Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-34).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2009.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 162 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. / Zimring, Craig, Committee Chair ; Kohl, Harold W., Committee Member ; Bafna, Sonit, Committee Member ; Sparling, Phillip, Committee Member ; Day, Kristen, Committee Member.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-134). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

The present study examined the use of manipulating activity presentation formats and the use of interactions to increase activity engagement in eight older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) living in a special care unit of a nursing home. Three experiments, each using an alternating treatments design, were conducted. Experiment 1 compared two sets of activities (i.e., standard and novel) on engagement. The set of activities that produced the highest mean percentage of engagement (novel activities) was used throughout the subsequent two experiments. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of three different activity presentation formats - providing single activities, providing activity choices, and providing multiple activities - on engagement. Results showed that providing multiple activities to participants produced the highest mean percentage of engagement when compared to providing a single activity or a choice of two activities. Experiment 3 assessed the effects of various levels of interactions on engagement. Minimal and typical amounts of interaction were provided to participants. Results from Experiment 3 revealed that engagement was higher when minimal interactions were provided for all participants than when a typical amount of interactions was provided. Results from these three experiments extended the literature on use of choice interventions and the amount of interactions to provide to nursing home residents in order to increase activity engagement. A behavior analytic account of the results is presented, implications are discussed, and future research in the area is recommended.

BACKGROUND: Dementia is the leading cause of dependence and disability in the elderly population worldwide. Effectively addressing the growing burden of dementia requires an understanding of the predictors of dementia in order to develop preventive strategies. Therefore, identifying potential associations between certain demographic and lifestyle characteristics and dementia may illuminate strategies for reducing the risk of dementia. This research analysis aims to highlight associations between demographic and lifestyle factors in midlife and dementia in later adulthood. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data that was collected as part of a longitudinal, prospective cohort study. Data from the Framingham offspring cohort was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model to examine the associations between the demographic and lifestyle characteristics and the risk of developing dementia. The multivariate analysis controlled for medical history factors that may also impact dementia risk. RESULTS: There were 2462 dementia-free participants (aged ≥ 40 and ≤ 65 years) at baseline at the time of the 2nd exam cycle, during which all demographic, lifestyle, and medical history factors were collected. During the follow-up period, 286 dementia events were observed (11% of participants). In univariate models, advanced age was significantly associated with an increased risk of dementia, while education level, alcohol use (vs. no use), and wine consumption demonstrated statistically significant protective effects against the development of dementia. After controlling for medical history in the multivariate model, older age remained a significant risk factor for dementia. CONCLUSION: This study supports established research regarding the relationship between advancing age and increased risk of dementia, and this significant association remained constant when controlling for factors such as gender and medical history. Further, the associations observed between alcohol consumption, and specifically wine, and dementia risk support continued research on alcohol use and its relationship with dementia; while these protective effects did not remain statistically significant in the multivariate model, other studies have observed significant associations between alcohol and dementia risk in adjusted analyses. Additional research would be helpful to further examine if there are any potential protective effects of alcohol, and determine whether consumption is a worthwhile preventative strategy. Overall, identifying potential risk factors for dementia is an important focus of study, due to the aging worldwide population, and the corresponding increasing significance of this disease. This analysis adds to the literature regarding the associations between certain demographic and lifestyle characteristics and the risk of dementia.

<p> In recent years, the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has increased. Autism is a cognitive impairment that affects the way people socialize and behave. Currently, treatments and services exist mostly for children, even though it is a lifelong disorder and those with it are living longer. Like autism, Alzheimer&rsquo;s affects a person&rsquo;s cognitive abilities, although its onset occurs much later in life. With the increased average lifespan due to technological advances, the number of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer&rsquo;s is expected to grow exponentially. There are many parallels between the two conditions, and research suggests that Autism may act as a buffer against Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease. This systematic literature review aims to better describe the link between autism and Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, which could further an understanding of each condition individually.</p><p>

<p>Functional Status in Hospitalized Senior Patients: Measurement, Prediction Models, and Cost-Saving Opportunities By Margaret A. Kornuszko-Story Abstract Seniors have declining functional ability which is made worse from immobility during hospitalization. Accountable providers have underestimated how addressing patient function can reduce costs and improve quality by reducing length of stay, readmissions, and discharges to skilled nursing facilities (SNF). This study conducted a budget impact analysis to determine potential cost savings associated with an early patient function assessment and mobility intervention. Binary logistic regression was employed to explore whether prediction models for discharge disposition and 30-day all-cause hospital readmissions can be improved with the addition of Ambulatory Measure Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) predictors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with process stakeholders to understand how function measurement and patient mobility can be supported in acute care facilities. Results indicated that acute care facilities in this Network would save a net of $6.4 million; and the Accountable Care Organization by reducing discharges to SNFs and readmissions would generate $4.6 million and $4.5 million respectively. AM-PAC Mobility and Self-Care scores are good predictors of discharge destination (C = 0.890), and while not significant predictors of readmission, improved the C-statistic from 0.792 to 0.811. All interviewees (n=13) stated that a culture of mobility is an important aspect for an early patient assessment and mobility intervention.

Submitted by Suelen Reis (suziy.ellen@gmail.com) on 2013-04-03T18:32:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucineide%20Silva.pdf: 531899 bytes, checksum: f4534bc1e91394986eede68ceec14723 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Meirelles(rodrigomei@ufba.br) on 2013-04-05T14:47:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucineide%20Silva.pdf: 531899 bytes, checksum: f4534bc1e91394986eede68ceec14723 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-05T14:47:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucineide%20Silva.pdf: 531899 bytes, checksum: f4534bc1e91394986eede68ceec14723 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / A Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (aids) tem acometido progressivamente homens e mulheres que estão na faixa etária de 50 a 59 anos. Neste sentido, é importante conhecer as representações sociais dessas pessoas, para melhor compreender suas vulnerabilidades à infecção pelo HIV e o modo como agem diante desta epidemia. Este estudo pautou-se nos seguintes objetivos: identificar situações de vulnerabilidade em relação ao HIV/aids entre homens e mulheres de 50 a 59 anos, soropositivos(as) e soronegativos(as); apreender as representações sociais desses sujeitos sobre aids e, conhecer as implicações das representações sociais para aids na vulnerabilidade desses indivíduos. O estudo é quantiqualitativo, com abordagem multimétodos, fundamentado na Teoria das Representações Sociais, gênero, geração e no conceito de vulnerabilidade proposto por Mann. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em Salvador/BA, tendo como sujeitos 85 homens e mulheres com 50 a 59 anos, soropositivos(as) e soronegativos(as) para o HIV, que compareceram entre os meses de dezembro/2005 a abril/2006 ao Centro de Referência Estadual em IST e aids. Os dados foram coletados através do Teste de Associação Livre de Palavras (TALP) e da entrevista semiestruturada, sendo os mesmos submetidos a análise fatorial de correspondência (AFC) e a análise de conteúdo temática, respectivamente. Para o TALP foram utilizados cinco estímulos indutores: aids, sexo, sexualidade, práticas sexuais e vulnerabilidade ao HIV/aids. As respostas foram processadas no software Tri-Deux-Mots, com as seguintes variáveis: sexo, opção sexual, escolaridade, idade, religião e condição sorológica para o HIV. A AFC demonstrou que só houve significância na oposição de respostas para as variáveis sexo e opção sexual. Na análise, evidenciou-se que os homens destacaram um aspecto social relacionado a aids (“preconceito”), enquanto que as mulheres enfatizaram os desconfortos orgânico e psicológico (“doença contagiosa” e “doença ruim”). Para os indivíduos que se declararam homossexuais e bissexuais, a aids remete aos aspectos negativos da doença, uma vez que esta é uma “doença contagiosa”, “incurável”, “ruim” e que causa “preocupação”. Os condicionantes de gênero e geracionais foram identificados nas representações sociais para o sexo, sexualidade e práticas sexuais, sendo estes representados por elas como “normal” e para eles como “prazer”. A soropositividade para o HIV representa para as mulheres o fim das atividades sexuais, entretanto, para os homens, não traz muitas repercussões na esfera da sexualidade. Grande parte dos sujeitos reconheceu o risco do “sexo desprotegido” e a importância da utilização da “camisinha”. Constatou-se que a maioria dos soronegativos não se percebe vulnerável ao HIV/aids, sobretudo, por considerar que esta é uma “doença de jovens”. As principais situações de vulnerabilidade ao HIV identificadas pelos sujeitos foram o excesso de confiança no(a) parceiro(a), a dificuldade de inserir o preservativo nas relações estáveis, relações sexuais desprotegidas com a “mulher da rua” e/ou com a “mulher de rua” e a participação em orgias. Diante dos achados, reafirma-se a importância das implicações das representações sociais na vulnerabilidade dos indivíduos que se encontram com idade entre 50 a 59 anos, sobretudo, para subsidiar atividades educativas e a formulação de políticas públicas para a prevenção e o controle da epidemia de HIV/aids nessa faixa etária. / Salvador