Reliability and validity of the Assessment of Daily Activity Performance (ADAP) in community-dwelling older women.

Background And Aims: The Assessment of Daily Activity Performance (ADAP) test was developed, and modeled after the Continuous-scale Physical Functional Performance (CS-PFP) test, to provide a quantitative assessment of older adults' physical functional performance. The aim of this study was to determine the intra-examiner reliability and construct validity of the ADAP in a community-living older population, and to identify the importance of tester experience.

Methods: Forty-three community-dwelling, older women (mean age 75 yr +/-4.

The effect of functional tasks exercise and resistance exercise on health-related quality of life and physical activity. A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Data regarding the effect of exercise programmes on older adults' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and habitual physical activity are inconsistent.

Objective: To determine whether a functional tasks exercise programme (enhances functional capacity) and a resistance exercise programme (increases muscle strength) have a different effect on the HRQOL and physical activity of community-dwelling older women.

Methods: Ninety-eight women were randomised to a functional tasks exercise programme (function group), a resistance exercise programme (resistance group), or normal activity group (control group).

Functional-task exercise versus resistance strength exercise to improve daily function in older women: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine whether a functional-task exercise program and a resistance exercise program have different effects on the ability of community-living older people to perform daily tasks.

Design: A randomized, controlled, single-blind trial.

Setting: Community leisure center in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Functional tasks exercise versus resistance exercise to improve daily function in older women: a feasibility study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a new functional tasks exercise program, designed to improve functional performance of community-dwelling older women, by comparing it with a resistance exercise program.

Design: A 12-week, randomized, single-blind pilot study.

Setting: A community leisure center.

Strength, mobility and falling in women referred to a geriatric outpatient clinic.

Background And Aims: Mobility impairment and falling have a multifactorial etiology in frail older people. Muscle weakness is one of the risk factors and is accessible to intervention. The aim of this study was to determine the most important contributors of mobility and indicators of fall occurrence in women referred to a geriatric outpatient clinic.

Sodium valproate in aggressive behaviour in dementia: a twelve-week open label follow-up study.

Introduction: Short-term randomised clinical trials on valproate in distinct types of disturbed behaviour in dementia showed no effects on aggressive behaviour.

Objectives: To assess the course of disturbed behaviour during medium term treatment with sodium valproate for aggressive behaviour.

Design: An open label observational 12-week follow-up study consecutive to a preceding randomised control trial; assessments at 4-week interval.

Geriatric medicine in the European Union: unification of diversity.

The numbers of older people in the European Union are increasing and, with their associated health needs, there is a requirement for the specialty of Geriatric Medicine to be available throughout Europe. At present, specialists in Geriatric Medicine are not recognised in some of the European Union member countries. It is imperative that training in Geriatric Medicine should take place throughout Europe, starting at undergraduate level and progressing through postgraduate training.

The measurement of delirium: review of scales.

This review describes the characteristics and evaluates the psychometric qualities (process of testing and the results) of thirteen delirium instruments. Delirium instruments differ in goal (diagnosis, screening symptoms severity), type of data on which the rating is based (observation, interview or test of patients), the rater qualities required, the number of items and the rating time needed. Most instruments are based on the Diagnostic Statistical Manual criteria and measure signs and symptoms as described by these criteria.

Elderly patients with a hip fracture: the risk for delirium.

This prospective study investigated risk factors for delirium in elderly hip fracture patients that could be recognized by nurses. Data were collected on predisposing and precipitating factors for delirium from 92 elderly patients with a hip fracture. Predisposing factors included age, gender, sensory impairments, functional impairment before the hip fracture, residency before admission, pre-existing cognitive impairment, comorbidities, and medication use.

The Delirium Observation Screening Scale: a screening instrument for delirium.

The Delirium Observation Screening (DOS) scale, a 25-item scale, was developed to facilitate early recognition of delirium, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV criteria, based on nurses' observations during regular care. The scale was tested for content validity by a group of seven experts in the field of delirium. Internal consistency, predictive validity, and concurrent and construct validity were tested in two prospective studies with high risk groups of patients: geriatric medicine patients and elderly hip fracture patients.

Sodium valproate in the treatment of aggressive behavior in patients with dementia--a randomized placebo controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: The efficacy and tolerability of sodium valproate 2 x 240 mg compared to placebo were investigated in aggressive behavior in dementia.

Design: A randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind cross-over design. The trial included a baseline period (one week); a placebo period (three weeks); a wash-out period with placebo (one week); and a treatment period with sodium valproate (three weeks).

Muscle strength and tibolone: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effects of tibolone, a tissue-specific compound with a mixed (estrogenic, progestogenic and androgenic) hormonal profile, on skeletal muscle strength in a group of healthy postmenopausal women.

Design: Randomised, parallel group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre trial conducted between August 1997 and July 1999.

Participants: Eighty-five healthy women, between one and 15 years postmenopausal, (mean [SD] age, 54.

Tibolone does not affect muscle power and functional ability in healthy postmenopausal women.

Maintenance of neuromuscular function into old age is critical to maintain normal daily activity and functional independence. Maximal muscle strength declines with age, and the age-related loss in power might be even greater. An accelerated loss of muscle strength and power has been observed in women around the time of the menopause.

The influence of tibolone on quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Objectives: To examine the effect of tibolone, a synthetic steroid with tissue-specific activity, on quality of life in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy postmenopausal women.

Material And Methods: A total of 85 women (54.2+/-4.