Healthy Aging Promotion through Neuroscientific Information-Based Strategies

An Overview

Nowadays, China has rapidly progressed into an aging society and is faced with huge challenges on public health. Aging is accompanied by the structural and functional alterations in the brain, which leads to the cognitive decline in the elderly and acts as the primary risk factor for dementia. However, the aging brain has not been well understood at a systemic level. This chapter presents the definition of brain health, the aging situation in China, an overview of the BABRI, the purpose of writing this book, and the introductions of the chapters, respectively, which will contribute to knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of healthy and pathological aging of the brain.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile-Screener Questionnaire (T-Help-Screener)

Objective: Healthy ageing is associated with a healthy lifestyle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity, reliability, and cultural adaptation of the Turkish version of the Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile Screener (T-HELP-Screener). Methods: This study included 150 participants aged 65 years and above. Internal consistency of the T-HELP-Screener was measured using Kuder–Richardson. Test-retest reliability was performed with 66 of the 150 participants using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct validity of the T-HELP-Screener was analyzed with the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale-II (HLBS-II). Results: This study showed a substantially reliable level (Kuder–Richardson=0.72). The ICC for each of the T-HELP-Screener items ranged from 0.750 (95% CI = 0.590–0.847) to 0.965 (95% CI = 0.942–0.978) indicating acceptable to good test-retest reliability. There was a significant moderate correlation between the T-HELP-Screener and the HLBS-II (rs = 0.488; p =0.001). Conclusion: This study supports the psychometric properties of the T-HELP-Screener. This tool can help quickly identify older adults who need a more comprehensive assessment of their health risk behaviours. Future studies should develop and validate a Turkish version of the comprehensive 56-item Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP).

Frailty Level Monitoring and Analysis after a Pilot Six-Week Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Using the FRED Exergame Including Biofeedback Supervision in an Elderly Day Care Centre

Background: Frailty is a status of extreme vulnerability to endogenous and exogenous stressors exposing the individual to a higher risk of negative health-related outcomes. Exercise using interactive videos, known as exergames, is being increasingly used to increase physical activity by improving health and the physical function in elderly adults. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the reduction in the degree of frailty, the degree of independence in activities of daily living, the perception of one's state of health, safety and cardiac healthiness by the exercise done using FRED over a 6-week period in elderly day care centre. Material and Methods: Frail volunteers >65 years of age, with a score of <10 points (SPPB), took part in the study. A study group and a control group of 20 participants respectively were obtained. Following randomisation, the study group (20) took part in 18 sessions in total over 6 months, and biofeedback was recorded in each session. Results: After 6 weeks, 100% of patients from the control group continued evidencing frailty risk, whereas only 5% of patients from the study group did so, with p < 0.001 statistical significance. In the case of the EQ-VAS, the control group worsened (-12.63 points) whereas the study group improved (12.05 points). The Barthel Index showed an improvement in the study group after 6 weeks, with statistically significant evidence and a value of p < 0.003906. Safety compliance with the physical activity exceeded 87% and even improved as the days went by. Discussion: Our results stand out from those obtained by other authors in that FRED is an ad hoc-designed exergame, significantly reduced the presence and severity of frailty in a sample of sedentary elders, thus potentially modifying their risk profile. It in turn improves the degree of independence in activities of daily living and the perception of one's state of health, proving to be a safe and cardiac healthy exercise. Conclusions: The study undertaken confirms the fact that the FRED game proves to be a valid technological solution for reducing frailty risk. Based on the study conducted, the exergame may be considered an effective, safe and entertaining alternative.