Publications by authors named "Alexandra E Jacob"
Article Synopsis
- - Cognitive impairment is prevalent in adults with heart failure (HF) and can lead to worse health outcomes, but the specific pattern of cognitive decline following a first HF hospitalization had not been thoroughly studied.
- - In a study involving nearly 24,000 participants aged 45 and older, those who experienced HF hospitalization showed a more rapid decline in overall cognitive function (measured by the Six-Item Screener) over five years compared to those without HF hospitalization, even after accounting for other factors.
- - However, this faster cognitive decline was not observed in specific memory tasks (Word List Learning and Delayed Recall), suggesting that while general cognitive health is affected by HF hospitalization, certain cognitive domains may remain relatively stable.
Many people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) experience cognitive decline that impairs everyday functioning. Cognitive training approaches, such as speed of processing (SOP) training, may reduce the impact of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) on everyday functioning. In this experimental design study called the Think Fast Study, 216 participants age 40 and older with HAND or borderline HAND were randomized to one of three groups: (1) 10 h of SOP training ( = 70); (2) 20 h of SOP training ( = 73); or (3) 10 h of Internet Navigation Control Training (a contact control group; = 73).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeople with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) are at an increased risk for impaired everyday functioning and they may also experience poor awareness of their functional status. This study identified factors associated with (1) subjective and objective instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and (2) awareness of functional capacity in PWH. In this cross-sectional study, 236 PWH completed a neurobehavioral assessment, including self-report and performance-based measures of IADLs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The present study evaluated changes in stress and loneliness among participants with obesity engaged in weight loss self-management in the United States (US) during COVID-19, and identified factors that may increase risk or protect against psychosocial distress during this time.
Design: Participants who were enrolled in a weight self-management program prior to the COVID-19 pandemic ( = 55, 91% female, 36% Caucasian, mean age = 49.8 years) completed an online survey about social, economic and health behaviour changes during COVID-19 and their relationship to changes in perceived stress and loneliness.
Objective: Functional movement disorders (FMDs) mimic a range of movements, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders known to have smell dysfunction, which has been neglected in terms of its application to FMD. We aim to determine the smell status in FMD patients tested by a non-invasive, reliable and validated olfactory test.
Patients And Methods: We quantitatively assessed in thirty-five FMD patients their smell status and compared it to that of healthy age- and sex-matched controls, and of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Background: Functional movement disorders (FMDs) are conditions of abnormal motor control thought to be caused by psychological factors. These disorders are commonly seen in neurologic practice, and prognosis is often poor. No consensus treatment guidelines have been established; however, the role of physical therapy in addition to psychotherapy has increasingly been recognized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: One percent of women experience bipolar disorder and are likely to suffer from mood disorders during the postpartum period, potentially impacting interaction with their infants. The purpose of this study was to describe maternal-infant interactions in women with bipolar depression at 12 months postpartum and to compare interactions to women with unipolar depression and a control group.
Methods: Using a descriptive design, maternal-infant interactions in women with bipolar disorder (n=40) were videotaped, coded, and analyzed for maternal sensitivity and maternal-infant reciprocity and compared to maternal-infant interaction in women with unipolar depression (n=50) and women without depression (n=40).