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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Prospective Studies Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kevin Sullivan Aug 2017

Prospective Studies Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kevin Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The association of cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, kidney function, and arterial stiffness with cognitive impairment in older adults is a well-studied phenomenon. However, there is considerably less evidence relating cardiovascular health specifically to a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). As a precursor state of dementia, MCI is characterized by a decline in cognitive function from previous level, but not to the degree that activities of daily living are impaired. Not everyone who is diagnosed with MCI will eventually transition to dementia, but the transition rates are much higher compared to the general population (5-15% per year …


Exploring Memory Impairment In A Rural Community In Tanzania: Trends And Reflections, Amanda Barry Apr 2017

Exploring Memory Impairment In A Rural Community In Tanzania: Trends And Reflections, Amanda Barry

Student Symposium

The researchers traveled to Tanzania in January of 2017. For two weeks they traveled to various Masaai villages around the town of Arusha. Mini-mental status exams were administered to 46 individuals ranging in age from 40-101 years. For those participants whose scores reflected possible memory impairment, family members or close friends were then administered a semi-structured interview to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the individual's life and cognitive function. The data collection process was directly affected by cultural differences between the United States (where the materials were developed) and Tanzania (where the materials were applied). This effect, although it …


Communicative Behaviors Elicited By Leisure Activities In Memory Care Units, Tarynn Clune Feb 2017

Communicative Behaviors Elicited By Leisure Activities In Memory Care Units, Tarynn Clune

Honors Projects

A wide variety of leisure activities used in reminiscence care have been studied for their merits in terms of preventing cognitive decline, and increasing quality of life; however, little is known about what different types have to offer in terms of communicative opportunities. Communication with peers is imperative for quality of life, and is crucial for maintenance of relationships between the person with dementia (PWD) and their loved ones. As a result of this importance, an exploration of communication elicited by different activities facilitated in a unit was conducted. The communication explored in this study was solely vocal, and included …