Best practice in dementia health care: Key clinical practice pointers from a national conference and innovative opportunities for pharmacy practice.

Objective: Sub-optimal care of people living with dementia has serious consequences for older populations. The 2021 Australian Royal Commission noted that a large proportion of older adults in aged care live with dementia, yet there are limitations in the knowledge and understanding of staff who care for them. In the pursuit of educating pharmacists, physicians, allied health care professionals, researchers, academics, people living with dementia and their carers, and the public, who are facing the challenges of dementia management, the 'Best Practice in Dementia Health Care' conference was held on November 10, 2022 at Western Health (Sunshine Hospital, Melbourne, Australia).

Classification of Fracture Risk in Fallers Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Images and Deep Learning-Based Feature Extraction.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans are one of the most frequently used imaging techniques for calculating bone mineral density, yet calculating fracture risk using DXA image features is rarely performed. The objective of this study was to combine deep neural networks, together with DXA images and patient clinical information, to evaluate fracture risk in a cohort of adults with at least one known fall and age-matched healthy controls. DXA images of the entire body as, well as isolated images of the hip, forearm, and spine (1488 total), were obtained from 478 fallers and 48 non-faller controls.

Exploring new balance and gait factors that are associated with osteosarcopenia in patients with a previous fall and/or fracture history.

Osteosarcopenic individuals have poor muscle function and increased bone fragility, which results in a severe detriment to health outcomes. Hence, there is a necessity to discover easily accessible factors associated with osteosarcopenia to develop timely interventions. This study aimed to determine new sensitive balance and/or gait variables that are associated with osteosarcopenia in a population of older people with a history of falls and/or fractures.

Diagnostic power of relative sit-to-stand muscle power, grip strength, and gait speed for identifying a history of recurrent falls and fractures in older adults.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic value of relative sit-to-stand muscle power with grip strength or gait speed for identifying a history of recurrent falls and fractures in older adults.

Methods: Data from an outpatient clinic included anthropometry (height/weight), bone density, 5 times sit-to-stand time (stopwatch and standardized chair), grip strength (hydraulic dynamometer), and gait speed (4 m). Relative sit-to-stand muscle power (W.

Comparing the Fracture Profile of Osteosarcopenic Older Adults with Osteopenia/Osteoporosis Alone.

Purpose: To determine whether osteosarcopenia is associated with a greater likelihood of recurrent fractures, as well as type of fracture, than osteopenia/osteoporosis or sarcopenia alone.

Methods: Anthropometry (height/weight; scales and stadiometer), body composition (bone mineral density [BMD] and appendicular lean mass; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), grip strength (hydraulic dynamometer), and gait speed (4 m) were measured in an outpatient clinic. WHO definition for osteopenia/osteoporosis (BMD T-score below -1 SDs) while sarcopenia was defined by SDOC or EWGSOP2.

Serum levels of C-Terminal Telopeptide (CTX) are Associated with Muscle Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Markers of bone metabolism have been associated with muscle mass and function. Whether serum cross-linked C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX) is also associated with these measures in older adults remains unknown.

Methods: In community-dwelling older adults at high risk of falls and fractures, serum CTX (biochemical immunoassays) was used as the exposure, while appendicular lean mass (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) and muscle function (grip strength [hydraulic dynamometer], short physical performance battery [SPPB], gait speed, sit-to-stand, balance, Timed Up and Go [TUG]) were used as outcomes.

Outdoor physical activity for older people-the senior exercise park: Current research, challenges and future directions.

Issue Addressed: Exercising outdoors provide beneficial effect on mental and physical health for all ages. However, few older people exercise outdoors other than walking. While outdoor gyms have become increasingly common in Australia, limited outdoor exercise equipment specifically designed for older people is available in public spaces.

Relationships between self perceptions and physical activity behaviour, fear of falling, and physical function among older adults.

Background: There has been a lack of research examining the relationship among self-perceptions, behaviour, cognitions and functioning in older adults. This study, therefore, examined the relationship between global and physical self-perceptions, physical activity behaviour, and fear of falling taking into considerations objective measures of physical functioning in community dwelling older adults.

Methods/design: Sixty-six participants between 60 and 90 years old (71.

A Novel Exercise Initiative for Seniors to Improve Balance and Physical Function.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility, effectiveness, and short-term effects of an exercise intervention using a novel exercise park in improving seniors' balance, physical function, and quality of life.

Method: Randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-intervention design (baseline and 18-week intervention) was used. Outcome measures included measures of balance, strength, and function, as well as quality of life and fear of falling.

A novel dynamic exercise initiative for older people to improve health and well-being: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Exercise is an important and effective approach to preventing falls in older people, but adherence to exercise participation remains a persistent problem. A unique purpose-built exercise park was designed to provide a fun but physically challenging environment to support exercise in a community setting. This project is a randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an exercise intervention using an exercise park specifically designed for older people in reducing the risk of falls.