Association of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Insulin with Cognitive Performance and CSF Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Abnormal insulin signaling in the brain has been linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: To evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) insulin levels are associated with cognitive performance and CSF amyloid-β and Tau. Additionally, we explore whether any such association differs by sex or APOE ɛ4 genotype.

Measurement properties of the EQ-5D across four major geriatric conditions: Findings from TOPICS-MDS.

Background: As populations age, chronic geriatric conditions linked to progressive organ failure jeopardize health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Thus, this research assessed the validity and applicability of the EQ-5D (a common HRQoL instrument) across four major chronic geriatric conditions: hearing issues, joint damage, urinary incontinence, or dizziness with falls.

Methods: The study sample comprised 25,637 community-dwelling persons aged 65 years and older residing in the Netherlands (Data source: TOPICS-MDS, www.

Rasch analysis reveals comparative analyses of activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living summary scores from different residential settings is inappropriate.

Objectives: To internally validate a 15-item dichotomous activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) index.

Study Design And Setting: Data were extracted from The Older Persons and Informal Caregivers Survey Minimum DataSet (TOPICS-MDS). Using Rasch modeling, six aspects of the ADL/IADL scale were assessed: (1) overall fit, (2) internal consistency, (3) individual item and person fit, (4) local dependency, (5) targeting, and (6) differential item functioning (DIF) (RUMM 2030).

The Dutch Parelsnoer Institute--Neurodegenerative diseases; methods, design and baseline results.

Background: The Parelsnoer Institute is a collaboration between 8 Dutch University Medical Centers in which clinical data and biomaterials from patients suffering from chronic diseases (so called "Pearls") are collected according to harmonized protocols. The Pearl Neurodegenerative Diseases focuses on the role of biomarkers in the early diagnosis, differential diagnosis and in monitoring the course of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease. The objective of this paper is to describe the design and methods of the Pearl Neurodegenerative Diseases, as well as baseline descriptive variables, including their biomarker profile.

Development and evidence base of a new efficient assessment instrument for international use by nurses in community settings with older people.

In a world where 12% of the population, and 22% of that of more developed regions, will be older than 65 years by 2030, new targeted programs and social protections will be needed for older people in many countries. As economic and human resources become more scarce, efficient instruments are needed to realize sustainable health care for these large populations of older subjects. To address this need a new assessment instrument was developed.

Dementia: Alzheimer pathology and vascular factors: from mutually exclusive to interaction.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. Both its incidence and prevalence are expected to increase exponentially as populations' age worldwide. Despite impressive efforts of research worldwide, neither cure nor effective preventive strategy is available for this devastating disease.

A new combined strategy to implement a community occupational therapy intervention: designing a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Even effective interventions for people with dementia and their caregivers require specific implementation efforts. A pilot study showed that the highly effective community occupational therapy in dementia (COTiD) program was not implemented optimally due to various barriers. To decrease these barriers and make implementation of the program more effective a combined implementation (CI) strategy was developed.

Oscillations in cerebral blood flow and cortical oxygenation in Alzheimer's disease.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) cerebrovascular function is at risk. Transcranial Doppler, near-infrared spectroscopy, and photoplethysmography are noninvasive methods to continuously measure changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), cerebral cortical oxygenated hemoglobin (O(2)Hb), and blood pressure (BP). In 21 patients with mild to moderate AD and 20 age-matched controls, we investigated how oscillations in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and O(2)Hb are associated with spontaneous and induced oscillations in blood pressure (BP) at the very low (VLF = 0.

Effect of fish oil supplementation on quality of life in a general population of older Dutch subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on quality of life (QOL).

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Independently living individuals from the general older Dutch population.

Effects of community occupational therapy on quality of life, mood, and health status in dementia patients and their caregivers: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cure of dementia is not possible, but quality of life of patients and caregivers can be improved. Our aim is to investigate effects of community occupational therapy on dementia patients' and caregivers' quality of life, mood, and health status and caregivers' sense of control over life.

Methods: Community-dwelling patients aged 65 years or older, with mild-to-moderate dementia, and their informal caregivers (n = 135 couples of patients with their caregivers) were randomly assigned to 10 sessions of occupational therapy over 5 weeks or no intervention.

Non-cardiovascular co-morbidity in elderly patients with heart failure outnumbers cardiovascular co-morbidity.

Background: Patients with heart failure often suffer from multiple co-morbid conditions. However, until now only cardiovascular co-morbidity has been well described.

Aims: To understand heart failure in the context of multi-morbidity, by describing the age and sex specific patterns of non-cardiovascular co-morbidity in elderly patients with heart failure in general practice.