48 results on '"Cavallini, A."'
Search Results
2. Capacity to consent to research in older adults with normal cognitive functioning, mild and major neurocognitive disorder: an Italian study
- Author
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Federica Del Signore, Alessia Rosi, Rocco Palumbo, Nicola Allegri, Alfredo Costa, Stefano Govoni, and Elena Cavallini
- Subjects
informed consent ,decision making ,cognitive dysfunction ,aging ,executive function ,memory. ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Background: A specific evaluation of the capacity to consent to research in older adults with cognitive decline is often not included routinely in research practice. However, there is a need to evaluate this competence adopting brief standardized instruments to guarantee their ethical rights. The present study evaluated in older adults with normal cognitive functioning, and major and mild neurocognitive disorders whether the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a brief battery of neuropsychological tests are sensitive and specific to discriminate subjects able to provide consent to research. Methods: 54 participants with Major Neurocognitive Disorder (MajorNCD), 22 with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (MildNCD), and 37 Normal Cognitive Functioning individuals (NCF). The capacity to provide consent was assessed using the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the MMSE, Verbal Fluency Tests, Trail Making Test (TMT-A), Immediate and Delayed Recall Test. Results: In the MildNCD and NCF groups, the aggregate score of neuropsychological tests showed high sensitivity and specificity in classifying subjects able to provide consent to research. In the MajorNCD group, MMSE, Recall test, and TMT-A performed better than the aggregate score in classifying subjects as able of consenting to the hypothetical research. Conclusion: The choice of the best tool to assess the ability to provide consent to research may depend on the degree of cognitive impairment. MMSE is a good tool for subjects with MajorNCD. A more comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests would represent a better tool in NCF and MildNCD individuals.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Cognitive Functions, Theory of Mind Abilities, and Personality Dispositions as Potential Predictors of the Detection of Reciprocity in Deceptive and Cooperative Contexts through Different Age Groups
- Author
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Anne-Lise Florkin, Alessia Rosi, Serena Lecce, and Elena Cavallini
- Subjects
aging ,personality ,reciprocity ,Theory of Mind ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Reciprocity is a fundamental element in social interactions and implies an adequate response to the previous actions of our interactant. It is thus crucial to detect if a person is cooperating, deceiving, or cheating, to properly respond. However, older adults have been shown to have a lower ability to detect reciprocity compared to younger adults, partially tying this decline to cognitive functions. Another likely association to reciprocity in literature is made with personality dispositions, i.e., agreeableness, altruism, and empathic concern, and Theory of Mind (ToM). Consequently, the present study investigated age-related differences in the detection of the different components of reciprocity, as well as examined the predictors of reciprocity, such as cognitive measures, personality dispositions, and true and false beliefs in young (n = 98; 20–39 years), middle-aged (n = 106; 40–64 years), and older adults (n = 103; 65–96 years). The Mind Picture Story-Theory of Mind Questionnaire was used to measure the reciprocity components and true and false beliefs in each group. This study reported a significant decline in reciprocity detection from adults aged 65 years old and over. Additionally, the ability to detect reciprocity was significantly linked to cognitive functioning and ToM across all age groups, especially in older adults.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Partial Discharges in Electrical Machines for the More Electrical Aircraft. Part III: Preventing Partial Discharges
- Author
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Alberto Rumi, Luca Lusuardi, Andrea Cavallini, Marco Pastura, Davide Barater, and Stefano Nuzzo
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Partial discharges ,More Electrical Aircraft ,wide bandgap devices ,SiC inverter ,qualification ,aging ,Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering ,TK1-9971 - Abstract
In this paper, the results obtained from lab tests on twisted pairs subjected to different voltage waveforms and atmospheric conditions are used to propose how to modify the IEC Std. 60034-18-41. The goal is to make the standard suitable for the More Electrical Aircraft (MEA). The results show that it is initially necessary to screen out materials through simple tests. The enhancement factors for temperature can be modified to consider reduced pressures and temperatures using a simple model. The aging enhancement factor can be reduced considering the reduced sensitivity of the partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) at low pressures on the enamel thickness. Eventually, reference will be made to the drive discussed in Part I of this series to draw conclusions about the likelihood of partial discharge inception in a random wound stator and how to reduce it by modifying either the inverter or the stator insulation. Reference to a random wound motor is made throughout the paper.
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- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Exercise training in ad libitum and food-restricted old rats: effects on metabolic and physiological parameters
- Author
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Corbianco, Silvia, Dini, Marco, Bongioanni, Paolo, Carboncini, Maria Chiara, and Cavallini, Gabriella
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Metacognitive-strategy training promotes decision-making ability in older adults
- Author
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Rosi Alessia, Vecchi Tomaso, and Cavallini Elena
- Subjects
aging ,metacognitive principles ,decision-making training ,generalization ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Research on decision making and aging has shown that some decision-making skills decrease with age. Despite these age-related declines, no study has yet investigated the possibility of promoting improvements in decision-making skills in older adults. The present study was designed to address this gap in literature by examining the efficacy of a metacognitive-strategy decision-making training on practiced and non-practiced tasks. The training was based on the use of specific metacognitive principles and analytical strategies for promoting an analytical mode of thinking in the decision-making process. We examined 66 older adults (Mage= 67.52 years, SD = 5.38; age range 60-81) assigned to two training groups: a metacognitive-strategy decision-making training group and an active control group involved in a strategic memory intervention. Both training groups attended four 2-hour training sessions conducted once a week. Results showed that, after intervention, the decision-making training group improved their decision-making skills significantly more than the active control training group. Crucially, the positive effect of the training was evident in both practiced and non-practiced decision-making tasks. This is the first study investigating the efficacy of a decision-making training in older adults based on metacognitive and strategic principles.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Cognitive Functions, Theory of Mind Abilities, and Personality Dispositions as Potential Predictors of the Detection of Reciprocity in Deceptive and Cooperative Contexts through Different Age Groups.
- Author
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Florkin, Anne-Lise, Rosi, Alessia, Lecce, Serena, and Cavallini, Elena
- Subjects
OLDER people ,THEORY of mind ,AGE groups ,COGNITIVE ability ,RECIPROCITY (Psychology) - Abstract
Reciprocity is a fundamental element in social interactions and implies an adequate response to the previous actions of our interactant. It is thus crucial to detect if a person is cooperating, deceiving, or cheating, to properly respond. However, older adults have been shown to have a lower ability to detect reciprocity compared to younger adults, partially tying this decline to cognitive functions. Another likely association to reciprocity in literature is made with personality dispositions, i.e., agreeableness, altruism, and empathic concern, and Theory of Mind (ToM). Consequently, the present study investigated age-related differences in the detection of the different components of reciprocity, as well as examined the predictors of reciprocity, such as cognitive measures, personality dispositions, and true and false beliefs in young (n = 98; 20–39 years), middle-aged (n = 106; 40–64 years), and older adults (n = 103; 65–96 years). The Mind Picture Story-Theory of Mind Questionnaire was used to measure the reciprocity components and true and false beliefs in each group. This study reported a significant decline in reciprocity detection from adults aged 65 years old and over. Additionally, the ability to detect reciprocity was significantly linked to cognitive functioning and ToM across all age groups, especially in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. The Impact of Failures and Successes on Affect and Self-Esteem in Young and Older Adults
- Author
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Alessia Rosi, Elena Cavallini, Nadia Gamboz, Tomaso Vecchi, Floris Tijmen Van Vugt, and Riccardo Russo
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aging ,individual differences ,affect ,self-esteem ,success-failure manipulation ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Older adults are assumed to change their affect states in reaction to positive and negative stimuli across the life span. However, little is known about the impact of success and failure events on age-related changes in affect states and, particularly, in self-esteem levels. To fill this gap in the literature, in the present study changes in affect and self-esteem in 100 young (19–30 years) and 102 older adults (65–81 years) were assessed after participants experienced success and failure in a demanding cognitive task. Overall, the success-failure manipulation induced changes on affect states and on state self-esteem, not on trait self-esteem. Regarding age differences, older and young adults were affected to the same extent by experiences of successes and failures. Theoretical considerations of the empirical findings are provided in the general discussion.
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- 2019
- Full Text
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9. Italian guidance on Dementia Day Care Centres: A position paper
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Mossello, Enrico, Baccini, Marco, Caramelli, Francesca, Biagini, Carlo Adriano, Cester, Alberto, De Vreese, Luc Pieter, Darvo, Gianluca, Vampini, Claudio, Gotti, Mabel, Fabbo, Andrea, Marengoni, Alessandra, Cavallini, Maria Chiara, Gori, Guido, Chattat, Rabih, Marini, Monica, Ceron, Davide, Lanzoni, Alessandro, Pizziolo, Paolo, Mati, Andrea, Zilli, Iole, Cantini, Claudia, Caleri, Veronica, Tonon, Elisabetta, Simoni, David, Mecocci, Patrizia, Ungar, Andrea, and Masotti, Giulio
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Dementia day care centre ,Aging ,Long-term care ,Behavioural symptoms ,Dementia ,Caregiver ,Geriatrics and Gerontology - Abstract
Dementia Day Care Centres (DDCCs) are defined as services providing care and rehabilitation to people with dementia associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) in a semi-residential setting. According to available evidence, DDCCs may decrease BPSD, depressive symptoms and caregiver burden. The present position paper reports a consensus of Italian experts of different disciplines regarding DDCCs and includes recommendations about architectural features, requirements of personnel, psychosocial interventions, management of psychoactive drug treatment, prevention and care of geriatric syndromes, and support to family caregivers. DDCCs architectural features should follow specific criteria and address specific needs of people with dementia, supporting independence, safety, and comfort. Staffing should be adequate in size and competence and should be able to implement psychosocial interventions, especially focused on BPSD. Individualized care plan should include prevention and treatment of geriatric syndromes, a targeted vaccination plan for infectious diseases including COVID-19, and adjustment of psychotropic drug treatment, all in cooperation with the general practitioner. Informal caregivers should be involved in the focus of intervention, with the aim of reducing assistance burden and promoting the adaptation to the ever-changing relationship with the patient.
- Published
- 2023
10. On the generality of the effect of experiencing prior gains and losses on the Iowa Gambling Task: A study on young and old adults
- Author
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Alessia Rosi, Elena Cavallini, Nadia Gamboz, and Riccardo Russo
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decision making ,Iowa Gambling Task ,risk taking ,aging ,older adults ,Social Sciences ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Prospect Theory predicts that people tend to be more risk seeking if their reference point is perceived as a loss and more risk averse when the reference point is perceived as a gain. In line with this prediction, Franken, Georgieva, Muris and Dijksterhuis (2006) showed that young adults who had a prior experience of monetary gains make more safe choices on subsequent decisions than subjects who had an early experience of losses. There are no experimental studies on how experiencing prior gains and losses differently influences young and older adults on a subsequent decision-making task (the Iowa Gambling Task). Hence, in the current paper, adapting the methodology employed by Franken et al.’s (2006), we intended to test the generality of their effect across the life span. Overall, we found that subjects who experienced prior monetary gains or prior monetary losses did not display significant differences in safe/risky choices on subsequent performance in the Iowa Gambling task. Furthermore, the impact of prior gains and losses on risky/safe card selection did not significantly differ between young and older adults. These results showed that the effect found in the Franken et al.’s study (2006) is limited in its generality.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Peroxisomes proliferation and pharmacological stimulation of autophagy in rat liver: evidence to support that autophagy may remove the “older” peroxisomes
- Author
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Cavallini, Gabriella, Donati, Alessio, Taddei, Michele, and Bergamini, Ettore
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- 2017
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12. The challenges of reliable dielectrics in modern aerospace applications: the hazard of Corona Resistant materials
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Alberto Rumi, Jacopo Gabriele Marinelli, Davide Barater, Andrea Cavallini, Paolo Seri, Rumi A., Marinelli J.G., Barater D., Cavallini A., and Seri P.
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Aging ,PWM inverters ,Resistance ,Energy Engineering and Power Technology ,Bars ,Insulation ,Inverters ,Life estimation ,materials reliability ,Partial discharge ,Partial discharges ,Voltage measurement ,Wires ,Transportation ,Insulation, Partial discharges, Voltage measurement, Wires, Inverters, Bars, Resistance ,Automotive Engineering ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Abstract
The development of more electrical transportation systems requires rotating machines having higher efficiency and specific power. To date, this is achieved by feeding them with rising supply voltages with higher frequencies. This generalized strategy is introducing several challenges in the correct design of the insulation that is necessary for a reliable system. A major issue to be dealt with are partial discharges, an aging mechanism that can bring insulation to failure in short times. A solution often proposed by manufacturers involves the use of the so-called corona resistant materials, which supposedly can withstand partial discharge activity. This paper investigates the possibility of using corona resistant magnet wires for electrical machines operating at reduced pressures, such as the actuators for primary control surfaces in the more electric aircraft. The results show that corona resistant insulations are characterized by an improved behavior at ground level but are not a viable option at reduced pressures.
- Published
- 2022
13. Closeness to friends explains age differences in positive emotional experience during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic
- Author
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Serena Lecce, Tomaso Vecchi, Alessia Rosi, Irene Ceccato, Filippo Rapisarda, Martine Vallarino, Floris T. van Vugt, Elena Cavallini, and Luca Ronchi
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Aging ,Activities of daily living ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Closeness ,050105 experimental psychology ,Developmental psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,030502 gerontology ,Perception ,Pandemic ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,media_common ,Social network ,Age differences ,business.industry ,05 social sciences ,COVID-19 ,Activity ,Negative emotion ,Original Article ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,0305 other medical science ,Psychology ,business ,Positive emotion ,Period (music) - Abstract
Background Studies on age differences in emotional states during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that older adults experienced greater emotional wellbeing compared to younger adults. We hypothesized these age differences to be related to the perception of closeness to family/friends or the engagement in daily activities during the pandemic. Aim To investigate age differences in positive and negative emotional experiences and whether the perception of closeness to family/friends and the engagement in daily activities during pandemic explained such age-related differences. Methods Through a cross-sectional study, 1,457 adults aged 18–87 years old completed an online survey assessing positive and negative emotional experiences, the perception of more closeness to family/friends, and daily activities that participants started/re-started during the pandemic. Results Increasing age was associated with more positive and less negative emotional experiences. Age differences in positive emotional experience were explained by the perception of more closeness to friends and not by the engagement in daily activities. For negative emotional experience age, differences remained significant even after accounting for the perception of closeness to family/friends and engagements in daily activities. Discussion Older adults’ greater overall level of positive emotional experience was explained by their greater perception of more closeness to friends. We speculate that social closeness provides a coping mechanism to increase emotional wellbeing employed especially in older adults. Conclusion Our findings reinforce the link between perceived social closeness and emotional wellbeing especially in older adults. To cope with stressful situation, it is important to encourage older adults to increase the closeness to their social network.
- Published
- 2021
14. Capacity to consent to research in older adults with normal cognitive functioning, mild and major neurocognitive disorder: an Italian study.
- Author
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Del Signore, Federica, Rosi, Alessia, Palumbo, Rocco, Allegri, Nicola, Costa, Alfredo, Govoni, Stefano, and Cavallini, Elena
- Subjects
NEUROBEHAVIORAL disorders ,COGNITIVE ability ,OLDER people ,NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL tests ,TRAIL Making Test ,VERBAL behavior testing - Abstract
Background: A specific evaluation of the capacity to consent to research in older adults with cognitive decline is often not included routinely in research practice. However, there is a need to evaluate this competence adopting brief standardized instruments to guarantee their ethical rights. The present study evaluated in older adults with normal cognitive functioning, and major and mild neurocognitive disorders whether the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a brief battery of neuropsychological tests are sensitive and specific to discriminate subjects able to provide consent to research. Methods: 54 participants with Major Neurocognitive Disorder (MajorNCD), 22 with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (MildNCD), and 37 Normal Cognitive Functioning individuals (NCF). The capacity to provide consent was assessed using the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the MMSE, Verbal Fluency Tests, Trail Making Test (TMT-A), Immediate and Delayed Recall Test. Results: In the MildNCD and NCF groups, the aggregate score of neuropsychological tests showed high sensitivity and specificity in classifying subjects able to provide consent to research. In the MajorNCD group, MMSE, Recall test, and TMT-A performed better than the aggregate score in classifying subjects as able of consenting to the hypothetical research. Conclusion: The choice of the best tool to assess the ability to provide consent to research may depend on the degree of cognitive impairment. MMSE is a good tool for subjects with MajorNCD. A more comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests would represent a better tool in NCF and MildNCD individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. Relationships between biological aging and male reproductive monitors
- Author
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Giorgio Cavallini and Fabrizio I. Scroppo
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Adult ,Male ,Aging ,Urology ,MEDLINE ,Semen analysis ,Bioinformatics ,lcsh:RC870-923 ,Text mining ,Testis ,medicine ,Humans ,Testosterone ,Prospective Studies ,Prospective cohort study ,Letter to the Editor ,Sperm motility ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Sperm Count ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,Organ Size ,Luteinizing Hormone ,Middle Aged ,lcsh:Diseases of the genitourinary system. Urology ,Spermatozoa ,Semen Analysis ,Sperm Motility ,Observational study ,Follicle Stimulating Hormone ,business - Published
- 2020
16. Metacognitive-strategy training promotes decision-making ability in older adults
- Author
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Tomaso Vecchi, Alessia Rosi, and Elena Cavallini
- Subjects
metacognitive principles ,Generalization (learning) ,decision-making training ,education ,aging ,Metacognition ,Psychology ,Strategy training ,generalization ,Decision making ability ,Cognitive psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Research on decision making and aging has shown that some decision-making skills decrease with age. Despite these age-related declines, no study has yet investigated the possibility of promoting improvements in decision-making skills in older adults. The present study was designed to address this gap in literature by examining the efficacy of a metacognitive-strategy decision-making training on practiced and non-practiced tasks. The training was based on the use of specific metacognitive principles and analytical strategies for promoting an analytical mode of thinking in the decision-making process. We examined 66 older adults (Mage= 67.52 years, SD = 5.38; age range 60-81) assigned to two training groups: a metacognitive-strategy decision-making training group and an active control group involved in a strategic memory intervention. Both training groups attended four 2-hour training sessions conducted once a week. Results showed that, after intervention, the decision-making training group improved their decision-making skills significantly more than the active control training group. Crucially, the positive effect of the training was evident in both practiced and non-practiced decision-making tasks. This is the first study investigating the efficacy of a decision-making training in older adults based on metacognitive and strategic principles.
- Published
- 2019
17. Evaluation of the impact of cataract surgery on cognitive function in very elderly patients: a prospective, observational study
- Author
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Giorgio Alfredo Spedicato, Rodolfo Mastropasqua, Tommaso Verdina, Fabio Stiro, Francesco Bruni, and Gian Maria Cavallini
- Subjects
Aging ,medicine.medical_specialty ,genetic structures ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Visual Acuity ,Cataract ,Cataract surgery ,Cognition ,Quality of life ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Prospective Studies ,Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,business.industry ,Incidence (epidemiology) ,Postoperative delirium ,medicine.disease ,6-item cognitive impairment test (6CIT) ,Cognitive function ,humanities ,eye diseases ,Cohort ,Quality of Life ,Delirium ,Observational study ,sense organs ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,medicine.symptom ,business - Abstract
To evaluate the impact of cataract surgery on cognitive function in very elderly patients (≥ 85 years). A prospective, nonrandomized, comparative study of very elderly patients (≥ 85 years), and elderly patients (≥ 65
- Published
- 2021
18. Reply to the Letter on 'Closeness to friends explains age differences in positive emotional experience during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic'
- Author
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Filippo Rapisarda, Luca Ronchi, Floris T. van Vugt, Irene Ceccato, Tomaso Vecchi, Elena Cavallini, Alessia Rosi, Martine Vallarino, and Serena Lecce
- Subjects
Aging ,2019-20 coronavirus outbreak ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Age differences ,Geriatrics gerontology ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,Closeness ,COVID-19 ,Social Networking ,Pandemic ,Humans ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Psychology ,Letter to the Editor ,Period (music) ,Demography - Published
- 2021
19. Decision-making competence in younger and older adults: which cognitive abilities contribute to the application of decision rules?
- Author
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Elena Cavallini, Fabio Del Missier, Riccardo Russo, Wändi Bruine de Bruin, Alessia Rosi, Rosi, Alessia, Bruine de Bruin, Wändi, Del Missier, Fabio, Cavallini, Elena, and Russo, Riccardo
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Aging ,decision-making competence ,executive functioning ,individual differences ,memory ,Decision Making ,Aptitude ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,individual difference ,050105 experimental psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Executive Function ,Young Adult ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cognition ,Verbal fluency test ,Semantic memory ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Competence (human resources) ,Aged ,Language ,Working memory ,05 social sciences ,Decision rule ,Middle Aged ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology ,Memory, Short-Term ,Younger adults ,Female ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Cognitive psychology - Abstract
Older adults perform worse than younger adults when applying decision rules to choose between options that vary along multiple attributes. Although previous studies have shown that general fluid cognitive abilities contribute to the accurate application of decision rules, relatively little is known about which specific cognitive abilities play the most important role. We examined the independent roles of working memory, verbal fluency, semantic knowledge, and components of executive functioning. We found that age-related decline in applying decision rules was statistically mediated by age-related decline in working memory and verbal fluency. Our results have implications for theories of aging and decision-making.
- Published
- 2019
20. Exercise training in ad libitum and food-restricted old rats: effects on metabolic and physiological parameters
- Author
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Maria Chiara Carboncini, Gabriella Cavallini, Marco Dini, Paolo Bongioanni, and Silvia Corbianco
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Aging ,Biological age ,Dietary restriction ,Physiology ,Physical exercise ,Protein oxidation ,Rats, Sprague-Dawley ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Physical Conditioning, Animal ,Animals ,Medicine ,Muscle, Skeletal ,Animal species ,Exercise ,Caloric Restriction ,Health span ,business.industry ,Body Weight ,Plasma levels ,Rats ,Food restriction ,030104 developmental biology ,Food ,Rat ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,business ,Gerontology ,Bioelectrical impedance analysis ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Aging is accompanied by a decline in the healthy function of multiple organs, leading to increased incidence and mortality from diseases such as cancer and inflammatory, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Dietary restriction is the most effective experimental intervention known to consistently slow the aging process and with positive effects on health span in different organisms, from invertebrates to mammals. Age is also associated with progressive decline in physical activity levels in a wide range of animal species: therefore, regular physical exercise could represent a safe intervention to antagonize aging. In this research we explore the effects of exercise training initiated in late middle aged rats fed with different lifelong dietary regimens: one group was fed ad libitum and the second group was subjected to every-other-day fasting. These two groups might represent examples of "normal" aging and "successful" aging. The study shows the effects of exercise and food restriction and their interaction on plasma levels of total antioxidant capacity, lactate, amino acids, and on products of protein oxidation in soleus and tibialis anterior muscles. In addition, we evaluated body composition measurement by bioelectrical impedance analysis and muscle strength by grasping test. Results show that late-onset exercise training has the potential to improve some metabolic and physiological parameters in rats with the same "chronological age" but different "biological age", without negative effects, and highlight the relevance of a personalised and selected exercise protocol, since the responsiveness to exercise may depend on the individual's "biological age".
- Published
- 2020
21. The association of indwelling urinary catheter with delirium in hospitalized patients and nursing home residents: an explorative analysis from the 'Delirium Day 2015'
- Author
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Bo, M, Porrino, P, Di Santo SG, Mazzone, A, Cherubini, A, Mossello, E, Bianchetti, A, Musicco, M, Ferrari, A, Ferrara, N, Filippini, C, Trabucchi, M, Morandi, A, Bellelli, G, on behalf of the Italian Study Group on Delirium (ISGoD): Boffelli, S, Di Stefano, F, De Filippi, F, Guerini, F, Bertoletti, E, March, A, Margiotta, A, Mecocci, P, Ruggiero, C, Addesi, D, Fantò, F, Isaia, G, Dijik, B, Cotroneo, Am, Galli, G, Bruni, Ac, Bernardini, B, Corsini, C, Cagnin, A, Zurlo, G, Barbagallo, G, Lunardelli, Ml, Martini, E, Battaglia, G, Latella, R, Petritola, D, Sinforiani, E, Cester, A, Formilan, M, Carbone, P, Appollonio, I, Cereda, D, Tremolizzo, L, Bottacchi, E, Lucchetti, L, Mariani, C, Rapazzini, P, Romanelli, G, Marengoni, A, Zuliani, G, Bianchi, L, Suardi, T, Muti, E, Bottura, R, Sgrò, G, Mandas, A, Serchisu, L, Crippa, P, Ivaldi, C, Ungar, A, Villani, D, Raimondi, C, Mussi, C, Provenzano, G, Mari, D, Odetti, P, Monacelli, F, Antonelli Incalzi, R, Pluderi, A, Bellamoli, C, Terranova, L, Scarpini, E, D’Amico, F, Cavallini, Mc, Guerrini, G, Scotuzzi, Am, Chiarello, A, Pilotto, A, Tognini, S, Dell’Aquila, G, Toigo, G, Ceschia, G, Piccinini, M, Fabbo, A, Zoli, M, Forti, P, Wenter, C, Basile, G, Lasagni, A, Padovani, A, Rozzini, L, Cottino, M, Vitali, S, Tripi, G, Avanzi, S, Umidi, S, Moretti, D, Ruotolo, G, Boschi, F, Bonino, P, Marchionni, N, Fascendini, S, Noro, G, Turco, R, Ubezio, Mc, Serrati, C, Infante, M, Gentile, S, Pernigotti, Lm, Biagini, Ca, Canonico, E, Bonati, P, Gareri, P, Caffarra, P, Castagna, A, Ceretti, A, Castiglia, R, Gabelli, C, Lo Storto, M, Putzu, P, Di Santo, S, Rozzini, R, Zanetti, E, Trabucchi, M., Bo, M, Porrino, P, Di Santo, S, Mazzone, A, Cherubini, A, Mossello, E, Bianchetti, A, Musicco, M, Ferrari, A, Ferrara, N, Filippini, C, Trabucchi, M, Morandi, A, Bellelli, G, Bo, Mario, Porrino, Paola, Di Santo, Simona G., Mazzone, Andrea, Cherubini, Antonio, Mossello, Enrico, Bianchetti, Angelo, Musicco, Massimo, Ferrari, Alberto, Ferrara, Nicola, Filippini, Claudia, Trabucchi, Marco, Morandi, Alessandro, and Bellelli, Giuseppe
- Subjects
Male ,Aging ,medicine.medical_specialty ,4AT test ,Cognition ,Delirium ,Geriatric assessment ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Catheters, Indwelling ,Female ,Humans ,Logistic Models ,Urinary Catheterization ,Nursing Homes ,Catheters ,Hospitalized patients ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Logistic regression ,behavioral disciplines and activities ,Urinary catheterization ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Informed consent ,Internal medicine ,mental disorders ,medicine ,80 and over ,Dementia ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Coma ,business.industry ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,medicine.disease ,Indwelling ,medicine.symptom ,Nursing homes ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Backround: Use of indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) in older adults has negative consequences, including delirium. Aim: This analysis, from the "Delirium Day 2015", a nationwide multicenter prevalence study, aim to evaluate the association of IUC with delirium in hospitalized and Nursing Homes (NHs) patients. Methods: Patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including the presence of IUC; inclusion criteria were age > 65 years, being Italian speaker and providing informed consent; exclusion criteria were coma, aphasia, end-of-life status. Delirium was assessed using the 4AT test (score >= 4: possible delirium; scores 1-3: possible cognitive impairment). Results: Among 1867 hospitalized patients (mean age 82.0 ± 7.5 years, 58% female), 539 (28.9%) had IUC, 429 (22.9%) delirium and 675 (36.1%) cognitive impairment. IUC was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.19-2.16) and delirium (2.45, 95% CI 1.73-3.47), this latter being significant also in the subset of patients without dementia (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.52-3.43). Inattention and impaired alertness were also independently associated with IUC. Among 1454 NHs residents (mean age 84.4 ± 7.4 years, 70.% female), 63 (4.3%) had IUC, 535 (36.8%) a 4AT score >= 4, and 653 (44.9%) a 4AT score 1-3. The multivariate logistic regression analysis did not show a significant association between 4AT test or its specific items with IUC, neither in the subset of patients without dementia. Discussion: We confirmed a significant association between IUC and delirium in hospitalized patients but not in NHs residents. Conclusion: Environmental and clinical factors of acute setting might contribute to IUC-associated delirium occurrence.
- Published
- 2019
22. Antioxidant and Antisenescence Effects of Bergamot Juice
- Author
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Alessandra Braca, Immacolata Faraone, Eleonora Da Pozzo, Lara Testai, Chiara Cavallini, Eugenia Piragine, Claudia Martini, Marinella De Leo, Luigi Milella, Luisa Pistelli, and Vincenzo Calderone
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Aging ,Citrus ,Antioxidant ,Article Subject ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Flavonoid ,Context (language use) ,Biochemistry ,Antioxidants ,Beverages ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Nutraceutical ,medicine ,Humans ,Food science ,lcsh:QH573-671 ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,lcsh:Cytology ,Chemistry ,food and beverages ,Cell Biology ,General Medicine ,030104 developmental biology ,Phytochemical ,Polyphenol ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Citrus bergamia ,Flavanone ,Research Article - Abstract
Aging is one of the main risk factor for the onset of cardiovascular diseases; one of the possible explanations could be linked to the age-associated overproduction of free radicals. This increase of oxidative stress can be overcome with a high intake of food antioxidants. In this context, a number of studies have been addressed to assess the antiaging potential of natural antioxidant compounds. Recently, it has been shown that the juice of bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau), a fruit mostly produced in the Ionian coastal areas of Southern Italy (Calabria), is a valuable source of health-promoting constituents with, among other, antioxidant properties. In order to investigate the potential antiaging effects of this Mediterranean natural antioxidant source, bergamot juices of three different cultivars (“fantastico,” “femminello,” and “castagnaro”) were herein characterized by the mean of high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Then, juices were investigated for the evaluation of total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, cell-free model antioxidant activities, and in vitro antiaging properties on two different cellular models of induced myocardial senescence. The best performing juice was also assessed in vivo. The phytochemical profiles confirmed that juices were rich in flavonoids, both flavone and flavanone glycosides. In addition, two limonoid glycosides were also identified in all cultivars. Each cultivar showed different phenolic and flavonoid contents. In tube results showed the juice robust antioxidant activities that correlate with their phenolic and flavonoid contents. Moreover, for the first time, the ability of juice to counteract the chemical-induced senescence was here demonstrated in both cellular models. Lastly, the in vivo data obtained from mouse hearts evidenced an increase in transcription of genes involved in antiaging and antioxidant responses. The overall results suggest that bergamot juice exerts antioxidant and antisenescence effects, making it useful for nutraceutical purposes.
- Published
- 2018
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23. Accelerated aging, partial discharges and breakdown of Type II turn-to-turn insulation system of rotating machines
- Author
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F. Ciani, Gian Carlo Montanari, Andrea Cavallini, Alfredo Contin, Montanari, GIAN CARLO, Cavallini, Andrea, Ciani, Fabio, Contin, Alfredo, IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society, Omnipress, Montanari, Gian Carlo, and Fabio, Ciani
- Subjects
Materials science ,diagnostic ,02 engineering and technology ,01 natural sciences ,Insulation system ,MV motor ,0103 physical sciences ,diagnostics ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Waveform ,Breakdown voltage ,PWM ,partial discharges ,010302 applied physics ,business.industry ,020208 electrical & electronic engineering ,aging ,Electrical engineering ,Mechanics ,MV motor, aging ,Accelerated aging ,partial discharge ,Rise time ,Partial discharge ,business ,Pulse-width modulation ,Voltage - Abstract
Type II insulation systems, typical of MV motors or generators, were aged under sequential thermal cycling and voltage, and diagnostic quantities related to partial discharge activity recorded, such as partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV). Accelerated aging was carried out until breakdown statistics was reached. Sinusoidal and impulsive voltage waveforms were used, with the purpose of comparing breakdown times and PD phenomenology changing supply voltage waveform and rise time. The results undoubtedly indicate that the shape of the waveform, particularly the rise time, can affect dramatically both PD phenomenology and life.
- Published
- 2016
24. Peroxisomes proliferation and pharmacological stimulation of autophagy in rat liver: evidence to support that autophagy may remove the 'older' peroxisomes
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Gabriella Cavallini, Michele Taddei, Ettore Bergamini, and Alessio Donati
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Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Rat liver ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Aging ,Clinical chemistry ,Antilipolytic drugs ,Autophagy ,Perfluorooctanoic acid ,Peroxisomes ,Molecular Biology ,Clinical Biochemistry ,Cell Biology ,Mitochondria, Liver ,Mitochondrion ,Biology ,Rats, Sprague-Dawley ,03 medical and health sciences ,Internal medicine ,Organelle ,medicine ,Animals ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Fluorocarbons ,Reactive oxygen species ,Oxidase test ,Urate oxidase ,General Medicine ,Peroxisome ,Rats ,030104 developmental biology ,Endocrinology ,Liver ,chemistry ,Caprylates ,Oxidoreductases - Abstract
Like mitochondria, peroxisomes produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), compounds which have been implicated to play an important role in many degenerative diseases and aging itself, and an exaggerated ROS production might occur in altered or older organelles. Growing evidence shows that autophagy, a required function in cell housekeeping during fasting, can remove damaged macromolecules, organelles, and membranes selectively. Proliferation of peroxisomes can be enhanced in liver cells by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which causes a marked increase of the Acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX) activity and no significant change in urate oxidase (UOX) activity. The administration of antilipolytic drugs to fasted animals was shown to intensify autophagy. Here we tested the hypothesis that autophagy may distinguish and remove older from younger peroxisomes in rat liver. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given PFOA (150 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle. Animals were sacrificed at different times following PFOA administration, and 3 h after the induction of autophagy with the antilipolytic agent 3,5-dimethyl pyrazole (DMP, 12 mg/kg body weight). The levels of ACOX and UOX activity were measured in the liver tissue. Results showed that autophagy caused a parallel, significant decrease in both enzymes activity in control rats, and that in PFOA-treated rats the effects were different and changed with PFOA time administration. Changes are compatible with the hypothesis that newly formed ACOX-rich peroxisomes are resistant to pexophagy and that sensitivity to pexophagy increases with increasing peroxisomal "age." In conclusion, there is indirect evidence supporting the hypothesis that autophagy may recognize and degrade older peroxisomes.
- Published
- 2017
25. The Citrus Flavanone Naringenin Protects Myocardial Cells against Age-Associated Damage
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Barbara Costa, Claudia Martini, Vincenzo Calderone, Eleonora Da Pozzo, Alma Martelli, Chiara Cavallini, and Lara Testai
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0301 basic medicine ,Senescence ,Naringenin ,Aging ,Citrus ,Article Subject ,Cell ,Oxidative phosphorylation ,Pharmacology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Biochemistry ,Antioxidants ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Myocytes, Cardiac ,lcsh:QH573-671 ,Cellular Senescence ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Reactive oxygen species ,lcsh:Cytology ,Cell Biology ,food and beverages ,General Medicine ,Rats ,Oxidative Stress ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Flavanones ,Reactive Oxygen Species ,Cell aging ,Flavanone ,Oxidative stress ,Research Article - Abstract
In recent years, the health-promoting effects of the citrus flavanone naringenin have been examined. The results have provided evidence for the modulation of some key mechanisms involved in cellular damage by this compound. In particular, naringenin has been revealed to have protective properties such as an antioxidant effect in cardiometabolic disorders. Very recently, beneficial effects of naringenin have been demonstrated in old rats. Because aging has been demonstrated to be directly related to the occurrence of cardiac disorders, in the present study, the ability of naringenin to prevent cardiac cell senescence was investigated. For this purpose, a cellular model of senescent myocardial cells was set up and evaluated using colorimetric, fluorimetric, and immunometric techniques. Relevant cellular senescence markers, such as X-gal staining, cell cycle regulator levels, and the percentage of cell cycle-arrested cells, were found to be reduced in the presence of naringenin. In addition, cardiac markers of aging-induced damage, including radical oxidative species levels, mitochondrial metabolic activity, mitochondrial calcium buffer capacity, and estrogenic signaling functions, were also modulated by the compound. These results suggested that naringenin has antiaging effects on myocardial cells.
- Published
- 2017
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26. Stress conditions in HVDC equipment and routes to in service failure
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Davide Fabiani, Gian Carlo Montanari, Andrea Cavallini, C. G. Azcarraga, Peter Morshuis, Morshuis, Peter, Cavallini, Andrea, Fabiani, Davide, Montanari, Gian, and Azcarraga, Carlos
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Engineering ,Aging ,business.industry ,Electrical engineering ,High voltage ,Stress distribution ,Space charge ,Automotive engineering ,law.invention ,HVDC insulation ,law ,Stress conditions ,Failure analysi ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Transformer ,business - Abstract
High voltage equipment designed for DC applications is stressed differently from ac equipment. Most notably, the load conditions of the equipment play a major role in determining the electric field distribution in insulation under dc, due to the temperature dependence of conductivity. Additionally, polarization and space charge phenomena impose a time dependent behavior on the stress distribution. This has major consequences for the way in which degradation of the insulation under dc stress takes place. The nature of the stresses under dc may lead to accelerated degradation processes which could result in early breakdown of the insulation. This paper provides an overview of the stress conditions specific for dc application and highlights via which routes they may lead to failure. The stress distributions in converter transformers and dc cable systems will serve as typical examples.
- Published
- 2015
27. Dielectric properties and partial discharge endurance of thermally aged nano-structured polyimide.
- Author
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Han, Tao and Cavallini, Andrea
- Subjects
PARTIAL discharges ,POLYIMIDES ,DIELECTRIC properties ,INSULATING materials ,CHEMICAL resistance ,WIND turbines - Abstract
Polyimide (PI) is an important insulation material due to its high thermal, chemical and electrical resistance along with good mechanical strength [1]. It has been widely used in equipment such as high voltage motors, wind turbine and aerospace craft [2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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28. Thermal Overload and Insulation Aging of Short Duty Cycle, Aerospace Motors.
- Author
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Madonna, Vincenzo, Giangrande, Paolo, Lusuardi, Luca, Cavallini, Andrea, Gerada, Chris, and Galea, Michael
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THERMAL insulation ,WEIBULL distribution ,THERMOCYCLING ,ELECTRIC machinery ,LOW voltage systems ,MOTORS ,PERMANENT magnets - Abstract
Electrical machines for transportation applications need to be highly reliable, particularly if they drive safety-critical systems. At the same time, another main requirement is represented by the significant torque density, especially for aerospace, where weight constraints are extremely stringent. For achieving high peak torque, an effective strategy consists in supplying the windings with a current greater than the rated value; thus, thermally overloading the machine for limited time periods. However, if the insulation is overheated, the machine lifetime is shortened and reliability issues can arise. This paper experimentally investigates the influence of short-time thermal overload on the insulation lifetime for low voltage, random wound electrical machines. The analysis is performed on round enameled magnet wire coils, which are aged by accelerated thermal cycles. The obtained results are statistically processed through a two parameter Weibull distribution. According to the findings of the experimental data postprocessing, a lifetime prediction model is built. This model is employed for predicting the lifetime consumption of a motor embedded into an electromechanical actuator for aerospace application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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29. Prosocial behavior in aging: which factors can explain age-related differences in social-economic decision making?
- Author
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Rosi, Alessia, Nola, Marta, Lecce, Serena, and Cavallini, Elena
- Abstract
Objectives: Older adults tend to exhibit more prosocial behavior than younger adults. However, little research has focused on understanding the factors that may explain such differences in the social decision-making process. The first aim was to examine if, and to what degree, the content of social information about a recipient has an impact on young vs. older adults' prosocial behavior. The second aim was to understand if empathic concern, Theory of Mind, and reasoning explain the (expected) age differences in prosociality.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: The study was conducted in northern Italy in a laboratory setting.Participants: Forty-eight younger adults (Mage = 23.29; SD = 2.20) and 48 older adults (Mage = 70.19; SD = 5.13).Measurements: Prosocial behavior was measured using the Dictator Game in which participants split a sum of money with recipients presented with four levels of description: no information, physical description, positive psychological description, and negative psychological description. In addition, participants performed tasks on emphatic concern, Theory of Mind, and reasoning.Results: Results showed that older adults are more prosocial than younger adults in the Dictator Game. This finding was evident when the recipient was described with positive psychological and physical features. This pattern of results was statistically explained by the reduction in reasoning ability.Conclusion: These findings suggest a relationship between age-related reduction in reasoning ability and older adults' prosocial behavior. The theoretical and practical implication of the empirical findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2019
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30. Promoting theory of mind in older adults: Does age play a role?
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Serena Lecce, Alessia Rosi, Federica Bianco, Sara Bottiroli, and Elena Cavallini
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Male ,Gerontology ,Aging ,ageing ,role of age ,theory of mind ,training ,young-old ,Age Factors ,Cognition ,Executive Function ,Treatment Outcome ,Settore M-PSI/04 - Psicologia dello Sviluppo e Psicologia dell'Educazione ,050105 experimental psychology ,Age groups ,Theory of mind ,Task Performance and Analysis ,Humans ,Elderly people ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Healthy aging ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,05 social sciences ,Middle Aged ,Self Efficacy ,Inhibition, Psychological ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Female ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Pshychiatric Mental Health ,Psychology ,050104 developmental & child psychology - Abstract
Previous research on age-related changes in Theory of Mind (ToM) showed a decline in older adults, particularly pronounced over 75 years of age. Evidence that ToM may be enhanced in healthy aging people has been demonstrated, but no study has focused on the role of age on the effects of ToM training for elderly people. The present study was designed to examine the efficacy of a ToM training on practiced (ToM Strange Stories) and transfer tasks (ToM Animations) in both young and older adults.The study involved 127 older adults belonging to two age groups: young-old (Mage = 64.41; SD = 2.49; range: 60-69 years) and old-old (Mage = 75.66; SD = 4.38; range: 70-85 years), randomly assigned to either a ToM group or a control group condition. All participants took part in two 2-hour testing sessions and four 2-hour training sessions.Results showed that both young-old and old-old adults in the ToM group condition improved their ability to reason on complex-mental states significantly more than participants in the control group condition. This positive effect of the training was evident on practiced and transfer ToM tasks. Crucially, age did not moderate the effect of the ToM training.These findings demonstrate that young-old and old-old adults equally benefit from the ToM training. Implications for the positive effect of the ToM training in old-old adults are discussed.
- Published
- 2016
31. Self-help memory training for healthy older adults in a residential care center: specific and transfer effects on performance and beliefs
- Author
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Elena, Cavallini, Sara, Bottiroli, Emanuela, Capotosto, Rossana, De Beni, Giorgio, Pavan, Tomaso, Vecchi, and Erika, Borella
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Aged, 80 and over ,Male ,Aging ,Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ,Transfer, Psychology ,residential care center ,Association Learning ,learner-oriented approach ,Residential Facilities ,Self-Help Groups ,self-help memory training ,Memory, Short-Term ,Humans ,Learning ,Female ,transfer effects ,maintenance effects ,Problem Solving ,older adults ,Aged - Abstract
Cognitive flexibility has repeatedly been shown to improve after training programs in community-dwelling older adults, but few studies have focused on healthy older adults living in other settings.This study investigated the efficacy of self-help training for healthy older adults in a residential care center on memory tasks they practiced (associative and object list learning tasks) and any transfer to other tasks (grocery lists, face-name learning, figure-word pairing, word lists, and text learning). Transfer effects on everyday life (using a problem-solving task) and on participants' beliefs regarding their memory (efficacy and control) were also examined. With the aid of a manual, the training adopted a learner-oriented approach that directly encouraged learners to generalize strategic behavior to new tasks. The maintenance of any training benefits was assessed after 6 months.The study involved 34 residential care center residents (aged 70-99 years old) with no cognitive impairments who were randomly assigned to two programs: the experimental group followed the self-help training program, whereas the active control group was involved in general cognitive stimulation activities.Training benefits emerged in the trained group for the tasks that were practiced. Transfer effects were found in memory and everyday problem-solving tasks and on memory beliefs. The effects of training were generally maintained in both practiced and unpracticed memory tasks.These results demonstrate that learner-oriented self-help training enhances memory performance and memory beliefs, in the short term at least, even in residential care center residents.
- Published
- 2015
32. Serious games for screening pre-dementia conditions: from virtuality to reality? A pilot project
- Author
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Zucchella, Chiara, Sinforiani, Elena, Tassorelli, Cristina, Cavallini, Elena, Tost-Pardell, Daniela, Grau, Sergi, Pazzi, Stefania, Puricelli, Stefano, Bernini, Sara, Bottiroli, Sara, Vecchi, Tomaso, Sandrini, Giorgio, Nappi, Giuseppe, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament de Ciències de la Computació, and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. GIE - Grup d'Informàtica a l'Enginyeria
- Subjects
Aging ,serious games ,Reproducibility of Results ,Pilot Projects ,Articles ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Demència senil -- Tractament ,Ciències de la salut::Fisioteràpia::Fisioteràpia geriàtrica [Àrees temàtiques de la UPC] ,User-Computer Interface ,Imaging, Three-Dimensional ,Informàtica::Aplicacions de la informàtica [Àrees temàtiques de la UPC] ,mild cognitive impairment ,Video Games ,Humans ,virtual reality ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,neuropsycho-logical assessment ,Senile dementia--Alternative treatment ,dementia - Abstract
Conventional cognitive assessment is based on a pencil-and-paper neuropsychological evaluation, which is time consuming, expensive and requires the involvement of several professionals. Information and communication technology could be exploited to allow the development of tools that are easy to use, reduce the amount of data processing, and provide controllable test conditions. Serious games (SGs) have the potential to be new and effective tools in the management and treatment of cognitive impairments Serious games for screening pre-dementia conditions: from virtuality to reality? A pilot project in the elderly. Moreover, by adopting SGs in 3D virtual reality settings, cognitive functions might be evaluated using tasks that simulate daily activities, increasing the "ecological validity" of the assessment. In this commentary we report our experience in the creation of the Smart Aging platform, a 3D SGand virtual environment-based platform for the early identification and characterization of mild cognitive impairment.
- Published
- 2014
33. Theory of mind, mental state talk and social relationships in aging: The case of friendship.
- Author
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Lecce, Serena, Ceccato, Irene, and Cavallini, Elena
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PSYCHOLOGICAL aspects of aging ,STATISTICAL correlation ,FRIENDSHIP ,REGRESSION analysis ,THOUGHT & thinking ,FAMILY relations ,TASK performance ,ACTIVE aging - Abstract
Objectives: Previous research has shown a decline in Theory of mind (ToM) associated with normal aging. However, very few studies have investigated older people's ToM using an ecological approach. The present study was designed to fill this gap and examine older people's frequency of mental state talk (MST) in describing their best friend, together with their performance on a traditional ToM task. In addition, the study examined the association between these two ToM indices and relationships with friends and family members. Method: Seventy-two healthy older adults (age range 60–79) participated in the study. We measured ToM ability with a classic measure, the Faux Pas task, and selected the Describe-a-friend task to measure MST frequency; social relationships were investigated with the Lubben Social Network Scale. Correlation and regression analyses were performed. Results: No significant association between MST and scores on the Faux Pas task emerged. In addition, MST (but not Faux Pas scores) significantly predicted friendships (but not family relationships) over and above general cognitive functioning. Conclusion: These findings show the crucial distinction between possessing an ability and using it in daily life and suggest the need to move toward more ecological measures of older adults' abilities. In addition, the present results indicate that the spontaneous use of ToM ability, not the ability per se, impacts on older adults' social relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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- View/download PDF
34. The Impact of Failures and Successes on Affect and Self-Esteem in Young and Older Adults.
- Author
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Rosi, Alessia, Cavallini, Elena, Gamboz, Nadia, Vecchi, Tomaso, Van Vugt, Floris Tijmen, and Russo, Riccardo
- Subjects
OLDER people ,YOUNG adults ,SELF-esteem - Abstract
Older adults are assumed to change their affect states in reaction to positive and negative stimuli across the life span. However, little is known about the impact of success and failure events on age-related changes in affect states and, particularly, in self-esteem levels. To fill this gap in the literature, in the present study changes in affect and self-esteem in 100 young (19–30 years) and 102 older adults (65–81 years) were assessed after participants experienced success and failure in a demanding cognitive task. Overall, the success-failure manipulation induced changes on affect states and on state self-esteem, not on trait self-esteem. Regarding age differences, older and young adults were affected to the same extent by experiences of successes and failures. Theoretical considerations of the empirical findings are provided in the general discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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- View/download PDF
35. Investigating ToM in aging with the MASC: from accuracy to error type.
- Author
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Lecce, Serena, Ceccato, Irene, and Cavallini, Elena
- Subjects
OLDER people ,AGE groups ,SOCIAL perception ,YOUNG adults ,THEORY of mind - Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that Theory of Mind (ToM) declines in normal aging. However, the majority of this research has used classic and static verbal tasks that present scenarios, which are very different from real life. The present study was designed to fill this gap by administering the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) to young and older participants. It allows one to analyze not only the accuracy, but also the typology of error in mental states attribution distinguishing between iper-ToM (over-mentalization), ipo-ToM (insufficient mentalization), and no-ToM (lack of mentalization). We recruited 30 young (20-29 years), 39 young-old (65-74 years), and 31 old-old (75-86 years) participants. Along with the MASC, we administered a classic ToM task, the Strange Stories, and several measures of cognitive functioning. Results showed that older adults were less accurate in mental state attribution than young adults in the MASC, but not in the Strange Stories. In addition, compared to young adults, older adults committed more errors of both ipo- and no-ToM, while young adults committed more often iper-ToM errors. Additionally, older adults, but not young adults, did not show a difference between iper-ToM and ipo-ToM errors, which were equally frequent in this age group. Globally, results indicated that older adults' failure in classic ToM tasks may be due to both ipo- and iper-ToM and provide needed evidence for the MASC as a suitable measure of ToM in aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Theory of mind plasticity in aging: The role of baseline, verbal knowledge, and executive functions.
- Author
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Lecce, Serena, Ceccato, Irene, Rosi, Alessia, Bianco, Federica, Cavallini, Elena, and Bottiroli, Sara
- Abstract
Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to attribute mental states to the self and others in order to explain and predict social behaviour. Meta-analytic results have shown a decline in ToM abilities in healthy older adults. Recent research has also highlighted the possibility of enhancing older adults' ToM performance through group conversations focused on mental states. Our aim was to determine whether the extent to which older people benefited from a ToM training was predicted by performance on a battery of executive functioning tasks, on baselines in ToM tasks, on verbal knowledge. Forty-three older adults (60-84 years) participated in a three-session ToM training programme that has previously shown to be effective in improving ToM ability. Results showed that verbal knowledge predicted training gains in practiced ToM tasks. In addition, age, executive functions and baseline performance predicted training gains in non-practiced ToM tasks. Results are discussed in light of the amplification model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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37. Decision-making competence in younger and older adults: which cognitive abilities contribute to the application of decision rules?
- Author
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Rosi, Alessia, Bruine de Bruin, Wändi, Del Missier, Fabio, Cavallini, Elena, and Russo, Riccardo
- Subjects
OLDER people ,COGNITIVE ability ,YOUNG adults ,VERBAL memory ,SHORT-term memory - Abstract
Older adults perform worse than younger adults when applying decision rules to choose between options that vary along multiple attributes. Although previous studies have shown that general fluid cognitive abilities contribute to the accurate application of decision rules, relatively little is known about which specific cognitive abilities play the most important role. We examined the independent roles of working memory, verbal fluency, semantic knowledge, and components of executive functioning. We found that age-related decline in applying decision rules was statistically mediated by age-related decline in working memory and verbal fluency. Our results have implications for theories of aging and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Qualification of Hairpin Motors Insulation for Automotive Applications.
- Author
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Mancinelli, Paolo, Stagnitta, Simone, and Cavallini, Andrea
- Subjects
ELECTRIC motor insulation ,ELECTRIC vehicles ,MACHINERY reliability ,AUTOMOBILE engines ,PRODUCT life cycle assessment ,PARTIAL discharges - Abstract
This paper is focused on the reliability evaluation of an electric vehicle (EV) motor based on hairpin technology. Besides bearings (not discussed here), the weak point of an electric motor is its insulating system. For inverter-fed motors, the inception of partial discharges might lead to failure in a matter of days, and thus, deserves particular attention. Qualification and lifetime evaluation of inverter-fed machines are described in IEC 60034-18-41, which specifies accelerated aging procedures and considers partial discharge inception as the end-of-life criterion. This standard was used as a reference for this paper. The only exception is that insulation models were subjected to the mechanical stress profile reported in the ISO 16750-3-2012 standard since an automotive motor is subject to significant vibrations during its operation. From the tests performed, we observed that, with the hairpin technology, turn-to-turn is the weakest link in the insulation system. All the insulation models were partial discharge (PD) free from the beginning of the tests to breakdown and the root cause for breakdown was, in all cases, traced back to cracks on the surface of the insulation. This suggests that, depending on insulating enamel thickness and conductor geometry, some insulation systems are intrinsically PD free by design, despite the effect of aging. Considering the severe vibration profiles typical of EVs, and the principal breakdown mechanism (cracking of the insulation), mechanical stress coupled with thermal stress appears as the main aging driver. Therefore, this paper spotlights the lack of proper standards for the qualification of automotive electric motors and hints at the possibility that IEC 60034-18-41 considers dealing with motors that might be intrinsically partial discharge free even after long-term exposure to operational stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2017
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39. Transformer health indices calculation considering hot-spot temperature and load index.
- Author
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Fern?ndez, F?lix O., Ortiz, Alfredo, Delgado, Fernando, Fern?ndez, Inmaculada, Santisteban, Agust?n, and Cavallini, Andrea
- Subjects
DIELECTRIC materials ,ELECTRIC transformers ,INFORMATION theory ,ELECTRICAL engineering ,NUMERICAL calculations - Abstract
The state of a transformer depends on many parameters, which should be taken into account to determine its actual condition. In recent years what is known as health indices of transformers has been defined, which is a practical tool to assess the overall status of these electrical devices. Data from field inspection, laboratory tests, and observations during operation of the transformer are combined. All of these result in an index that provides fairly objective and quantitative information as to the condition of the transformer [1]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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- View/download PDF
40. On the generality of the effect of experiencing prior gains and losses on the Iowa Gambling Task: A study on young and old adults.
- Author
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Rosi, Alessia, Cavallini, Elena, Gamboz, Nadia, and Russo, Riccardo
- Subjects
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GAMBLING , *ADULTS , *RISK aversion , *DECISION making - Abstract
Prospect Theory predicts that people tend to be more risk seeking if their reference point is perceived as a loss and more risk averse when the reference point is perceived as a gain. In line with this prediction, Franken, Georgieva, Muris and Dijksterhuis (2006) showed that young adults who had a prior experience of monetary gains make more safe choices on subsequent decisions than subjects who had an early experience of losses. There are no experimental studies on how experiencing prior gains and losses differently influences young and older adults on a subsequent decision-making task (the Iowa Gambling Task). Hence, in the current paper, adapting the methodology employed by Franken et al.'s (2006), we intended to test the generality of their effect across the life span. Overall, we found that subjects who experienced prior monetary gains or prior monetary losses did not display significant differences in safe/risky choices on subsequent performance in the Iowa Gambling task. Furthermore, the impact of prior gains and losses on risky/safe card selection did not significantly differ between young and older adults. These results showed that the effect found in the Franken et al.'s study (2006) is limited in its generality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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41. Theory of Mind in aging: Comparing cognitive and affective components in the faux pas test.
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Bottiroli, Sara, Cavallini, Elena, Ceccato, Irene, Vecchi, Tomaso, and Lecce, Serena
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PSYCHOLOGICAL aspects of aging , *AFFECT (Psychology) , *AGE distribution , *COGNITION , *COMPARATIVE studies , *STATISTICAL correlation , *MEMORY , *PSYCHOLOGY , *THOUGHT & thinking , *THEORY , *EXECUTIVE function - Abstract
Objectives Theory of Mind (ToM) is a complex human ability that allows people to make inferences on others’ mental states such as beliefs, emotions and desires. Previous studies on ToM in normal aging have provided heterogeneous findings. In the present study we examined whether a mixed calculation of different aspects of ToM may have contributed to these conflicting results. We had two aims. First, we explored the age-related changes in the performance of cognitive vs. affective ToM. Second, we investigated the extent to which the effect of aging on cognitive vs. affective ToM is mediated by age-related differences in executive functions. Method To address these issues three age groups (young, young-old, and old-old adults) were compared on cognitive and affective ToM using the faux pas test. In addition, participants were tested using a battery of executive function tasks tapping on inhibition, working memory updating, and word fluency. Results The analyses indicated that young adults outperform both young-old and old-old adults on cognitive ToM but not on affective ToM. Correlations showed that, whereas cognitive ToM was significantly associated with age, working memory updating, and inhibition, affective ToM was not. Finally, analyses revealed that individual differences in working memory updating (but not inhibition) mediated the effect of age on cognitive ToM. Conclusion Our findings support the view of selective age-related differences on cognitive, but not affective, ToM in normal aging. The distinction between the two ToM components is further supported by a dissociable pattern of correlations with executive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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42. Promoting theory of mind in older adults: does age play a role?
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Rosi, Alessia, Cavallini, Elena, Bottiroli, Sara, Bianco, Federica, and Lecce, Serena
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AGE distribution ,AGING ,ANALYSIS of covariance ,COGNITION in old age ,PROBABILITY theory ,PSYCHOLOGICAL tests ,SOCIAL skills ,THOUGHT & thinking ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Objectives:Previous research on age-related changes in Theory of Mind (ToM) showed a decline in older adults, particularly pronounced over 75 years of age. Evidence that ToM may be enhanced in healthy aging people has been demonstrated, but no study has focused on the role of age on the effects of ToM training for elderly people. The present study was designed to examine the efficacy of a ToM training on practiced (ToM Strange Stories) and transfer tasks (ToM Animations) in both young and older adults. Method:The study involved 127 older adults belonging to two age groups: young–old (Mage= 64.41; SD = 2.49; range: 60–69 years) and old–old (Mage= 75.66; SD = 4.38; range: 70–85 years), randomly assigned to either a ToM group or a control group condition. All participants took part in two 2-hour testing sessions and four 2-hour training sessions. Results:Results showed that both young–old and old–old adults in the ToM group condition improved their ability to reason on complex-mental states significantly more than participants in the control group condition. This positive effect of the training was evident on practiced and transfer ToM tasks. Crucially, age did not moderate the effect of the ToM training. Conclusion:These findings demonstrate that young–old and old–old adults equally benefit from the ToM training. Implications for the positive effect of the ToM training in old–old adults are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2016
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43. Stress conditions in HVDC equipment and routes to in service failure.
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Morshuis, Peter, Cavallini, Andrea, Fabiani, Davide, Montanari, Gian, and Azcarraga, Carlos
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HIGH-voltage direct current transmission , *ELECTRIC insulators & insulation , *ELECTRIC conductivity , *TEMPERATURE measurements , *DIRECT currents , *ELECTRIC transformers - Abstract
High voltage equipment designed for DC applications is stressed differently from ac equipment. Most notably, the load conditions of the equipment play a major role in determining the electric field distribution in insulation under dc, due to the temperature dependence of conductivity. Additionally, polarization and space charge phenomena impose a time dependent behavior on the stress distribution. This has major consequences for the way in which degradation of the insulation under dc stress takes place. The nature of the stresses under dc may lead to accelerated degradation processes which could result in early breakdown of the insulation. This paper provides an overview of the stress conditions specific for dc application and highlights via which routes they may lead to failure. The stress distributions in converter transformers and dc cable systems will serve as typical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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44. The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music.
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Bottiroli, Sara, Rosi, Alessia, Russo, Riccardo, Vecchi, Tomaso, and Cavallini, Elena
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ENVIRONMENTAL music ,PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of music ,INFLUENCE of music ,MUSIC physiology ,HEALTH of older people - Abstract
Background music refers to any music played while the listener is performing another activity. Most studies on this effect have been conducted on young adults, while little attention has been paid to the presence of this effect in older adults. Hence, this study aimed to address this imbalance by assessing the impact of different types of background music on cognitive tasks tapping declarative memory and processing speed in older adults. Overall, background music tended to improve performance over no music and white noise, but not always in the same manner. The theoretical and practical implications of the empirical findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2014
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45. Prosociality in aging: The contribution of traits and empathic concern.
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Cavallini, Elena, Rosi, Alessia, Ceccato, Irene, Ronchi, Luca, and Lecce, Serena
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AGING , *OLDER people , *PROSOCIAL behavior , *MIDDLE-aged persons , *PERSONALITY , *PERSPECTIVE taking - Abstract
Past literature on prosocial behavior in aging has mainly focused on age-related differences. However, the analysis of the predictors of prosociality in late adulthood is still under investigated. The present study examines how personality traits predict actual and self-reported prosocial behaviors, while considering the mediation effects of empathic concern and the moderator effect of age, in an Italian sample of 150 participants aged from 55 to 86 years old (M age = 69.52). Based on a path analysis model, results revealed that agreeableness has a direct association with self-reported prosocial behavior and an indirect relationship, via empathic concern, with actual prosocial behavior. In addition, emotional stability further explains variations in older adults' prosociality, via empathic concern. Age also plays a different role on actual and self-reported behaviors. While the relationship between empathic concern and actual behavior is the same in middle-aged and older adults, in the self-reported behaviors it changes according to the age of participants. As they grow older, people perform prosocial acts in daily life driven by basic dispositions, such as agreeableness, and not by empathic concern. These findings have important implications regarding the understanding of the motives that drive the different prosocial behaviors in the older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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46. Impact of age on the predictive value of NT-proBNP in patients with diabetes mellitus stabilised after an acute coronary syndrome.
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Savonitto, Stefano, Morici, Nuccia, Pancani, Silvia, Nozza, Anna, Cosentino, Francesco, Perrone Filardi, Pasquale, Cavallini, Claudio, Angeli, Fabio, Stähli, Barbara E., Heerspink, Hiddo J.L., Mannini, Andrea, Schwartz, Gregory G., Lincoff, A. Michael, Tardif, Jean-Claude, and Grobbee, Diederick E.
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ACUTE coronary syndrome , *DIABETES , *TYPE 2 diabetes , *PEOPLE with diabetes , *OLDER people - Abstract
• NT-proBNP is a sensible and specific marker of heart failure, and its plasma levels also increase with age. The mortality predictive value of NT-proBNP in patients without heart failure, especially older adults, is less established. • In the present study of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus stabilised after an ACS, elevated NT-proBNP levels are the most powerful predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality across age categories, and its predictive information does not tend to decrease with age. • This information should inform treatment strategies and future practice Guidelines. To assess the impact of age on the prognostic value of NT-proBNP concentration in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) stabilised after an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The AleCardio study compared aleglitazar with placebo in 7226 patients with T2DM and recent ACS. Patients with heart failure were excluded. Median follow-up was 104 weeks. Baseline NT-proBNP plasma concentration was measured centrally. Multivariable Cox regression was used to determine the mortality predictive information provided by NT-proBNP across age groups. Median age was 61y (IQR 54, 67). NT-proBNP concentration increased by quartile (Q) of age (median 264, 318, 391, and 588 pg/ml). Compared to Q1, patients in Q4 of NT-proBNP had higher (p < 0.001) adjusted HR for all-cause (aHR 6.9; 95 % CI 4.0–12) and cardiovascular (11; 5.4–23) death. Within each age Q, baseline NT-proBNP in patients who died was 3 times higher than in survivors (all p < 0.001). When age and NT-proBNP levels were modeled as continuous variables, their interaction term was nonsignificant. The relative prognostic information provided by NT-proBNP (percent of total X2) increased from 38 % in age Q1 to 75 % in age Q4 for mortality, and from 50 % to 88 % for CV death. Among patients with T2DM stabilised after an ACS, NT-proBNP level predicts death irrespective of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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47. Training older adults on Theory of Mind (ToM): Transfer on metamemory.
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Lecce, Serena, Bottiroli, Sara, Bianco, Federica, Rosi, Alessia, and Cavallini, Elena
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ACADEMIC medical centers , *AGE distribution , *MEMORY , *OLD age - Abstract
Background Research on aging has shown a significant decline in ToM after 65 years of age. Despite these age-related difficulties, no study has yet investigated the possibility to improve ToM in older adults. To address this gap we tested the efficacy of a conversation-based ToM training with age-appropriate ToM tasks and its transfer effects on metamemory. Method We examined 72 older adults ( M age = 67.61 years, SD = 6.39 years) assigned to three training conditions: a ToM training, a physical-conversation training and a social-contact group. All participants took part in two 2-h testing and to two 2-h training sessions. Results Results showed that after the intervention, older adults in the ToM training group improved their mental states’ understanding significantly more than participants in the physical-conversation training and in the social-contact groups. Crucially, the positive effect of the ToM intervention generalized to metamemory knowledge. Conclusions This is the first study investigating the efficacy of a ToM training and its transfer effect on metacognition in older adults. From a theoretical point of view, it supports the relation between ToM and metamemory. Practical implications of these data are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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48. How to improve social communication in aging: Pragmatic and cognitive interventions.
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Bambini, Valentina, Tonini, Elisabetta, Ceccato, Irene, Lecce, Serena, Marocchini, Eleonora, and Cavallini, Elena
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COGNITIVE aging , *COGNITIVE training , *OLDER people , *COMMUNICATIVE competence - Abstract
• We investigated the unexplored domain of pragmatic intervention in healthy aging. • We used a novel training program (PragmaCom) compared with a cognitive training. • Both PragmaCom and cognitive training produced improvement in pragmatics. • Individual factors played a greater role in the cognitive than in PragmaCom group. • Results point to pragmatic plasticity. Among all aspects of the linguistic and communicative competence, pragmatics seems especially vulnerable in aging, due also to cognitive decline. However, pragmatics has never been considered as an intervention target in healthy aging. Here we tested the effects of a novel training program to improve pragmatics (PragmaCom) in older adults, compared with an active cognitive control group in a randomized-controlled-trial design. Both the PragmaCom group and the control group improved in pragmatic skills such as understanding metaphors and avoiding off-topic speech, indicating that it is possible to improve pragmatics in aging both with a specific training and with a cognitive training. Individual cognitive factors predicted pragmatic improvement in the control group, while in the PragmaCom group benefits were less dependent on individual characteristics. We discuss the results in terms of pragmatic plasticity, highlighting the importance of these findings for promoting older adults' social communication and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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