A glider swing intervention for people with dementia

The soothing, repetitive movement of rocking and swinging is well known to anyone who has enjoyed a porch swing or rocking chair. Positive effects of rocking have been reported. However, investigations on its effect in people with dementia are limited. The purposes of this quasi-experimental, repeated-measures design study were to measure the effects of a glider swing on emotions, relaxation, and aggressive behaviors in a group of nursing home residents with dementia (n = 30). Data were obtained during a 5-day baseline phase, a 10-day intervention phase, and a 5-day posttreatment phase. Subjects were placed on the glider for 20 minutes each day during the intervention phase. The results of the study indicate that the glider intervention significantly improved emotions and relaxation. The most noted changes were found after 10 minutes of swinging. However, no differences were found in aggressive behaviors.

Challenges of implementing intervention research in persons with dementia: example of a glider swing intervention

Intervention studies for persons with dementia present many challenges. This article describes challenges encountered in conducting a glider swing intervention study for persons with dementia and the strategies used to manage the problems encountered. The overall purpose of a quasi-experimental study was to explore the effects of a glider swing intervention on emotions, relaxation, and aggressive behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia. Suggestions for investigators conducting intervention studies for persons with dementia are provided.

Intake of fruits, vegetables, folic acid and related nutrients and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of fruit and vegetable consumption and dietary intake of folic acid and related nutrients such as methionine, cysteine and alcohol in the aetiology of breast cancer.

DESIGN

Population based case-control study.

SETTING

Part of the European Community Multicentre Study on Antioxidants, Myocardial Infarction, and Cancer of the Breast (EURAMIC) in Berlin, Germany.

SUBJECTS

As part of the EURAMIC study, dietary intake data were collected in 43 postmenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1991 and 1992 in Berlin, Germany, and compared to 106 population-based controls.

RESULTS

Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for major risk factors of breast cancer but not for total energy intake showed a non-significant inverse association between a high intake of vegetables (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.48-1.20) and fruits (OR=0.74, 95% CI=0.48-1.15) and breast cancer. Once results were adjusted for total energy intake the associations became much weaker (vegetables: R=0.86, 95% CI=0.51-1.46; fruits: OR=0.82, 95% CI=0.51-1.32). For all nutrients, the effect of energy adjustment was more profound and the inverse associations disappeared when results were adjusted for energy intake (total folate-not energy adjusted: OR = 0.79, 95% CI=0.51-1.21; energy adjusted: OR=1.14, 95% CI=0.73-1.79; folate equivalents-not energy adjusted: OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.53-1.23; energy adjusted: OR=1.16, 95% CI=0.78-1.74; methionine-not energy adjusted: OR=0.60, 95% CI=0.35-1.03; energy adjusted: OR=1.29, 95% CI=0.76-2.19; cysteine-not energy adjusted: OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.29-0.94; energy adjusted: OR=1.22, 95% CI=0.75-1.97). Alcohol intake was inversely associated with breast cancer in a non-significant way, possibly due to the relatively low alcohol intake of the study population.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study do not provide firm evidence that a high intake of fruits and vegetables, folic acid, methionine or cysteine reduces the risk of getting breast cancer.