Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Gender Differences In Episodic Memory In Later Life: The Mediating Role Of Education, Sara Robinson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the United States (U.S.), 14 million individuals aged 65+ are expected to be diagnosed with dementia by 2060, and women are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed. Low education is a well-established risk factor for dementia and is hypothesized to partly explain the gender differences in late-life cognition. However, few studies have investigated education as a mediator of these gender differences. This study aims to investigate education as a mediator of gender differences in episodic memory using longitudinal data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). I used a sample of 35,721 respondents (20,190 women and 15,531 …

Early Indicators Of Cognitive Dysfunction: The Role Of Mild Behavioral Impairment, Hillary J. Rouse

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Older age is associated with an increased risk for cognitively impairing diseases such as dementia. Despite significant research to find ways to cure this disease, there has been little success. However, a critical need when an intervention is discovered is a need to find ways to identify people who are at the greatest risk of developing dementia earlier in the disease process so that interventions can be implemented at that time. This could potentially lessen their risk or delay when they are diagnosed. Using longitudinal data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC), the aims of this current dissertation were …

Effects Of External Memory Aid Assessment And Treatment On Everyday Task Performance Of Individuals With Mild Neurocognitive Disorder, Alyssa M. Lanzi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with mild neurocognitive disorder complete many activities of daily living independently; however, they may require the use of compensatory strategies while performing everyday tasks. Compensatory strategies, such as external memory aids, incorporate a strengths-based approach to enhance the functional needs of individuals. Although external memory aids have a strong evidence-base, limited assessment tools and interventions are available to facilitate the development of individualized treatment plans that promote sustained strategy use. To better support the everyday needs of individuals with mild neurocognitive disorder and to inform clinicians who are developing interventions, the current dissertation includes four paper that examine a …

Selection Of Memory Book Content: Agreement In Content As A Function Of Informant Relationship To Memory Book Recipient, Rebecca J. Allen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine to what extent provision of personally relevant information and sensory cues would agree between Recipient and Informant for selection of memory book content. Six dyads married to each other an average of 29.17 years (SD = 10.03), between the ages of 43 and 70 years (Mean = 57; SD = 8.39), and cognitively competent (i.e., no diagnosis of cognitive impairment) participated. Participants completed questionnaires independently and provided personally relevant information/memories, aversions towards select memories/topics, and sensory cues on behalf of themselves (as “Recipient) and their spouse (as “Informant”). For provision of personally relevant information/memories, …

Hidden Markov Chain Analysis: Impact Of Misclassification On Effect Of Covariates In Disease Progression And Regression, Haritha Polisetti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Most of the chronic diseases have a well-known natural staging system through which the disease progression is interpreted. It is well established that the transition rates from one stage of disease to other stage can be modeled by multi state Markov models. But, it is also well known that the screening systems used to diagnose disease states may subject to error some times. In this study, a simulation study is conducted to illustrate the importance of addressing for misclassification in multi-state Markov models by evaluating and comparing the estimates for the disease progression Markov model with misclassification opposed to disease …

Embedded System Design For Real-Time Monitoring Of Solitary Embedded System Design For Real-Time Monitoring Of Solitary, Robert Philip O'Brien

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia cause cognitive disabilities in the afflicted person. As a result, the person with dementia often requires assistance from a primary caregiver. However, while the caregiver is away from the home they are unaware of the person's status and may not be able to find out without returning to the home due to dementia's effects on cognition.

In this thesis work, a system of embedded devices is presented which tracks a solitary dementia patient in the home in real-time. The system is composed of three main hardware components. Multiple passive and active sensors are …

Supporting Speech-Language Pathologist Evidence-Based Practice Use: A Mixed-Methods Study In Skilled Nursing Facilities Within The Promoting Action On Research Implementation In Health Services Framework, Natalie Franko Douglas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the management of dementia is a significant public health concern, efforts to increase access to effective treatments to a greater number of residents with dementia in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are warranted. The treatment addressed in this study, non-electronic external memory aids, is an evidence-based practice that has been found to increase positive communicative interactions and decrease negative behavioral problems of residents with dementia in SNFs.

Although use of memory aids is recommended, there are significant barriers such as lack of time and resources that inhibit the use of effective treatments in typical clinical settings. To address such barriers …

Sugar Consumption And Cognitive Aging In The Swedish Adoption/Twin Study Of Aging, Shyam Seetharaman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Consumption of foods high in sugar content has been linked with the development of metabolic abnormalities such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, major sources of global health concerns. Although the detrimental consequences of high intake of sugar on abnormal metabolic processes are established, it is not known how this association affects (or accelerates) cognitive aging.

The current project was based on data from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA) to test the hypothesis that high refined sugar intake contributes to accelerated trajectories of cognitive decline assessed longitudinally. Trajectories of cognitive change were assessed as a function …