Supporting conversations between individuals with dementia and their family members.

Remembrance of recent events is a major problem for individuals with dementia. Consequently, this article explores the process of acceptance and integration of a digital photograph diary (DPD) as a tool for remembrance of and conversations about daily life events. A design for multiple case studies was used.

Characterization of the viral microbiome in patients with severe lower respiratory tract infections, using metagenomic sequencing.

The human respiratory tract is heavily exposed to microorganisms. Viral respiratory tract pathogens, like RSV, influenza and rhinoviruses cause major morbidity and mortality from respiratory tract disease. Furthermore, as viruses have limited means of transmission, viruses that cause pathogenicity in other tissues may be transmitted through the respiratory tract.

Vitamin B status and cognitive performance in preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease: data from the Kungsholmen Project.

Background/aims: The impact of vitamin B status on cognitive functioning in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is disputed. Using a population-based sample, we examined the associations of vitamin B(12) and folate with cognitive functioning in clinical (n = 44) and preclinical (n = 39) AD.

Methods: The groups were subdivided in terms of low (<200 pmol/l) versus normal levels of B(12) and low (<13 nmol/l) versus normal folate levels.

Cognitive functioning in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: further evidence for similar patterns of deficits.

The purpose of the present study was to examine possible differences in patterns of cognitive performance between population-based samples of Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 51) and vascular dementia (AD; n = 14) patients between 75 and 96 years of age. The two demented groups were comparable in age, years of education, gender distribution, and severity of dementia. The selection of cognitive tasks (letter and category fluency, Block design, Clock reading and setting, and episodic face recognition) was thought to address some of the inconsistencies in previous research.

Negligible effects of depression on verbal and spatial performance in Alzheimer's disease.

We examined whether a diagnosis of depression affects verbal and visuospatial performance in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using data from a population-based study, persons with AD and depression (AD/D), AD alone and a control group of normal older adults were compared in two tests of verbal ability (category and letter fluency) and two tests of visuospatial skill (block design and clock drawing). As expected, there were clear AD-related deficits across all cognitive tasks.

The relationship between signs of cardiovascular deficiency and cognitive performance in old age: a population-based study.

The influence of cardiovascular signs (CVS) on cognitive performance was examined in 227 older adults not suffering from dementia between 75 and 96 years of age who were sampled from the community. Participants received a comprehensive physical examination that included specific evaluation of current CVS, including dyspnea, cardiac murmur, and edema in lower limbs. They were administered tests of digit span, episodic recall and recognition, verbal fluency, and visuospatial skill.

Depression does not aggravate the episodic memory deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In a population-based study of persons between 75 and 96 years of age, normal old adults (n = 296), patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 45), and patients with concomitant AD and depression (AD-D; n = 9) were compared on free recall and recognition of slowly and rapidly presented words and digit span. With the exception of forward digit span, the normal old group outperformed the 2 AD groups across all tasks. In free recall, only the normal old group performed better as task pacing decreased; however, all groups benefited from more study time in recognition.