Correlation between the bone mass, psychometric performances, and the levels of autonomy and autosufficiency in an elderly Italian population above 80 years of age

Studies on health in elderly observation centers (abbreviated from Italian: COSA): a multidimensional evaluation (MDE) of an elderly population frequenting a diurnal center in Catania

The worldwide progressive aging of the population forces us to reconsider the strategies of evaluation the effects of the geriatric "tsunami" on the health politics. The present study on the COSA (abbreviated from the Italian name: "Centro Osservazione Salute Anziani") has the aim to investigate the effects of a new form called Specialistic Geriatric Assistance on the already existing geriatric services in our territory, like UVG (Unità Valutazione Geriatrica), ADI (Assistenza Domiciliare Integrata), MMG (Medici di Medicina Generale). The present preliminary studies were carried out a group of elderly people frequenting the elderly day center "Villa Angela" located in Catania. We enrolled 42 subjects, 29 females and 13 males, in the age-range of 65-89 years (mean=73.6 years). An evaluation protocol was used for the participants, having two parts. The first part was a general one performing an accurate anamnestic examination, while the second part evaluated the cognitive and affective spheres, and the levels of autonomy and autosufficiency. The data obtained show that that the elderly population of the daily center "Villa Angela" in Catania is affected by numerous pathologies and comorbidities, which all increase the total risk of disabilities. The subjects use a high number of medicines (sometimes more than 10), which is not always justified by the pathologies found in them. Considering the functional profiles of the patients, the sanitary services offered to them are appropriate, because almost all of the elderly people were autonomous and autosufficient, having still adequate physical performances. The higher cognitive performance seemed to be reduced in more than 50% of the patients, showing almost always a slight or moderate deterioration. The depressive state measured by the GDS seemed to reach the deflection of joy of life 54.8%, while the established depression was detected in 12%. These results emphasize the importance of the functional psychogeriatric screening, which is able to reveal an early diagnosis of depression in the geriatric ages. For this, and many other motifs, we believe that these preliminary examinations suggest to organize at least one COSA available to our elderly people.

Osteoporosis treatment: marine algal compounds

Osteoporosis is one of the most common bone diseases that occur due to imbalance during bone formation and bone resorption. About half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture on the hip, wrist, or vertebra. Research and treatment of osteoporosis are challenging for researchers and physicians. There are several types of treatments for osteoporosis including most famous bisphosphonates, estrogen agonists/antagonists, parathyroid hormone, estrogen therapy, hormone therapy, and recently developed RANKL inhibition. In the recent days, much attention has been paid for marine algal extracts and compounds for osteoporosis treatment. In this chapter, we extensively deal with marine algae compounds and their rich mineral constituents for osteoporosis treatment.

In home or at home? How collective decision making in a new care facility enhances social interaction and wellbeing amongst older adults

Benevolent, long-term care can threaten older adults' sense of autonomy in a residential home environment. Increasing reliance on a hotel style of living has been seen to erode social identity, life satisfaction and even survival or lifespan. Drawing on evidence from both gerontological and social psychological literature, this paper examines the links between the empowerment of residents and their subsequent quality of life in the context of a move into a new care facility in a medium-sized town in South-West England. A longitudinal experiment was conducted during which 27 residents on one floor of a new facility were involved in decisions surrounding its décor, while those on another floor were not. The residents' attitudes and behaviour were monitored at three points over five months (four weeks pre-move, four weeks post-move, and four months post-move). Consistent with the social identity literature, members of the empowered group reported increased identification with staff and fellow residents in the new home, displayed enhanced citizenship, reported improved wellbeing, and made more use of the communal space. Moreover the staff found the empowered residents to be more engaged with their environment and the people around them, to be generally happier and to have better health. These patterns were observed one month after the move and remained four months later. Some implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Aging and environmental factors: an estimation of the health state of the elderly population residing in industrialized vs. rural areas

The possibilities have already been discussed that the environment of the living beings may influence the aging process, by causing alterations of the homeostatic capacities to such an extent that definitive pathologies will come into being. Therefore, the aim of the present study was at estimating the effective impact of the environmental pollution on the health state of the subjects residing in highly industrialized areas. For this purpose, we compared 2 populations over the age of 56 years, one from the industrialized areas and the other of agricultural character. The health indicator we utilized was the rate of hospitalization calculated for the main geriatric pathologies. It has been observed that among the residents of highly polluted areas, the hospitalizations were more frequent for the screened pathologies. This finding could be an indicator of an interference of the environmental pollution with the physiological process of aging. One can also suspect that for the cardiovascular pathologies also the factor of physical fatigue being more prevalent in the rural population might play an important role in the high occurrence of this type of diseases. On the basis of these findings we intend to emphasize that the sanitary programs of a given territory should consider in the development and application of a sanitary service the intrinsic characteristics of the given area, when designing the possibly most adequate health care service.

Relationship between the mandibular inferior cortex and bone stiffness in elderly Japanese people

SUMARRY: This study assessed the relationship between the mandibular inferior cortex (MIC) and bone stiffness in elderly Japanese subjects. Results suggest that MIC classification may be useful for screening patients for the possibility of osteoporosis by measuring bone stiffness with ultrasound bone densitometry.

INTRODUCTION

The prevention of fractures is a priority for patients with osteoporosis. Dental panoramic radiographs are frequently taken for the examination of teeth and jaws in general dental practice worldwide. This study assessed the relationship between the mandibular inferior cortex (MIC) and bone stiffness in elderly Japanese subjects.

METHODS

This study included 519 healthy subjects (263 men and 256 women) aged 70 years old. We evaluated the relationship between MIC classification and bone stiffness using Scheffe's multiple comparison test. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between MIC classification and bone stiffness after controlling for confounding factors.

RESULTS

A significant correlation was found between MIC classification and bone stiffness in men (C1 vs C2: p < 0.05) and women (C1 vs C2: p = NS, C1 vs C3: p < 0.01, C2 vs C3: p < 0.05). MIC classification was significantly associated with bone stiffness on multiple linear regression analysis after controlling for sex, body mass index, regular exercise, and smoking (beta = -0.11, p < 0.01, R(2) = 0.387, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that MIC classification may be useful for screening patients for the possibility of osteoporosis by measuring bone stiffness with ultrasound bone densitometry.