
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• 2004

In recent years, the number and proportion of Korean elderly have grown rapidly, and elderly individuals show a disproportionate risk for poor nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of sociodemographic background to nutrient intake of persons 65 years of age or older, living in 15 cities in Korea. Data on 1973 subjects (603 males, 1370 females), who participated in the Korean Elderly Nutrition Survey (2000), were analyzed. Their mean age was 72.3 years and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.2 kg/$m^2$. Basic sociodemographic data were obtained through personal interviews. The 98-item semi-food frequency questionnaire, developed and previously validated for Korean middle-aged and elderly subjects, was administered. “Percentage of subjects who consumed under 75％ Korean RDA,” “number of nutrients consumed below 75％ Korean RDA,” “mean nutrient adequacy ratio,” and “nutrient density” were used to determine nutritional status. Male elderly had better nutritional quality than female elderly. Nutritional quality decreased with age, especially in older elderly (over 75). Elderly who were underweight (BMI 〈 20 kg/$m^2$) showed poorer nutritional quality than those who were normal weight (BMI 20∼25 kg/$m^2$) and overweight (BMI $\geq$ 25 kg/$m^2$). Elderly who lived alone had significantly poorer nutritional quality than those who lived with a spouse, and/or with children. Lower education level and economic dependence also showed lower nutritional quality. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of specific sociodemographic factors on nutritional quality. For number of nutrients under 75％ RDA as a dependent variable, education level explained 4.8％ of the variance, followed by living status, age, body mass index, gender, and living expense support (Model $R^2$ = 0.091). For mean nutrient adequacy ratio as a dependent variable, model $R^2$ was 0.098. Therefore, sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, body mass index, living status, educational level, and economic status influenced elderly nutrition status. These results indicate that an elderly nutrition intervention should focus on subjects who are poorly educated, living alone, age 75 or older, and/or underweight.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2016

As Korea is expected to become super high aged society in 2026, nutrition is important elements of health in the elderly and affects their life. In epidemiological surveys, anthropometric and biochemical measurements represent important components of nutritional assessment in elderly. In the present study, we investigated anthropometric index, biochemical markers, and nutrient intake for elderly aged over 85 by using data on 71 elderly (24 men, 47 women) over 85 years which was obtained from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009. According to BMI values, the prevalence of underweight and obesity was 9.7% and 34.5% in men, and 7.9% and 26.4% in women. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 70.7% in men and 25.0% in women. However, plasma biochemical data are normal range in the older population. In nutrients intake, daily Intake of energy, protein, dietary fiber, water, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, and potassium was inadequate considering the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans(KDRIs). In conclusion, elderly need to be educated nutrition and their health dietary life to prevent malnutrition, and standard of nutrition intake should be rearranged in elderly aged 85 over considering their antrhopometric index.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.185-197
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• 1991

The purpose of this study is to explore family relations of the Elderly influencing adjustment of the Elderly. The Sample was selected from elderly women who are older than 65years living in Seoul. Total sample consisted of 324 elderly women(married women 155, widow 169) finally selected datum sources. Factor analysis, frequency distribution, percentile, Anova, Pearson's Correlation and Stepwise multiple regression were used to take statistics. The main resluts were as follows: 1. The score of the adjustment of urban elderly woman was normal. 2. General characteristic variables such as age, self-reported health, financial status and supply of living expenses have turned out to be significant on the adjustment of the elederly women. 3. General satisfaction of married life, among the subordinate dimensions of the aging Couple relationships, has influence of the adjustment of the elderly women. 4. Among the old parent-Adult children relationships, subjective solidarity and consensual solidarity have influence on the adjustement of the aged. Besides the above two solidarity, objective solidarity has influence on the adjustment, in the case of widow. 5. Among the grandmother-grandchildren relationships, discipliner relations and material provider relations have influence on the adjustment of the married old women. Besides the above two solidarity, surrogate parenting relation have influence on the adjustment, in the case of widow.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2005

Recently there has been increasing the population of the elderly, the welfare of the elderly is no longer family's and personal problems. It is a social issue that the communities have a role to supply the systematic welfare service of the elderly and the facilities. Therefore It is needed to study the extended function and role of Gyungrodang because Gyungrodang is the most wide spreaded welfare service facilities for the normal elderly in urban single housing district. The subject of this study is to propose the facilities' program improvement method for the Gyungrodang that hold a extended role as a community welfare service facility for the elderly. This paper Is assessed as an sustainable research of normalization of the old people's living. By the comparison analysis of the existing Gyungrodang in Daejeon City and the investigation results of the welfare service present condition of the elderly in Daejeon City, finally the facilities' program improvement direction for the Gyungrodang is proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 1997

Anatomic and physiological changes of the larynx with advancing age result in morphologic changes of the vocal fold and reduced control of the phonatory mechanism in elderly individuals and are reflected in increased unstability of fundamental frequency (Fo). The purpose of this study is to increase current understanding of acoustic and stroboscopic characteristics of normal elderly persons voices. First, phonated /a/ vowel productions by 40 normal adults (20 to 40 years, 20 men and 20 women) and 40 normal elderly persons (60 to 80 years,20 men and 20 women) were analyzed, using CSL (model 4300B) acoustic analysis software, to obtain acoustic measures related to fundamental frequency stability nd vocal resonance characteristics. Second, stroboscopic images of the vocal fold behavior in all subjects were analyzed by experienced specialists. In the men, fundamental frequency variation (vFe) (p＜0.01), jitter. (p＜0.05), and shimmer (p＜0.05) for the older group were significantly higher than the value for the adult group. In the stroboscopic findings, edema of vocal fold had a significant finding in aged men (15%). In the women, vFo (p＜0.05), jitter (p＜0.05), and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) (p＜0.05) for the older group were significantly higher than the value for e adult group and first formant frequency (F1) (p＜0.01) and second formant frequency (F2) (p＜0.01) for. the older group were significantly lower than the value for the adult group. In the stroboscopic findings, vocal fold atrophy had a significant finding in aged women (25%). Frequency stability, as reflected by vFo, jitter, shimmer, and NHR, decreases with advancing age in men and women and spectral analysis of phonated /a/ vowel productions reveals the lowering of the frequency of F1 and second F2 with advancing age, especially in aged women. Change in the mass of vocal folds, due to atrophy or edema, is considered to be the greatest factor in these acoustic changes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.223-247
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• 1996

This study was done to provide information which would lead to nursing care of the elderly being more holistically through an understanding of the phenomena of powerlessness based on the lived experience of powerlessness by the elderly, the meaning the elderly give to such phenomena, and what essence of powerlessness is. The methodology used in this study was Max Van Manen's phenomenological method based on the philosophy of Merleu-Ponty and a concerted approach was realized through the 11 steps suggested in the Van Manen's method. Data collection was done from March 2, 1995 to December 30, 1995. The subjects for this study were four elderly persons who lived with their families and who were over 60 years of age. Data were collected about the lived experience of the elderly, this researcher's experience of powerlessness, the linguistic meaning of powerlessness, idioms of the word or a feeling of powerlessness, and descriptions of powerlessness in the elderly as they appeared in the literature, are works, and phenomenological literature. All data were used to provide insights into the phenomena of powerlessness. Data about the experience of powerlessness by the elderly were collected through open interviews, participation, and observation. In the analysis of the theme of this study, the aspects of the theme, powerlessness in the elderly were clarified, thereby abstracting and finding meaningful statements by the elderly about their feeling of powerlessness, and then those significant statements were expressed as linguistic transformations. The summarized findings from the study are as follows : 1. Five meanings of powerlessness in the elderly were defined. 〈weakness〉, 〈dependence〉, 〈frustration〉, 〈worthlessness〉 and 〈giving up〉. 2. 〈Weakness〉 means that the elderly experience, not only their aging but also, their becoming weak and the loss of physical function frequently caused by diseases. 〈Dependence〉 means that the elderly experience dependence without any influence from the surroundings and that elderly patients who are hospitalized lose their autonomy, follow entirely their doctor's prescriptions, use aid equipment and directions, and depend only on those things. 〈Frustration〉 means that the elderly experience the loss of their roles from the past, there by feeling that there is no work for them to do anymore and therefore feel unable to do anything. 〈Worthlessness〉 means that the elderly experience the feeling of losing their social roles from the past, having no financial ability, thereby being a burden to their children or the people around them, and therefore regarding themselves useless. 〈Giving up〉 means that the elderly experience the feeling of closeness to death in the final stage of their lifetime, lose hope to be healed from their disease, and recognize the incontrollability of their own body. 3. From a general view of the meaning of the theme the powerlessness in the elderly-the most essential meaning of the theme is the 〈sense of loss〉. For the elderly are experiencing a sense of loss in the situation of being elderly and therefore being often hospitalized. Brief definitions of the five phenomena could be 〈weakness〉 meaning the loss of physical strength, 〈dependence〉 the loss of mentality caused by disease and hospitalization, 〈frustration〉 and 〈worthlessness〉 the loss of social performance caused by the loss of social functions from the past, and lastly 〈giving up〉 the loss of the controllability of such situations of aging and suffering disease. In light of the discussion above, it is understandable that the hospitalized elderly experience powerlessness not only as it related to their diseases but also to their normal aging, and this related to other characteristics of being elderly means that the 〈sense of loss〉 is the very essence of their powerlessness. 4. While most cases are of the normal elderly experiencing powerlessness in relation to their social network, cases of elderly who are hospitalized are of those experiencing powerlessness in relation to the loss of their physical desire. 5. The findings discussed above can serve as guidelines for nurses who take care of the ill elderly who are hospitalized and that can provide cues to appropriate nursing service, recognizing that the subjective experience of the objective age of the elderly is so important. Nurses can provide highly qualitative nursing service, based on their deep understanding of the suffering of the elderly due to feelings of powerlessness.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.813-833
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to classify the results of previous studies on the cognitive function improvement program of the elderly into the cognitive impairment group and the normal group to compare the effect sizes of the groups using meta - analysis. Among the previous studies on cognitive function improvement programs reported in Korea for the last five years, 86 were selected and the effect sizes were summarized using meta-analysis. As a result of the study, the overall average effect size showed a large effect size in both groups. The effect sizes of the intervention types were high for the cognitive impairment group, and the exercise and cognitive-based interventions were similar for the normal group. The gender effect size was higher for the women with cognitive impairment group, and higher for the combined case with normal group. The effect sizes according to group size were higher for 20 persons in cognitive impairment group and higher for 21~40 persons in normal group. The total number of sessions in both groups was higher than 32 times, The number of sessions per week was 3 times for the cognitive impairment group, 4 to 6 times for the normal group. The duration of activity was 55~60 minutes in cognitive impairment group and 70~180 minutes in normal group as the number of sessions and activity time increased the effect size was higher in normal group. This study will be meaningful in that it provided basic data necessary for future program development by comparing and analyzing the effect sizes of the cognitive function improvement program type and the activity factors between the cognitive impairment group and the normal group.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.445-454
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of obese index among body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC) and to determine which is the best in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Korean elderly more than 65 ages. Data from the 1998 Korean Health and Nutrition Survey were used (n=1017). Anthropometric indices and CVD risk factors were measured, and chi-square test, analysis of variance following duncan's multiple range test, partial correlation analysis, and Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves were used in the analysis. Anthropometric values were decreased in both male and female when ages were goes up. In female elderly, it specially showed the characteristics of upper body fat and systolic blood pressure risk (p<0.05). Among life style factors the current smokers were prevalent in obese male (p<0.05), but not prevalent in female having obese or upper body fat. Also, person with upper body obesity have more exercise than that of normal group (p<0.01). Mean BMI values of the current smoker was lower than that of normal group in both sexes (p<0.01). Mean BMI value of person with other risk factors were higher than that of normal groups (p<0.05). Among 7 CVD risk factors in partial correlation analysis, WC had the highest correlation coefficient in 5 in male, whereas BMI in 4 in female. In ROC analyses of 12 risk factors and health conditions, the largest area under curve of obese indices for risk factors were WC>WHR>BMI in male and BMI>WHR>WC in female. The optimal cutoff values of each index (BMI : WHR : WC) for one or more risk factors were 19.02 : 0.84 : 71.3 in male and 19.04 : 0.88 : 85.6 in female. In conclusion, Most Korean elderly showed non-obese and abdominal obesity likewise other Asians. Also CVD risk factors were prevalent in Korean elderly within normal limits of obese indices. Therefore the upper body fat indices reflected in the aged whose muscle mass is replaced by fat must be used as an indicator of CVD risk together with BMI. Although WHR was the worst index based on partial correlation analysis and so located between BMI and WC in ROC curve analysis in both sexes, it need to be use with WC to screen the cardiovascular risk group.