Smartphone technology for fostering goal-directed ambulation and object use in people with moderate Alzheimer's disease.

This study was aimed at assessing a smartphone-based intervention to help 11 individuals with moderate Alzheimer's disease and ambulation problems to manage goal-directed, walker-assisted ambulation and object use (i.e., to reach specific destinations and put away objects at those destinations independently).

Smartphone-Based Interventions to Foster Simple Activity and Personal Satisfaction in People With Advanced Alzheimer's Disease.

Objectives: This study assessed a smartphone-based program to promote practical and mildly demanding arm responses and personal satisfaction and increase physical exertion (heart rates) in people with advanced Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: The program relied on a Samsung Galaxy A3 smartphone with Android 6.0 operating system.

Technology-Based Behavioral Interventions for Daily Activities and Supported Ambulation in People With Alzheimer's Disease.

Objectives: These 2 studies evaluated technology-based behavioral interventions for promoting daily activities and supported ambulation in people with mild-to-moderate and moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease, respectively.

Methods: Study 1 included 8 participants who were taught to start and carry out daily activities on their own using a tablet or smartphone device, which provided activity reminders, step instructions, and praise. Study 2 included 9 participants who were taught to engage in brief periods of ambulation using a walker combined with a tilt microswitch and a notebook computer, which monitored step responses and provided stimulation and prompts.

Supporting Simple Activity Engagement in Persons With Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease Through a Technology-Aided Program.

Objectives: These 2 studies assessed a technology-aided program to support mild physical exercise or simple occupational activity in participants with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Study 1 included 11 participants who were to perform a leg-raising response. Study 2 included 10 participants who were to sort objects into different containers.

Promoting supported ambulation in persons with advanced Alzheimer's disease: a pilot study.

Purpose: This study assessed the effects of an intervention program, which combined the use of a walker with assistive technology, on the ambulation and indices of positive involvement of persons with advanced Alzheimer's disease. A social validation assessment of the program was also carried out.

Method: The study included 10 participants with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease and inability to walk independently.

Italians do it worse. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) optimal cut-off scores for people with probable Alzheimer's disease and with probable cognitive impairment.

Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) is a test providing a brief screening for people with cognitive impairment due to aging or neurodegenerative syndromes. In Italy, as in the rest of the world, several validation studies of MoCA have been carried out. This study compared, for the first time in Italy, a sample of people with probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD) with healthy counterparts.

The Sarah evaluation scale for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: description and results.

Background: Assessments of motor-functional aspects in cerebral palsy are crucial to rehabilitation programs.

Objective: To introduce the Sarah motor-functional evaluation scale and to report the initial results of its measurement properties. This scale was created based on the experience of the Sarah Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals in the care of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase as predictors of cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A prospective observational study.

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) may be related to the systemic inflammatory response and an increase in serum markers of brain injury such as S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the association between POCD and serum levels of S100B and NSE after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Persons With Advanced Alzheimer's Disease Engage in Mild Leg Exercise Supported by Technology-Aided Stimulation and Prompts.

This study assessed whether nine persons with advanced Alzheimer's disease would learn to engage in leg responses (exercise) with the support of a technology-aided program, which provided (a) preferred stimulation contingent on the leg responses and (b) verbal reminders/prompts in case of no responding. The study was conducted according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants and involved sessions of 5 min. During the baseline, the participants' mean frequencies of leg responses ranged from zero to slightly above two per session.

Technology-Aided Programs to Support Positive Verbal and Physical Engagement in Persons with Moderate or Severe Alzheimer's Disease.

Pilot studies using technology-aided programs to promote verbal reminiscence and mild physical activity (i.e., positive forms of engagement) in persons with moderate or severe Alzheimer's disease have provided promising results (Lancioni et al.

Persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease use simple technology aids to manage daily activities and leisure occupation.

Two studies assessed technology-aided programs to support performance of daily activities and selection/activation of music items with patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease. In Study I, four patients were presented with activity-related pictorial instructions via a computer fitted with inexpensive, commercial software. In Study II, four patients were (a) presented with different music options and (b) allowed to select and activate the preferred option via a microswitch response.

Supporting daily activities and indoor travel of persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease through standard technology resources.

These two studies were aimed at evaluating standard technology resources for supporting activity and travel among patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, Study I assessed a pictorial instruction program relying on the use of a portable computer and a commercially available and inexpensive video editing software for supporting the performance of daily activities with three patients. Study II assessed the indoor travel performance of four patients (i.

Self-regulated music stimulation for persons with Alzheimer's disease: impact assessment and social validation.

Objective: To assess the impact and the social rating of an active music condition (in which 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease regulated their music input) vs. a passive music condition.

Method: In the active condition, the patients used a simple hand response and a microswitch to activate music stimulation periods.

Assessing the impact and social perception of self-regulated music stimulation with patients with Alzheimer's disease.

We assessed the impact and social rating of an active and a passive music condition implemented with six patients with Alzheimer's disease. In the active condition, the patients used a simple hand response and a microswitch to self-regulate music stimulation inputs. In the passive condition, music stimulation was automatically presented throughout the sessions.

Persons with Alzheimer's disease make phone calls independently using a computer-aided telephone system.

This study assessed whether four patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease could make independent phone calls via a computer-aided telephone system. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. All participants started with baseline during which the telephone system was not available, and continued with intervention in which such system was used.

Technology-aided pictorial cues to support the performance of daily activities by persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease.

We developed a technology-aided intervention strategy relying on pictorial cues alone or in combination with verbal instructions and assessed these two versions of the strategy with three persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease. In Section I of the study, the strategy version with pictorial cues plus verbal instructions was compared with an existing technology-based strategy with verbal instructions. Each strategy was used with one specific activity.

Change in platelet count in patients with hypersplenism subjected to liver transplantation.

Context: Most patients subjected to liver transplantation presents hypersplenism, which is reversed after the operation. However, some patients remain with moderate to intense hypersplenism.

Objectives: To study the effect of liver transplantation on platelet count in patients with hypersplenism.

Persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease use a basic orientation technology to travel to different rooms within a day center.

This study assessed whether three patients with Alzheimer's disease could learn to use a basic orientation technology to reach different rooms within a day center. At each travel instance, the technology provided verbal messages (cues) from the room to reach. For the first two patients, the messages were presented at intervals of about 15s.

Technology-aided verbal instructions to help persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities.

These two studies extended previous research on the use of verbal instructions and support technology for helping persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities. Study I included seven participants who were to carry out one of two previously targeted activities (i.e.

Persons with Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities using verbal-instruction technology: a maintenance assessment.

Objective: To assess whether verbal-instruction technology could help persons with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease maintain their recaptured performance of daily activities.

Methods: This study followed nine patients who had participated in previous studies aimed at helping them recapture one or more functional daily activities (i.e.

Visuospatial attention disturbance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Aim: The cognitive deficits present in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are not yet well characterized. Attention, considered to be the brain mechanism responsible for the selection of sensory stimuli, could be disturbed in DMD, contributing, at least partially, to the observed global cognitive deficit. The aim of this study was to investigate attentional function in individuals with DMD.

Persons with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease use verbal-instruction technology to manage daily activities: effects on performance and mood.

Objective: To extend the evaluation of verbal-instruction technology for helping persons with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease recapture daily activities and improve their mood.

Methods: Two studies targeted two activities (i.e.

Persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease improve activities and mood via instruction technology.

Background: Three studies assessed the (a) effectiveness of verbal instructions presented via technology in helping persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities and (b) impact of activity engagement on mood.

Methods: The 3 studies targeted coffee preparation with 2 women, use of make-up with 2 women, and use of make-up and tea preparation with 3 women. Intervention effects on activity performance were assessed through nonconcurrent multiple baseline designs across participants or multiple baseline designs across activities.

Persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease managing daily activities via verbal instruction technology.

Four studies assessed the effectiveness of verbal instructions presented via technology in helping persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities. The first 2 studies were replication efforts concerning morning bathroom routine and table setting and included 4 and 2 participants, respectively. The third study targeted coffee preparation with 3 participants.

Helping persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease recapture basic daily activities through the use of an instruction strategy.

Purpose: The present three pilot studies assessed the effectiveness of verbal instructions, presented automatically through simple technology, in helping persons with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease recapture basic daily activities. The activities were morning bathroom routine, dressing, and table-setting.

Method: The studies that focused on morning bathroom routine and on table-setting included three participants each, while the study that focused on dressing involved four participants.