Katsuko Kanagawa

Effects of reminiscence group in elderly people with Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia in a community setting

This study reports the effects of a reminiscence group program on elderly people with two major types of dementia, Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia, in a randomized controlled clinical trial with a 6‐month follow up. The subjects were 24 participants with Alzheimers disease and 36 with vascular dementia, and were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group followed a reminiscence group program in a geriatric health facility for 8 weeks; the control group followed a routine daycare program. The primary outcome was level of daily life activities (i.e. self‐care, disorientation, depression, irritability and withdrawal) measured by the Multi‐dimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects. The second outcome was level of cognitive function measured by the Mini‐Mental State Examination. For participants with Alzheimers disease, the intervention group exhibited significant improvement of withdrawal compared with the control group immediately after intervention (P < 0.05). For participants with vascular dementia, the intervention group exhibited significant improvement of withdrawal and cognitive function compared with the control group immediately after intervention (withdrawal, P < 0.05; cognitive function, P < 0.05) and after 6‐month follow up (withdrawal, P < 0.05; cognitive function, P < 0.05). The reminiscence group program is an effective means of enhancing the remaining capacity and the adaptation to a daily life in elderly people with Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia. However, it is also suggested that sustained intervention may be necessary to maintain the effect over time, especially in elderly people with Alzheimers disease.

Tai chi improves cognitive and physical function in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial.

[Purpose] To investigate the effect of Tai Chi on cognitive and physical function in the elderly. [Subjects and Methods] A randomized trial design was used. A total 150 subjects were enrolled and were divided into Tai Chi and control groups. Subjects in the Tai Chi group participated Tai Chi for 6 months, and subjects in the control group participated in other non-athletic activities. [Results] There were no differences between the groups in the one leg standing time with eyes open, left grip strength, or the Frontal Assessment Battery at bedside after 3 and 6 months of intervention. The Mini-Mental State Examination scores after 3 and 6 months were higher in the Tai Chi group than in the control group. The right grip strength after 3 months increased more in the Tai Chi group than in the control group. Both the 5-m high walking speed and 10-m normal walking speed were significantly lower after 3 and 6 months of Tai Chi practice. [Conclusion] These results suggest that regular Tai Chi practice may improve cognitive and physical function in the elderly.

Community-based nursing care practice for the prevention of dementia in elderly residents in Japan

The overall Japanese population, which stood at more than 127 million in 2005, is expected to decrease in the future (Health and Welfare Statistics Association, 2000). But the numbers of older adults of 65 years or more will continue to increase for some years. The increase of the population of older adults in Japan is unique among the developed countries because the increase in the population has accelerated within a very short time. For example, the time that the proportion of the population of 65 years or older took to double from 7% to 14% is 24 years in Japan compared to 47 years in UK, 73 years in USA and 85 years in Sweden according to Primary Health Care Research and Development 2006; 7: 314–317 doi: 10.1017/S1463423606000429

Cardiovascular responses during bed-to-wheelchair transfers in frail elderly who live at home*

Background:  The objective of this study is to determine the changes in cardiovascular responses during bed‐to‐wheelchair transfers in frail elderly people living at home and to determine the differences associated with different methods of transfer.