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ABSTRACT Objective To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-R) for older adults with low education, without dementia, in two capitals in northeastern Brazil, compared to subjects with MCI. Methods 100 participants were collected from a previous neurological and psychiatric evaluation and were subsequently subjected to the ACE-R. Among them, 18 subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), 22 with non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (naMCI), and 60 healthy controls. Results Optimal ACE-R accuracy yielded excellent values for the comparison between controls and naMCI [Area Under the Curve (AUC) = 0.919)] and controls and aMCI (AUC= 0.921); conversely, very fair accuracy was reported for the comparison between aMCI and naMCI (AUC= 0.578). Conclusions These findings support establishing reliable cutoff scores for cognitive assessment of elderlies with low schooling and cognitive decline, not dementia, taking into consideration ecological and regional variables.

Increasing life expectancy has been associated with higher rates of dementia. As illiterate/uneducated individuals are typically over-represented among older cohorts, it is imperative that we identify and/or develop appropriate, non-biased scales and psychometric tests for early detection of, and screening for, cognitive impairment in this group. Given that many traditional neuropsychological tests may underestimate cognitive abilities in illiterate/uneducated and low educated individuals, their use in these groups needs to be reappraised or their format adapted. One of the most commonly used screening tests worldwide is the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Level of education has been shown to be a significant predictor of performance on the MMSE, hence, there is dispute among researchers related to its applicability in populations with low or no schooling. A wide range of recommendations have been made by scholars for overcoming the education effect on the MMSE, as well as other sources of bias, but some methodological limitations remain, and new ones have emerged concerning its administration to illiterate/uneducated and low educated older individuals. In the present study, we present a theoretical discussion of the challenges inherent in the administration and interpretation of MMSE performance in illiterate/uneducated and low educated individuals, consider previous recommendations and address their limitations, and highlight the optimal methods for clinical assessment of these groups when the MMSE is used.

Objective: To note the factors linked with delayed diagnosis of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) among children. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: September 2022 to February 2023. Material & Methods: We analyzed children aged up to 15 years who presented for the first time with echocardiographic evidence for the diagnosis of CHDs. Socio-demographic data along with clinical information like gender, age, residential status, maternal education status, history of maternal fetal echocardiography and the frequency of delayed diagnosis of CHDs were noted on a specially made proforma. Parent or guardians were asked for possible reasons of delayed diagnosis for CHDs. Results: In a total of 250 children, the mean age was 2.33±3.81 years while 162 (64.8%) children were aged below 2 years. There were 138 (55.2%) boys. Residential status of 159 (63.6%) children was rural while maternal educational status of 99 (39.6%) was illiterate. There were 164 (65.6%) children who were diagnosed to have cyanotic CHDs while 86 (34.4%) had acyanotic CHDs. Frequency of delayed diagnosis was noted among 182 (72.8%) children. In these 182 cases, delayed first consultation was the commonest factor behind delayed diagnosis noted in 78 (42.9%) children while missed diagnosis by the pediatrician was the 2nd most common factors linked with the delayed diagnosis of CHDs as described by 62 (34.1%) parents. Conclusion: Almost 3/4th of the studied children had delayed diagnosis of CHDs while cyanotic CHDs were the most common CHD types. Delayed first consultant and missed diagnosis by the pediatrician were the most common factors linked with delayed diagnosis of CHDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Akofena is the property of Universite Felix Houphouet Boigny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To establish and validate a targeted model for the prediction of cognitive impairment in elderly illiterate Chinese women. Methods: 1864 participants in the 2011-2014 cohort and 1,060 participants in the 2014-2018 cohort from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were included in this study. The Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to measure cognitive function. Demographics and lifestyle information were collected to construct a risk prediction model by a restricted cubic spline Cox regression. The discrimination and accuracy of the model were assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) and the concordance index, respectively. Results: A total of seven critical variables were included in the final prediction model for cognitive impairment risk, including age, MMSE score, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), psychological score, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental abilities of daily living (IADL), and frequency of tooth brushing. The internal and external validation AUCs were 0.8 and 0.74, respectively; and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated good performance ability of the constructed model. Conclusion: A feasible model to explore the factors influencing cognitive impairment in elderly illiterate women in China and to identify the elders at high risk was successfully constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This qualitative case study investigates the profound challenges hindering the social inclusion of illiterate deaf adults within Gujranwala city. Methodology: A sample of eight illiterate deaf adults and sixteen family members was meticulously selected through snowball sampling. Data collection utilized a tailored semi-structured interview schedule, validated by experts, and conducted in sign language. Findings: Thematic analysis revealed a multitude of challenges, including communication barriers, unfamiliarity with standardized sign language, low self-confidence, limited awareness of civil and legal rights, attitudinal barriers, shyness, and hesitance. These challenges collectively undermine the social inclusion of illiterate deaf adults. Implications: The study underscores the pressing need for adult education initiatives tailored to their unique needs to facilitate their independent integration into society.

In the past two decades, the interdisciplinary push to denaturalise the concept of society has historicised the very object of social history. In this paper, I propose a way of studying the social history of education that eludes the presupposition of the social as a transcendental or pre-discursive object. My central claim is that it is possible to observe a process of socialisation regarding educational problems. This means that the social and society were not simply concepts that created a new object of knowledge, but rather that they became a visualisation principle that allowed for the abstraction of categories and made observable a set of relationships. These notions are contained and articulated in how social problems were produced, observed, performed, and acted upon by educational and political actors. I will do this by examining the production of illiteracy (analfabetismo in Spanish) as a social problem in Mexico in the first decades of the twentieth century. I argue that two fundamental processes rendered illiteracy a social problem. First, the development of statistical knowledge and methods made it possible to know the number of people who did not read and write, creating the illiterate as a statistical category. The second is the articulation of this statistical reality as a generalised problem by education experts and authorities. In this sense, literacy was abstracted and framed as an essential feature for the proper functioning of a modern society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Scientific Development for Studies & Research (JSD) is the property of Journal of Scientific Development for Studies & Research (JSD) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: TMA-93 examines relational binding using images. The test has been proven to be discriminative for diagnosing early Alzheimer's disease by biomarkers. Norms for this test are available, but the elderly, at high risk for Alzheimer's disease, have not yet been widely represented.Objective: To extend normative data on the TMA-93 for people aged 75 and over.Methods: An extension of the Spanish TMA-93 normative study was undertaken. Only cognitively unimpaired people aged 75 and over were included. Age, gender, and educational attainment were registered as socio-demographic variables. Using histograms analysis, median comparisons, and linear regression analysis, we selected variables that demonstrated influence on TMA-93 total scores and provided percentile-base reference data according to combinations of those variables.Results: We included 431 new participants, resulting in a total sample of 657 individuals (median age = 78, interquartile range = 76-81, range = 75-93). Percentile-base reference data stratified by a combination of age ranges (75-79, n = 428; and ≥80 years, n = 229), and educational attainment (< first grade, n = 253; first grade, n = 209; > first grade, n = 195) revealed that participants achieved a minimum TMA-93 total score of 26/30 at the 50th-percentile regardless of stratum. At the 10th-percentile, a maximum of 24/30 was achieved in the more educated stratum contrasting with a minimum of 19/30 in the less educated stratum.Conclusion: Although mitigated by lower levels of education, performance on the TMA-93 is widely preserved in cognitively unimpaired people aged 75 and over. The test could facilitate the screening of elderly patients with memory complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire is a brief cognitive tool designed to screen cognitive impairment in geriatric inpatients and outpatients. The validity and reliability of this tool have not been studied in Iran so far. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the diagnostic properties of the SPMSQ for detection of cognitive disorders in elderly and determine an appropriate cutoff point based on respondents' level of education.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through face to face interviews on a sample of 156 patients (≥60 years) referred to neurology and geriatric clinics of Ziaiyan hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Regarding the type of cognitive impairment, Participants were divided into two groups; those with cognitive disorders (n = 96) and healthy (n = 60). The level of literacy was also considered in each of the groups.Results: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the SPMSQ was 0.88. In terms of the concurrent validity, a correlation coefficient between SPMSQ and GDS was higher in the literate group compared to the illiterate patients, while in the illiterate group, the SPMSQ had a higher correlation with AMT compared to the other tools. Based on DSM-5, the cutoff point of SPMSQ was 4 in the illiterate elderly patients and the sensitivity and specificity of the tool were at 86.4 and 88.2%, respectively. However, in the literate patients, the cutoff point was 3 and the sensitivity and specificity were 83 and 93.7%, respectively. Also, two components, namely orientation and long-term memory/concentration were determined for the SPMSQ using the factor analysis.Conclusion: The Iranian version of SPMSQ has a favorable validity and reliability for diagnosing cognitive disorders and can be used for cognitive screening of illiterate older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) as a cognitive screening tool for older adults with low levels of schooling and healthy aging, MCI and dementia in Brazil. Methods: All participants underwent neurological and psychiatric examinations and were administered a validated version of ACE-R. Results: A total of 85 participants were evaluated; most were females (84.7%, n = 72). The post hoc analysis showed statistical differences in ACE-R total scores between older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and controls (p < 0.001) and in subitem scores including verbal fluency, language, visuospatial skills and attention (p < 0.001). The visual-spatial skills subitem was the most strongly correlated with schooling level (r = 0.509, p < 0.001), whereas late, immediate recall and recognition memory were not influenced by schooling. The ACE-R had the best diagnostic accuracy in discriminating between MCI and controls = 0.69 (

The concept of physical literacy is continuing to gain traction internationally. This increasing interest has also given rise to concerns about the use, interpretation and meaning of the term “literacy” within the context of physical literacy. This paper explores the development of the terms literate, illiterate, literacy, and illiteracy identifying their historical origin and contemporary meaning. This provides the backdrop to explore the use of the term literacy within the context of physical literacy. In the final part of this introductory section the recent popularity of the literacies movement is explored. Our discussion identifies key intersections and areas of tension associated with the use, interpretation and meaning of literacy in the context of physical literacy. We adopt Whitehead's philosophy of physical literacy and discussion is informed further by Derrida's notion of differance, and Barad's challenge to singular representations of concepts. Once harnessing these concepts, we reach a juncture of an in-between space; entry points of nonidentity (sameness) and points where multiple effects of difference are created. Key discussion topics include: discourse, language and interpretations of literacy; in/tangibility of literacy; capturing literacy; literacy as a process or a product; connotations of the terms literate and illiterate; neoliberalism and literacy and finally literacy as learning. We believe that when understood as the productive and meaningful interaction with/in/through the world, literacy is still the appropriate term within the context of physical literacy. Our discussion leads us to conclude that as embodied individuals, physical literacy is often the literacy through which other literacies have to pass. Through physical activity individuals can not only nurture their own physical literacy but also contribute toward a global or holistic literacy that helps us navigate, connect and make sense of ourselves, others and the world around us. However, the paper acknowledges that this meaning is not always grasped with the historical understanding of literacy as well as it's translations into other languages presenting challenges in articulating the intended use, meaning and connotations of the contemporary understanding of physical literacy.

Copyright of Journal of Social Intervention: Theory & Practice is the property of Universiteit Utrecht and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The accuracy of commonly used screening tests for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not been directly compared to those that could be more appropriate for lower schooling. Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of usual screening tests for AD with instruments that might be more appropriate for lower schooling among older adults with low or no literacy. Methods: The study included a clinical sample of 117 elderly outpatients from a Geriatric Clinic classified as literate controls (n = 39), illiterate controls (n = 30), literate AD (n = 30) and illiterate AD (n = 18). The tests were compared as follows: Black and White versus Colored Figure Memory Test; Clock Drawing Test versus Clock Reading Test; Verbal Fluency (VF) animal versus grocery category; CERAD Constructional Praxis versus Stick Design Test. Results: The means of literate and illiterate controls did not differ in the Black and White Figure Memory Test (immediate recall), Colored Figure Memory Test (delayed recall), Clock Reading Test and VF animals and grocery categories. The means of the clinical groups (controls versus AD), in the 2 schooling levels, differed significantly in most of the tests, except for the CERAD Constructive Praxis and the Stick Design Test. Diagnostic accuracy was not significantly different between the compared tests. Conclusion: Commonly used screening tests for AD were as accurate as those expected to overcome the education bias in a sample of older adults with lower or no education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy is a determinant of health and assessed globally to inform the development of health interventions. However, little is known about health literacy in countries with one of the poorest health indicators worldwide, such as Afghanistan. Studies worldwide demonstrate that women play a key role in developing health literacy. Hence, this study's purpose is to explore health literacy of women in Afghanistan and the associated factors.Methods: From May to June 2017, we randomly recruited 7–10 women per day at the hospital in Ghazni, a representative province of Afghanistan. Two trained female interviewers interviewed 322 women (15–61 years old) orally in Dari or Pashto on a voluntary basis and assessed their health literacy using the HLS-EU-Q16, associated socio-demographics, and health behavior.Results: Health literacy of women (among educated and illiterates) is low even compared to other Asian countries. Health literacy is linked to age and education. We found mixed evidence of the relationship between health literacy and contextual factors, help-seeking, and health-related behavior.Conclusion: This study provides novel data on health literacy and astonishing insights into its association with health behavior of women in Afghanistan, thus contributing to health status. The study calls for recognition of health literacy as a public health challenge be addressed in Afghanistan and other low-income countries affected by crises.

Abstract Background Delirium is a common complication after cardiac surgery in older adult patients. However, risk factors and the influence of delirium on patient outcomes are not well established. We aimed to determine the incidence, predisposing and triggering factors of delirium following cardiac surgery. Methods One hundred seventy-three consecutive patients aged ≥60 years were studied. Patients’ characteristics and two cognitive function assessment tests were recorded preoperatively. Perioperative variables were blood transfusion, orotracheal intubation time (OIT), renal dysfunction, and hypoxemia. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit. The composite outcome consisted of death, infection, and perioperative myocardial infarction until hospital discharge or 30 days after surgery, and for up to 18 months. Results One hundred six patients (61.27%) were men and the age was 69.5 ± 5.8 years. EuroSCORE II index was 4.06 ± 3.86. Hypertension was present in 75.14%, diabetes in 39.88%, and 30.06% were illiterate. Delirium occurred in 59 patients (34.1%). Education level (OR 0.81, 0.71–0.92), hypertension (OR 2.73, 1.16–6.40), and mitral valve disease (OR 2.93, 1.32–6.50) were independent predisposing factors for delirium, and atrial fibrillation after surgery (OR 2.49, 1.20–5.20) represented the potential triggering factor. Delirium (OR 2.35, 1.20–4.58) and OIT ≥ 900 min (OR 2.50; 1.30–4.80) were independently associated with the composite outcome. Conclusions In older adult patients submitted to cardiac surgery, delirium is a frequent complication that is associated with worst outcome. Independent risk factors for delirium included education level, hypertension, mitral valve disease, and atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

This validation study is discriminant and concurrent, with the Bayer-Activities of Daily Living (Bayer-ADL) tool among the Iranian elderly dementia illiterate and literate. The tools Bayer-ADL, Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), ADL-Barthel, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were applied to find Bayer-ADL correlations in 311 dementia outpatients that were ≥60 years old. The Iranian version Bayer-ADL scores between illiterate and literate dementia elderly, based on GDS, observed good discrimination values (0.923 sensitivity and 0.750 specificity) in illiterate people, and excellent discrimination values were achieved (sensitivity 0.919 and 0. 986 specificity) in literate dementia elderly. The suggested cutoff points were 1.79 for illiterate and for the Iranian literate dementia elderly 1.82, based on GDS. Both forms (24 and 25 items) of Bayer-ADL were correlated to GDS, ADL, and IADL. Bayer-ADL is a valid tool to distinguish physical dysfunction between illiterate and literate of the Iranian dementia elderly; however, some revisions in the components are needed for the illiterate elderly. Generally, the findings presented in the Iranian version Bayer-ADL could be useful to both clinical purpose and international studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with no literacy are at increased risk of progression to dementia. Whether it is feasible to engage this population in visual art therapy (VAT) and yield effects on cognition and depression remained unclear. A pilot mixed-method single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in a sample of community-dwelling older adults with MCI. The experimental group (n = 21) was assigned to 12 sessions of VAT over 6 weeks, and the control group (n = 18) was assigned to 6 weekly health education (HE) on nonbrain health topics. Participants were evaluated at baseline using Montreal Cognitive Assessment–5-minute protocol (MoCA-5-min) and Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF). A focus group discussion (FGD) was also conducted to the experimental group to explore their experiences of participating in the VAT. Findings indicated that both VAT and HE groups had significant improvement in MoCA-5-min scores and depressed mood over time; however, the significant group × time interaction effect was noted only for the psychological outcome. Findings from the FGD indicated that participants had challenging experiences at the beginning of the therapy, but later, they were able to cope and found that the VAT was relevant and beneficial for their cognitive and psychosocial health. This pilot study provided initial evidence about the potential benefit of VAT in improving cognitive and psychological well-being of older adults with MCI and low literacy and provided insights on how to better engage them in this cognitive stimulating intervention. A full-scale trial is recommended for a stringent evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of conversions occur in Arabic word structures in terms of pronunciation and ease of use. The subject of this study is i'lâl which is one those conversions and means as a term the intervensions of "illiterate letters" (elif, vâv, yâ) and hiatus (hemze) (Kalb), the omission of illiterate letters and vowel points (hareke) (hazf) or the transfer of the vowel points of those letters to the preceeding literate and calm letters (Sükun and nakl). Hemze is analyzed under the title of i'lâl since it goes through many changes although it is not an illiterate letter according to general view. İ'lâl occurs through kalb, nakl-iskan and hazf. Since the subject is very comprehensive, the interconversion of illiterate letters and hemze is discussed together with examples in this study and definitions of i'lâl are given. In this way, it is aimed to contribute to the correct understanding of the meaning of the words by knowing the originals of the converted letters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of electronic communication has been significantly increased over the last few decades. Email is one of the most well-known means of electronic communication. Traditional email applications are widely used by a large population; however, illiterate and semi-illiterate people face challenges in using them. A major population of Pakistan is illiterate that has little or no practice of computer usage. In this paper, we investigate the challenges of using email applications by illiterate and semiilliterate people. In addition, we also propose a solution by developing an application tailored to the needs of illiterate/semi-illiterate people. Research shows that illiterate people are good at learning the designs that convey information with pictures instead of text-only, and focus more on one object/action at a time. Our proposed solution is based on designing user interfaces that consist of icons and vocal/audio instructions instead of text. Further, we use background voice/audio which is more helpful than flooding a picture with a lot of information. We tested our application using a large number of users with various skill levels (from no computer knowledge to experts). Our results of the usability tests indicate that the application can be used by illiterate people without any training or third-party's help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Level of education is known to confound neuropsychological test performance. The INECO Frontal Screening (IFS) is an easy-to-use and brief measure of several domains of executive function, which has previously shown reliably clinical usefulness and superior psychometric performance when compared to other frontal screening instruments. However, previous studies with the IFS have been limited to participants with high levels of education, preventing its generalizability to populations with less than 12 years of formal education. This is crucial, as less than half of the Latin American population and a large percentage of immigrants in developed countries attain high school education. The aim of this study was to generate IFS normative data in a sample stratified by age and education levels. One hundred and sixty one healthy adults were assessed with the IFS as well as measures of global cognitive screening, namely, the Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination Revised and the Mini-Mental State Examination. Multiple lineal regression analysis showed significant effects for education and nonsignificant effects for age. A correction grid for IFS raw scores was developed and cut-off scores were calculated. The correction grid and cut-off scores may be useful in the interpretation of IFS scores in participants with low education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article was to recognize the educational needs and interests of literates and illiterates in the age group of 10-49 years old in order to find the operational solutions to meet their needs and educational interests. The method of this research was survey and its statistical population included scholars, local reference groups, managers and experts of literacy movement organization, education departments, educators, literates and illiterates in Iran. The research sample included 391 persons who were selected through stratified-random sampling method. The research tools included a researcher-made questionnaire, open and semi-structured interviews and the focus group. The data was analyzed using one sample t-test and the qualitative content analysis method. The results showed that literates and illiterates in the age group 10-49 years old have good inner motivation for learning, therefore when developing the educational content, their interests, attitude, knowledge and skills should be considered.

Aging can lead to functional and cognitive alterations, sometimes limiting older adults in their social development, especially illiterate groups of older adults who receive poor attention from healthcare systems. In this context, the present investigation proposes the cognitive training program “MENTE SANA [HEALTHY MIND]” to improve the cognitive functions of illiterate older adults in Arequipa (Peru). It is a type of quasi-experimental research with a pre-test/post-test design with a homogenous control group. The sample was made up of adults 60 years old and above and of female gender. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used to detect the level of cognitive decline in illiterate older adults. The 50-sessions program was applied to all the older adults with mild cognitive impairment that were selected for the study, on a daily basis. It was found that the tested group improved their cognitive functions compared to the control group. These results help to propose adapted cognitive training programs for illiterate people.

Introduction: A considerable segment of the elderly population in Iran is illiterate, and it seems the existing neuropsychological screening tests are not very useful for detecting dementia in illiterate participants. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a tool called Persian test of Elderly for Assessment of Cognition and Executive function (PEACE) for detecting dementia in both illiterate and literate participants. Methods: First, in order to design some of the cognitive aspects of the PEACE assay, we considered other prevalent neuropsychological instruments, such as the General Practitioner assessment of Cognition (GPCOG), Functional Assessment Staging (FAST), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Wechsler Memory scale. The other domains of PEACE were designed according to our clinical proficiencies and the culture of the society. In the next step, the participants were classified into three distinct groups, i.e., the control group (n=33), the Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) group (n=30), and the Alzheimer’s group (n=38). All of the participants in each group were divided according to their educational level, i.e., illiterate, semi-literate, and literate. Results: We developed PEACE consisting of 14 items, each of which represents a specific cognitive function, with a maximum score of 91. The 14 items are Orientation, Praxis, Attention and Concentration, Attention and Calculation, Memory, Similarity, Abstract Thinking, General Information, Language, Judgment, Gnosis, Planning (Sequencing), Problem Solving, and Animal Naming. PEACE scores are highly correlated with those of the MMSE (r=0.78). The optimal cut-off point of PEACE chosen for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was 67.5 (sensitivity: 75.8%, specificity: 97.4%). The PEACE scores showed a significant difference between Participants with Alzheimer’s disease and the control group (p=0.0000) and the MCI group (p=0.003). In addition, there was no significant difference between illiterate and literate participants in the Alzheimer’s group. However, the PEACE scores differed significantly (p=0.0000) between illiterate and literate participants in the control group. Conclusion: The PEACE addresses the limitations of existing tests and is appropriate for use in countries that have high rates of illiteracy. It is a valid screening mechanism for the detection of dementia in both illiterate and literate participants.

One of the most important Sufi order in Erzincan in the 19th century, of the Naqshbandi stream, in which Leblebici and Salih Baba are two poet followers. Although they have not seen the formal educational process, they have expressed good poems and they were accepted two very important poets around this town. The main theme of these poems which were written and published in later times, is Sufism. Along with having a number of issues in poetry such as being, the world, the relationship between humans and their Lord, there also in these poems are sufistic practices, relationships between the followers and their sheikhs and other Sufi concepts to be discussed. In this paper we made assessments about Sufism, poetry and the given illiterate poets, then, we try to set out the common points in these tow divans such as being, the world and human being as the discussed issues in terms of their Sufism. Doing this, we also try to support our views on this issue with samples extracted from their poems. As well as we try to make the poems obviously revealed in their contents and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elder abuse is the result of different socio-economic, cultural, psychological and individual factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the individual contexts which are relevant to elder abuse in a Kurdish rural community in Iran. The study was conducted based on qualitative approach. Potential and eligible participants consisting of 38 females and 18 males were selected through purposive sampling. Individual interviews as well as focus group discussions were applied for collecting data. Conventional content analysis was implemented by two independent researchers for analyzing data manually. Viewpoints of the participants were finally characterized into six themes including age, gender, interactive limitation, physical disability, multiple chronic difficulties, and adopting of passive status. The findings showed that personal conditions were the main factor which facilitate elder abuse and neglect. Learning the ethical norms and adopting supportive laws may eliminate all forms of neglect, abuse and violence against older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delirium is a common complication after cardiac surgery in older adult patients. However, risk factors and the influence of delirium on patient outcomes are not well established. We aimed to determine the incidence, predisposing and triggering factors of delirium following cardiac surgery. Methods: One hundred seventy-three consecutive patients aged ≥60 years were studied. Patients' characteristics and two cognitive function assessment tests were recorded preoperatively. Perioperative variables were blood transfusion, orotracheal intubation time (OIT), renal dysfunction, and hypoxemia. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit. The composite outcome consisted of death, infection, and perioperative myocardial infarction until hospital discharge or 30 days after surgery, and for up to 18 months. Results: One hundred six patients (61.27%) were men and the age was 69.5 ± 5.8 years. EuroSCORE II index was 4. 06 ± 3.86. Hypertension was present in 75.14%, diabetes in 39.88%, and 30.06% were illiterate. Delirium occurred in 59 patients (34.1%). Education level (OR 0.81, 0.71-0.92), hypertension (OR 2.73, 1.16-6.40), and mitral valve disease (OR 2.93, 1.32-6.50) were independent predisposing factors for delirium, and atrial fibrillation after surgery (OR 2.49, 1.20-5.20) represented the potential triggering factor. Delirium (OR 2.35, 1.20-4.58) and OIT ≥ 900 min (OR 2.50; 1. 30-4.80) were independently associated with the composite outcome. Conclusions: In older adult patients submitted to cardiac surgery, delirium is a frequent complication that is associated with worst outcome. Independent risk factors for delirium included education level, hypertension, mitral valve disease, and atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an in-depth study into the literature on the effect of poverty on education in South Africa. To compile this research article, qualitative research in the form of secondary data was used to determine the effect of poverty on education. The researcher conducted this study to prove that education is crucial in reducing poverty in a country. This study indicates that there are high levels of poverty currently present in South Africa. The education standards are also poor in comparison to other countries. In addition, various factors are identified that have a direct influence on education in South Africa, among these are cost of education, capabilities of teachers, infrastructure and resources available. These findings can help to provide a guideline for government and other institutions with respect to the problems that need solutions in order to lift the country out of the current education crisis. There is a staggering number of South African children who are living in poverty and who do not attend schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to identify regular usage of soya beans in Oju Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study determined the (1) regular uses of soya beans in the menu of households in Oju LGA of Benue State, (2) accessibility of soya beans to households in Oju LGA of Benue State, (3) nutritional value/benefits of soya beans (4) different uses of soya beans in the diet. It answers three research questions and tested three hypotheses. The population was made up of all literate and illiterate homemakers. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 240 homemakers from the population. The instrument for the study was structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was dully validated and the reliability established prior to utilization. Copies of the instrument was administered on 240 subjects, filled and were retrieved. Means and t-test were used for data analysis. The findings from this study includes; (1) five (5) regular usage of soya beans, (2) five accessibility of soya beans, (3) five (5) nutritional values of soya beans and five awareness in the uses of soya beans. Based on the findings it was recommended that 1) Adequate enlightenment campaign should be carried out by government and Non-governmental organization on the importance and nutritive values of soya bean in Oju LGA of Benue State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is affected by multiple factors. Patient’s education, manifesting symptoms and surgical management play a significant role on discharge outcome. The literature of same from developing country is limited. The present pilot study aims to describe patient characteristics, presenting symptom and management aspects of TBI patients from a tertiary hospital. Methods. The present study is a prospective study, where TBI patients were selected and data of injury was entered on standard proforma on electronic data base. The study was approved by institute ethical board. The data was analyzed using Stats Direct version 3.0.150 software. Results. Three hundred and thirty three patients were evaluated. Eighty percent of patients were from rural areas. About 75% of patients were illiterates and married. Patient employment was significant with discharge outcome. All the patients manifested with symptoms loss of consciousness (LOC) was higher (73%) followed by vomiting (44%). LOC and oral bleed was significant with outcome. Associated injuries was higher in extremities (22.5%) followed by chest (4.4%). About 15% of patients require intracranial surgery that was significant with discharge outcome. Conclusion. The present pilot study finding is similar to available literature data and adds knowledge to TBI data of a developing country like India.

Introduction. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is affected by multiple factors. Patient's education, manifesting symptoms and surgical management play a significant role on discharge outcome. The literature of same from developing country is limited. The present pilot study aims to describe patient characteristics, presenting symptom and management aspects of TBI patients from a tertiary hospital. Methods. The present study is a prospective study, where TBI patients were selected and data of injury was entered on standard proforma on electronic data base. The study was approved by institute ethical board. The data was analyzed using Stats Direct version 3.0.150 software. Results. Three hundred and thirty three patients were evaluated. Eighty percent of patients were from rural areas. About 75% of patients were illiterates and married. Patient employment was significant with discharge outcome. All the patients manifested with symptoms loss of consciousness (LOC) was higher (73%) followed by vomiting (44%). LOC and oral bleed was significant with outcome. Associated injuries was higher in extremities (22.5%) followed by chest (4.4%). About 15% of patients require intracranial surgery that was significant with discharge outcome. Conclusion. The present pilot study finding is similar to available literature data and adds knowledge to TBI data of a developing country like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the validity and reliability of modified Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE-I) for illiterate patients in a Turkish population with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Material and Method: A total of 107 illiterate patients with Alzheimer's disease (women: 65, men: 42) and 68 illiterate healthy volunteer subjects (women: 36, men: 32) were included in the study. MMSE-I and Geriatrics Depression Scale were performed on all subjects, Alzheimer patients were also administered Basic Activities of Daily Living (B- ADL). The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) was used to determine the severity of disease, while a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to analyze the cut-off scores of MMSE-I and the positive/negative predictive values that were calculated for the optimal cut-off scores. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's coefficient α. Additionally, correlations between total MMSE-I score and the CDR, B-ADL, and GDS scores were examined. Results: The MMSE-I scores significantly and inversely correlated with CDR (-0.82, p=0.000) and B-ADL scores (-0.051, p=0.000). The optimal cut-off points of MMSE-I were 23/24, which yielded a sensitivity of 99.0% - %100.0, a specificity of 98.5% - 97.0%, and an AUC of 1.0/1.0, respectively. Reliability of the MMSE-I was high (α = 0.70). Conclusion : The total MMSE-I score was able to differentiate the AD group from the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale measures cognition using specific elements that can be isolated, defined, and subsequently measured. This study was conducted with the aim to analyze the factorial structure of MMSE in a largely, illiterate, elderly population in India and to reduce the number of variables to a few meaningful and interpretable combinations. Methodology: Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed post-hoc on the data generated by a research project conducted to estimate the prevalence of dementia in four geographically defined habitations in Himachal Pradesh state of India. Results: Questions on orientation and registration account for high percentage of cumulative variance in comparison to other questions. Discussion: The PCA conducted on the data derived from a largely, illiterate population reveals that the most important components to consider for the estimation of cognitive impairment in illiterate Indian population are temporal orientation, spatial orientation, and immediate memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]