Postural instability and the condition of physical frailty in the elderly

Frailty and Parkinson's disease: the role of diabetes mellitus

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease associated with a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, clinically characterized by motor and non-motor signs. Frailty is a clinical condition of increased vulnerability and negative health outcomes due to the loss of multiple physiological reserves. Chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, which characterize diabetes mellitus (DM), have been reported to alter dopaminergic activity, increase the risk of PD, and influence the development of frailty. Even though diabetes may facilitate the development of frailty in patients with PD, this relationship is not established and a revision of the current knowledge is necessary. Furthermore, the synergy between DM, PD, and frailty may drive clinical complexity, worse outcomes, and under-representation of these populations in the research. In this review, we aimed to discuss the role of diabetes in the development of frailty among patients with PD. We summarized the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with concomitant DM, PD, and frailty. Finally, interventions to prevent frailty in this population are discussed.

Correlation among sleep quality, physical frailty and cognitive function of the older adults in China: the mediating role

Objective

To explore the correlation among sleep quality, physical frailty, and cognitive function in the older adults in community, and to explore the mediating role of sleep quality.

Methods

A total of 1,182 community-based older adults were investigated with frailty phenotype (FP), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PISQI), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and self-made general information questionnaire.

Results

The incidence of physical frailty among the older adults in the community was 25.8% and the incidence of cognitive decline was 19.5%. Cognitive function was negatively correlated with physical frailty (r = -0.236, p < 0.01) and sleep quality (r = -0.558, p < 0.01). Sleep quality was positively correlated with physical frailty (r = 0.337, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The physical frailty of the older adults has a direct prediction effect on cognitive function, and is regulated by the mediating role of sleep quality. Sleep quality partially mediates the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and physical frailty, which is a new insight into the study of cognition and physical frailty in the older adults. In the future, we can take measures to improve the sleep quality of the older adults, so as to reduce the occurrence of cognitive dysfunction and physical frailty of the older adults.

The effects of activities of daily living education on the independence and life satisfaction of elders

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of education on the independence levels and life satisfaction (LS) of the elderly in their activities of daily living (ADL).

FINDINGS

The level of independence in maintaining the ADLs of the elderly in the intervention group that received training increased compared to the elderly group that was not trained. LS increased in the intervention group that received training. the number of education is an effective factor in LS. As the number of education increased, the level of LS increased in the intervention group.

CONCLUSION

There is a linear relationship between independence in maintaining ADLs and LS in the elderly, and as the level of independence increases in the elderly, their LS also increases. In the study, there is a significant relationship between ADL and LS before and after education, and education high affected activity levels and LS.