Research suggests that physical activity may play a role in preserving cognitive function in older adulthood. However, the exact nature, direction, and magnitude of observed associations remain unclear. The current study utilized a microlongitudinal design to repeatedly assess cognitive function and physical activity across five days. Two studies examined relationships between physical activity, physical fitness, and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults. The first study examined associations between baseline performance in a measure of everyday cognition and multiple measures of physical activity and physical fitness. Bivariate analyses revealed that objectively measured physical activity of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, repeated chair stand time and 6-minute walk distance were significantly associated with everyday cognition. After adjusting for covariates in a multiple regression model, physical activity was not significantly associated with everyday cognition. However, a composite physical fitness score created from 6-minute walk distance and repeated chair stand time was significantly associated with DECA, and the full model accounted for 38% of the variance in baseline DECA performance. The second study investigated within- and between-person relationships between daily physical activity and cognitive function. Study participants wore an activity monitor and completed a battery of cognitive assessments for five days. Multilevel modeling analyses indicated that same-day total number of steps was significantly associated with better visual speed of processing but not everyday cognition, or inductive reasoning.. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous activity was not significantly associated with same-day cognitive performance in any domain. However, previous-day moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was significantly associated with better inductive reasoning and speed of processing the following day, after controlling for age, gender and physical fitness. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous activity explained 16% of the within-person variability in speed of processing. Physical fitness and age did not explain significant variability in between-person cognitive function. Results obtained in the present study varied according to how physical activity and cognition were operationalized and measured. Associations between physical activity and cognition were more evident with moderate-to-vigorous activity, as opposed to total activity, and an acute temporal relationship was suggested, with better cognitive performance following engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Results also indicated that within-person fluctuations in domains of cognitive performance were positively associated with physical activity, and were more pronounced with cognitively complex tasks that were timed.

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop the content for an online training module entitled Promoting Older Adults’ Health through Policy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Aging and Health Work Group was interested in complementing their workshop, Promoting Older Adults’ Health: Opportunities and Resources for CDC Professionals with an online training module on aging and policy. This project highlights significant pieces of U.S. legislation that promotes older adults’ health and draws attention to emerging policy, systems, and environmental changes on the horizon. An anticipated short-term outcome is a demonstrated sensitivity to population aging in all CDC centers, divisions, programs, and initiatives. Similarly, an anticipated long-term outcome is growth in the number, quality, and scope of collaborative efforts across CDC centers, divisions, programs, and initiatives that focus on older adults’ health. Two perspectives, “Healthy Aging” and “Successful Aging,” provide the foundation for a discussion of legislation and policies oriented towards older adults’ health. Various policy frameworks, i.e., cost-benefit, problem, political, vision, and a futures policy approach frame the discussion of policy development. Significant legislation that promotes older adults’ health, i.e., Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act of 1965 provide a historical context for a discussion of emerging policy, systems, and environmental changes that promise even greater advances. The mobility challenge for older adults as a population group in the U.S. provides the thematic thrust of this section of the module. Examples of CDC’s work exploring the link between older adults’ health and mobility, the built environment, and emergency preparedness are highlighted based on several criteria: burden of the problem, preventability, relationship to other CDC initiatives, and usefulness to practitioners are critical considerations. The module also discusses how legislation and policies designed to promote health aging also improve the quality of life for all population groups. Policies focused on healthy aging lay the groundwork for an integration of a “health in all policies” approach (World Health Organization/ WHO, 2006), working in tandem with the “health for all” framework (WHO, 1998) and the “society for all ages” construct (United Nations, 1999).

Using orthogonal subtractions of performance in selected conditions the attentional network test (ANT) measures the efficacy of three isolable components of attention: alerting, orienting, and executive control. This dissertation evaluated: 1) the relationship between these attention networks and absentmindedness measured by the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and 2) stability, isolability, robustness, and reliability of the two versions of the ANT (Fan et al., 2002 and Callejas et al., 2005) with young adults and older adults and of the child version of the ANT (Rueda et al., 2004) with young children when tested over 10 sessions. A greater degree of absentmindedness as measured with CFQ was associated with a greater alerting network score in RT and with a greater orienting network scores in error rate when the ANT-I was used. However, a greater degree of absentmindedness was associated with a smaller orienting network score in error rate when the ANT was used. These results suggest that the alerting and the orienting networks are related to absentmindedness. However, the orienting networks in the two ANTs were related to absentmindedness differently which supports the proposal (Klein, 2009) that there are fundamental differences between attention when controlled endogenously (ANT) as opposed to exogenously (ANT-I). For young adults and older adults, all network scores in RT remained robust even after nine previous sessions despite some practice effects especially in the executive network both with the ANT and the ANT-I. There was some evidence that the networks do not operate independently in all situations. As expected, reliability increased as more data are added. For young children, only the alerting network scores remained robust over time. Learning effects were observed only with the executive network. The reliability was poor even when more data were added. This made it difficult to assess the isolability of the network scores. The ANT and the ANT-I were associated to the CFQ scores in a limited way. The ANT and the ANT-I can be used for applications requiring repeated testing, but the child ANT may not be suitable for such purpose. / This is a thesis that is manuscript-based.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to explore the referrals that were generated from one hospital emergency room to a community outreach team. This study used a specific geriatric program assessment team in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada as the community outreach team. Malcolm Payne’s description of Task Centered Casework and Crisis Intervention and Irene Pollin’s Medical Crisis Counseling served as the theoretical structure and design to gain an understanding of the reasons geriatric patients were referred to the GPAT on discharge. This study aimed to answer three research questions: 1) What is the emergency room medical team’s main reason for referral to a geriatric outreach team? 2) Are the referrals received from the emergency room medical team clearly identifying psychosocial issues as areas for examination by an outreach team? 3) Are psychosocial issues identified only after an outreach team clinician completed a comprehensive assessment? This study revealed that out of the 209 referrals to geriatric program assessment team, the highest number of times referred was for functional decline. It revealed that the emergency room medical team saw functional decline as a valid reason to have the geriatric program assessment team assess the individual in their home settings to ensure that any functional issue be addressed and possible adaptations made in a timely manner to avoid the reverberation that one ailment can set off. The second most common reason for referring to the geriatric program assessment team was for social issues. Forty percent of the referrals identified that there were concerns in relation to social issues which clearly identifies that the emergency room medical team identified psychosocial issues as an area for further examination. And finally, the findings show psychosocial issues were not identified only after an outreach team clinician completed a comprehensive assessment, but that both appear cognizant of the interplay between medical issues and social issues.

The purposes of this study were to: 1) determine absolute intrarater reliability of using the cervical range of motion device (CROM) for measuring cervical movements in older adults, and 2) determine the intrarater reliability and concurrent validity of the Candrive protocol, which uses a universal goniometer to measure rotation. Forty older adults (75.7 + 4.7 years of age) were tested in two sessions, one week apart, by two raters. Intrarater reliability scores were good for the CROM protocol (coefficient of variation (CV) values were 5.5% and 6.2 % for cervical rotation). The Candrive protocol values were higher (CV = 7.9 and 9.4%). Concordance analyses suggested that the Candrive protocol was less than good in terms of its validity, particularly when order effects were taken into consideration. In conclusion, the CROM protocol demonstrated good reliability for either group or individual analyses, whereas the Candrive protocol was less reliable and its validity marginal.

Syfte. God kondition har visats vara av speciellt värde i olika idrotter samt för att minska risken för hjärt-kärlsjukdomar. I vissa idrotts- och hälsosammanhang är billiga, enkla och tillförlitliga tester ute i fält önskvärda för att utvärdera och följa upp ett konditionsvärde. Vid 5-minuters pyramidtest (5MPT) går individer fram och tillbaka över några trappsteg placerade i pyramidform. Testet har visat sig ha en hög korrelation till maximal aerob kapacitet för äldre samt för studenter vid GIH. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka gymnasieelever, elitbandyspelares och äldre perso­ners resultat vid och korrelationen mellan ett vidareutvecklat 5MPT och ett maximalt syreupptagningstest (VO2max) på cykel. Målsättningen var att även att undersöka reliabiliteten för pyramidtestet? Metod. I studien deltog 63 personer. I de tre urvalsgrupperna var fördelningen 21 äldre personer, 20 bandyspelare och 22 gymnasieelever. Testpersonerna testades tre gånger vid skilda tillfällen. 5MPT, som genomfördes två gånger för att undersöka reliabiliteten, är ett så kallat skytteltest som utförs under fem minuter. Testpersonen ska tillryggalägga en sträcka på ca 4,3 m så många vändor som möjligt under testet. Via en formel beräknas personens effekt (Watt). Bestämning av VO2maxvärdet gjordes med hjälp av maximalt cykelergometertest. Testet tog mellan 6-10 minuter efter en period med uppvärmning på cykeln. Resultat. För hela populationen (n=63) framkom gentemot VO2max en stark och signifikant korrelation både för 5 MPT 1 (r=0,97) och 5 MPT2 (r=0,97). Korrelationen var för de olika undergrupperna också signifikant samt relativt stark, varierandes mellan 0,78-0,94. Resultaten vid 5MPT (effekt) förbättrades mellan första och andra testomgången med igenomsnitt 4,2% för alla. Förbättringen var signifikant för alla undergrupper utom för äldre damer (som hade en förändring med 2,9%). I arbetet presenteras två framtagna ekvationer, baserade på sambanden mellan uppmätt resultat för VO2max på cykeltestet och data vid 5MPT1 respektive 5MPT2. Slutsats. För vidare bruk i fält av 5MPT, då man vill uppskatta personers aeroba kapacitet, kan förslagsvis de två här framtagna formlerna användas. Den första formeln kan brukas vid en första testomgång av 5MPT, medan den andra formeln kan användas vid upprepning av testet på samma individ. Studien visade således en stark och signifikant korrelation mellan maximal syreupptagningsförmåga (VO2max) och 5MPT för samtliga urvalsgrupper. Testuppsättningen kan således, med beaktande av olika för- och nackdelar, användas i olika idrotts- och hälsosammanhang för att försöka få en uppfattning om personers konditionsnivå. 5MPT är en snabb, funktionell och billig metod att uppskatta maximal aerob effekt. / Aim. Good aerobic fitness has been shown to be of importance in various sports and for reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. In some sport and health contexts it is desirable to utilize tests which are short, functional, simple and inexpensive for evaluating maximal aerobic power. The five-minute pyramid test (5MPT) is a shuttle test when the subject moves back and forth over some pyramid positioned steps. It has been shown that the test has a strong correlation with maximal aerobic capacity among elderly and students of physical education or health promotion. The purpose of this study was to investigate among high school students, bandy players from an elite team and older persons, how well the five minutes pyramid test (5MPT) can be used as a method to evaluate the maximal oxygen uptake compared to the established method performed on a cycle ergometer (VO2 max). Our aim was to evaluate the performance and correlation of the two tests and how the results differ between the chosen study populations. The aim was also to study the reliability of the pyramid test. Methodology. The study enrolled 63 subjects. In the three sample groups, the distribution was 21 elderly, 20 bandy players and 22 high school students. The subjects were tested at three separate occasions. The 5MPT test, performed twice to investigate the reliability, is a shuttle test during 5 minutes. The participants move back and forth a short distance (4.30 m) and as many laps as possible during the test. Power for the participants was calculated from a formula.The value for VO2max was accomplished by a cycle ergometer test. The duration of the VO2 max test was 6-10 minutes after a period of warm-up on the bike. Results. For the entire population (n = 63), versus VO2 max, there was a strong and significant correlation for 5MPT-test1 (r = 0.97) and 5MPT-test2 (r = 0.97). The correlations for all subgroups where also significant and relatively strong, varying between 0,78-0,94. The results for the 5MPT power was improved between the first and the second test with a mean value of 4,2% for the entire population. The improvement was significant for all subgroups except, for old women (who had an improvement of 2,9%). In the study we present two equations based on the relationships between results in VO2max cycle ergometer test and data in 5MPT1 respectively 5MPT2. Conclusion. For the use of 5MPT in field testing contexts, for estimating the aerobic capacity in individuals, one can as a suggestion use these two equations found in the present study. When testing 5 MPT for the first time the first formula can be used whereas the second formula can be used for repeated measures on the same individual. The study showed a strong and significant correlation between maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and 5 MPT for all sample groups. The test equipment can therefore be used, although considering different advantages and disadvantages, in different sports and health contexts for estimating aerobic fitness in individuals. The 5MPT is a fast, functional and inexpensive method to estimate maximal aerobic effect

During the past decades there has been an increase in longevity. These aging trends have an enormous economic impact and present challenges to policymakers, families, and health care providers to meet the needs of aging individuals. Aging is accompanied with various physiological changes that can limit the elderly’s functional status and their independency. Some of the most noticeable changes occur within the musculoskeletal system, however cardiorespiratory changes, as well as changes in the body composition limits the elderly’s aerobic capacity and therefore increases the risk for cardiovascular and hypokinetic diseases. Moderate physical activity reduces the risk, or prolong the onset of physiological changes and various diseases. Physical activity can also enhance functional fitness amongst the elderly. Functional fitness is having the physiologic capacity to perform normal everyday activities safely and independently without undue fatigue. The aim of this study was to determine the functional fitness as well as static balance and dynamic balance status of senior citizens. Secondly, to determine the association between: physical activity, aerobic endurance and functional fitness and status amongst senior citizens. Thirdly, to determine the association between physical activity status, aerobic endurance and static– and dynamic balance amongst elderly. A once off subject availability study was performed, and 58 senior citizens (32 females and 26 males) between the ages of 65 years and 96 years participated. The physical activity index was determined with the Sharkey and Gaskill Physical activity index questionnaire. Functional fitness was measured using the Rikli and Jones Fullerton’s functional fitness test protocol. The static balance and dynamic balance was tested with the one leg balance eyes closed and functional reach test respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the status of the participants. Two way summary tables were used to categorize the amount of weak test results. Partial correlations were used to determine the association between physical activity, functional fitness and static and dynamic balance. The male participants’ functional fitness status compared well with USA normal ranges, however the functional fitness test scores of the female participants were even lower than the older age group (75 to 79 years) of the USA normal ranges. The results of the frequency distribution indicated that 80.77% and 68.75% of the male and female participants respectively, tested poorly in more than four of the functional fitness tests. Neither the male nor the female participants’ static balance score were adequate, although it does not indicate a fall risk. Aerobic endurance showed to have medium (r = 0.3–0.49) to high (r 0.5) partial correlation with all functional fitness tests for the total group, as well as in the female participants. In the male participants aerobic endurance only showed high correlation (r 0.5) with lower body strength and dynamic balance and agility. Dynamic balance correlated well (r 0.5) with all functional fitness tests as well as aerobic endurance and physical activity index in the female participants, and only showed a medium correlation with agility in the male participants. This study showed alarming percentages of poor test results for both male and female senior citizens and highlights the need for physical activity interventions in old age homes. The correlations between aerobic endurance, as well as dynamic balance and functional fitness tests indicates that even simple interventions such as walking programs could enhance the functional fitness of senior citizens and thereby increase their independency. / Thesis (M.A. (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The purpose of this study was to explore the referrals that were generated from one hospital emergency room to a community outreach team. This study used a specific geriatric program assessment team in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada as the community outreach team. Malcolm Payne’s description of Task Centered Casework and Crisis Intervention and Irene Pollin’s Medical Crisis Counseling served as the theoretical structure and design to gain an understanding of the reasons geriatric patients were referred to the GPAT on discharge. This study aimed to answer three research questions: 1) What is the emergency room medical team’s main reason for referral to a geriatric outreach team? 2) Are the referrals received from the emergency room medical team clearly identifying psychosocial issues as areas for examination by an outreach team? 3) Are psychosocial issues identified only after an outreach team clinician completed a comprehensive assessment? This study revealed that out of the 209 referrals to geriatric program assessment team, the highest number of times referred was for functional decline. It revealed that the emergency room medical team saw functional decline as a valid reason to have the geriatric program assessment team assess the individual in their home settings to ensure that any functional issue be addressed and possible adaptations made in a timely manner to avoid the reverberation that one ailment can set off. The second most common reason for referring to the geriatric program assessment team was for social issues. Forty percent of the referrals identified that there were concerns in relation to social issues which clearly identifies that the emergency room medical team identified psychosocial issues as an area for further examination. And finally, the findings show psychosocial issues were not identified only after an outreach team clinician completed a comprehensive assessment, but that both appear cognizant of the interplay between medical issues and social issues.