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Predictive Abilities Of Neuropsychological Measures On Functional Outcomes In The Mild Cognitive Impairment (Mci) And Dementia Populations, Morgan Bare

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

During the aging process, a decline in ability to perform everyday tasks is commonly observed. This is increasingly so for those with dementia and is a diagnostic requirement. These daily tasks require certain cognitive skills which can be measured by various neuropsychological measures. The purpose of this study is to examine which neuropsychological measures are able to detect various deficits in self-reported activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. It is hypothesized that Trail Making Test– B (TMT-B) would be the most sensitive predictor in functional …

The Relationship Between Insomnia, Sleep Continuity Disturbance, Sleep-Related Daytime Dysfunction, Problem Endorsement, And Aging In A Community-Based Sample, Julia T. Boyle

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Although older adults experience greater difficulty initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, or waking up earlier than intended, they are less likely to report that they perceive this to be a problem. The discordance between sleep disorder symptoms and the reported perception that they are troubling is unusually prevalent among older adults. This may be problematic, in that individuals who do not perceive their sleep continuity disturbances (SCDs; difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up earlier than intended) to be problems are less likely to seek treatment. Untreated SCD has been shown to be a risk factor for the development or …

Does The Administration Of Curcumin, Compared To Placebo, Change Cognitive Function In Adults Older Than 40?, Rachel L. Hawkins

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of curcumin, versus a placebo, is effective in changing cognitive function.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 randomized control trials with blinding in English from 2008 to present.

DATA SOURCES: Articles were selected from Cochrane and PubMed databases based on relevance to the selected research question and patient-centered outcomes.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: The outcome measured is cognitive change, evaluated by mean score changes in the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

RESULTS: Two of the studies demonstrated no change in cognitive …

Do Stimulant-Type Drugs Help Improve Cognitive Function And Apathy In Geriatric Patients?, Jacquelyn Menarde

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not stimulant type medications help to improve cognitive function and apathy in geriatric patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three English language primary studies published in 2001 and 2008.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials and one individual randomized control trial comparing methylphenidate administration to placebo for improvement in cognitive function and apathetic mood in elderly patients were obtained using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Clinical outcomes of apathy were measured according to the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating …