Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing
Year:2009 | Volume:4 | Issue:12|Papers Count:9

Objective: This study aimed to identify elderly fal1ersand non-fallers by balance test under dual tasks conditions.Materials & Methods: This study was an analyze - comparative study. Subjects were from three park of Tehran. Subjects were 20 older adults without history of fal1s (aged 75.95±6.28 years) and 21 older adults with a history of 2 or more falls in the previous one year (aged 72.50±7.31 Years). All subjects performed Timed Up & Go test under 3 conditions (Timed Up & Go, Timed Up & Go with numbers counter randomly [TUG cognitive], and Timed Up & Go while carrying a full cup of water [TUG manual]). A multivariate analysis of variance and logistic regression analyses were performed.Results: The results showed significant difference between elderly fallers and non-fallers in fall risk composed dependent variable (P=0.0005), as the non-fallers had greater score than the elderly fallers.Also, results showed that TUG cognitive has prediction capacity of elderly fall (p=0.013).Conclusion: Consequently, balance under cognitive dual task conditions could be useful method in identification of risk of falling and planning dual task exercise program and physiotherapy to prevent falls.

Objective: The current study was performed to investigate the relationship between mental impairment and each component of activity of daily living (ADL) in elderly residents of the Kahrizak Charity Foundation.Materials & Methods: Standardized Iranian Mini Mental examination and Barthel index were used to assest cognitive status and ADL in 184 elderly residents of Kahrizak, respectively.Results: Data showed that 31.7% of participants had normal cognitive status and 63.3% had cognitive impairment. There was significant relationship between cognitive status and ADL after adjustment for confounding factors (P=0.01, r=0.2). By using multiple logistic regression analysis, the relation between cognitive impairment and functional status was examined (P=0.05). Odd ratio of functional disability showed an increasing trend with increasing severity of cognitive impairment [Odd Ratio (OR) mild cognitive impairment: 1.13, Confidence Interval (CI): 0.54-2.37; OR moderate to severe cognitive impairment: 3.67, CI: 0.39-34.35]. Regarding the relation between Barthel components and cognitive status it was showed that there was a significant association between independent bathing and cognitive status (OR: 2.33, CI: 1.14- 4.72) as well as movement ability with cognitive impairment [OR: 2.96, CI: 1.30-6.75].Conclusion: Cognitive status can be a predictive factor of ADL in elderly subjects.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to consider the effect of eight weeks aerobic training on PTH, albumin, calcium, alkaline phosphates and estrogen levels in postmenopausal women.Materials & Methods: 22 postmenopause women, 55-70 years, of Jahandidegan center in Tehran were selected and randomly divided into two groups: (experimental (12) and control (10)). They had aerobic training program included 8 weeks jogging and aerobic movement with 60-70% MHR intensity, 3 times per week. Fasting blood samples were collected 24 hour before and after training. Serum PTH and estradiol were measured by an enzyme link immonosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum calcium was estimated by using photometric test (CPC); Serum ALP was measured by using kinetic photometric test. Independed and paired t test were used to analyze data.Results: The results showed that PTH and alkaline phosphates increased significantly after aerobic training (P£0.05). Calcium and albumin concentration decreased but not significantly (p³0.05). Estrogen concentration did not significantly (p³0.05) decrease.Conclusion: Increased PTH and alkaline phosphates concentrations, along with nonsignificant decrease in estrogen level seem to promote anabolic process of bone formation. The result of this study supports the possible positive effect of physical activity on bone metabolism.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effect of w-3 fatty acids on lipid profiles, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B, fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance in a group of Iranian elderly subjects.Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial, 124 elderly residents of the Kahrizak Charity Foundation aged 65 and older was divided into two intervention (consumption of 1gram per day of fish oil) and control (consumption of placebo) groups. Blood sampling was done at the baseline and at the end of the study.Results: After 6 months, TG and apo A-1 increased significantly (p=0.01 and p=0.02, respectively) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly in the control group (P=0.009). Overall and comparative effects of fish oil were positively significant (P=0.02).Conclusion: Fish oil intake can be effective in reduction of serum triglycerides in elderly.

Objective: In this study, the relation of late-life body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference with incident dementia risk was investigated in a group of iranian elderly peopel.Materials & Methods: In cross-sectional present study 107 elderly residents of the Kahrizak Charity Foundation aged 80 and older were participated.Dementia was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was computed by weight (kg)/height (m2).Results: In a multivariate logistic regression model, late-life overweight was indicated an independent and significant protective factor against developing dementia (Odd Ratio: 0.24, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.06-0.93), also there was no significant association between waist circumference and risk of dementia incident.Conclusion: Overweight in late-life was shown as a protective factor against incident dementia risk incident.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the inter-relationships between C-reactive protein, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease among a group of Iranian elderly.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 122 elderly among 1220 aged residents of Kahrizak Charity foundation with average age of 73.6±9.71 were studied. Metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease were defined according to the criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III and an estimated glomerular filtration rate<60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. C-reactive protein³3 mg/dl was considered as a high CRP.Results: Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease was 82.9%, (59.3%) in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome, respectively (p<0.006).Subjects with metabolic syndrome and high C-reactive protein had 1.71-fold greater odds of having Chronic Kidney Disease.Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was a risk factor for chronic kidney disease in elderly people of this study. The odds of chronic kidney disease also increased significantly in presence of high C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare spatio-temporal gait parameters between elderly and young male subjects.Materials & Methods: 57 able-bodied elderly (72±5.5 years) and 57 healthy young (25±8.5 years) subjects participated in this study. A four segment model consists of trunk, hip, shank, and foot with 10 reflective markers were used to define lower limbs. Kinematic data collected using four high speed video based cameras at a sampling frequency of 90 Hz. The t-test for independent samples (a£0.05) applied for statistical analysis.Results: Significant differences showed longer stance phase (2%), longer push-of time (4%), slower cadence (13%), slower speed (28%) and shorter step length (15%) for elderly in comparison with young subjects, though no significant differences were seen in double support time between two groups.Conclusion: Due to results, spatio-temporal changes are mainly attributed to the age-related decreases in muscular flexibility, joints' ranges of motion and neuromuscular control in elderly people.

Objective: The object of this research was to investigate the «quality of life» and relation to demographic characteristics in elderly people of Tehran.Materials & Methods: the method of this research was a descriptive-correlation. In this research 243 of elder were selected with accessible sampling from people who referred to elder centers, cultural centers, and public parks in deferent districts of Tehran. The instruments were "demographic characteristics" and "quality of life questionnaire" (WHOQOL-BREF). in order to analyze data, descriptive statistics and stepwise regression were used.Results: In this research 134 male and 109 female were participated and their mean age was 71/41. Results of regression showed that in physical health, mental health and social relationships, good family relations was a positive predictor and in sequence physical illness, mental illness and weak family relations were predictors of decreasing scores. In environment domain, good economic status was a predictive factor of increasing scores and weak family relations was predictor of decreasing scores.Conclusion: according to data it's clarified that family relations is one of the most effective factors on various domains in quality of life.