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Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar quais os idosos em risco de vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional que devem ser encaminhados para a atenção geriátrica-gerontológica especializada, tendo por base o Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico- Funcional-20 (IVCF-20) comparado com os escores da utilização da avaliação geriátrica ampla, utilizado como padrão ouro. Método: O estudo foi transversal, no qual foram comparados os resultados obtidos no IVCF-20 com os resultados verificados na Avaliação Geriátrica Ampla (AGA). Tendo em vista que idosos com escores acima de 6 estão em risco de vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional, objetivou-se definir, entre estes, a partir de qual escore os idosos seriam considerados em alto risco de vulnerabilidade, com base em alta especificidade (igual ou superior a 95%) e sensibilidade não inferior a 50%. Resultados: Identificou-se um ponto de corte de 15 pontos, com sensibilidade de 52% e especificidade de 98%. Conclusão: A elevada especificidade obtida indica que, provavelmente, poucos idosos em risco com pontuação igual ou superior a 15 seriam encaminhados desnecessariamente para a atenção gerontológica especializada, otimizando assim o uso dos recursos em saúde.

Resumo Objetivou-se conhecer a prevalência e os fatores associados à fragilidade em idosos na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado com1750 idosos no Sudeste do Brasil. Utilizou-se para coleta o Brazilian Older Americans Resources and Services MultiDimensional Function Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ) e o Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico-funcional (IVCF-20). Realizaram-se as análises descritivas e bivariadas, seguidas da análise regressão de Poisson, com variância robusta, para obtenção de razões de prevalência ajustadas. O IVCF-20 identificou 357 idosos frágeis (20,1%). As variáveis estatisticamente associadas à fragilidade após análise múltipla foram: estado civil (RP = 1,05; IC95% = 1,02-1,07), escolaridade (RP = 1,05; IC95% = 1,03-1,08), polipatologia (RP = 1,05; IC95% = 1,01-1,09), polifarmácia (RP = 1,21; IC95% = 1,17-1,26), transtorno mental (RP = 1,16; IC95% = 1,12-1,21), comprometimento cognitivo (RP = 1,71; IC95% = 1,57-1,86), comprometimento de atividades de vida diária (RP = 1,12; IC95% = 1,09-1,14), quedas (RP = 1,06; IC95% = 1,03-1,10), internação (RP = 1,39; IC95% = 1,27-1,52) e incontinência urinária, autopercepção da saúde. Concluiu-se que a significante prevalência de fragilidade do estudo reitera a necessidade de abordagem multidimensional do idoso. Abstract The scope of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with frailty among the elderly in Primary Health Care. It is a cross-sectional study carried out with 1750 elderly people in the Southeast of Brazil. The Brazilian Older American Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ) and the Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index (CFVI) were used for data collection. Descriptive and bivariate analyzes were performed, followed by Poisson regression analysis, with robust variance, to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios (PR). The CFVI identified 357 frail elderly people (20.1%). The variables that remained statistically associated with frailty after multiple analysis were: single/widowed (PR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.02-1.07); four years of schooling (PR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.03-1.08); polypathology (PR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01-1.09); polypharmacy (PR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.17-1.26); mental disorder (PR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.12-1.21); cognitive impairment (PR = 1.71; 95%CI = 1.57-1.86); Daily Living Activity impairment (PR = 1.12; 95%CI = 1.09-1.14); falls (PR = 1.06; 95%CI = 1.03-1.10); hospitalization (PR = 1.39; 95%CI = 1.27-1.52); urinary incontinence and self-perception of health. The conclusion that a significant prevalence of frailty in the study reaffirms the need for a multidimensional approach to the elderly.

Resumo O presente estudo tem como objetivo estimar o impacto da COVID-19 na mortalidade de idosos institucionalizados no Brasil. Foram estimados números de óbitos pela doença para o País, Unidades da Federação e Regiões, com base nas estimativas calculadas e efetuadas neste trabalho do percentual de óbitos de idosos que ocorreriam em instituições de longa permanência de acordo com os totais. Essa estimativa foi baseada em informações disponíveis para uma série de países. O percentual ponderado foi de 44,7%. Estimaram-se 107.538 óbitos de idosos nestas instituições no Brasil em 2020, por COVID-19. São previstos maiores números de óbitos na Região Sudeste (48.779 óbitos), seguida da Região Nordeste (28.451 óbitos); São Paulo é a Unidade da Federação que na estimativa será mais afetada (24.500 óbitos). Fica claro o forte impacto da COVID-19 na população idosa residente em instituições de longa permanência para idosos. As estimativas ultrapassam para o país 100 mil idosos, potencialmente os mais frágeis e vulneráveis, e são baseadas em número de óbitos totais conservador, tendo em vista outras estimativas e a situação alarmante de crescimento dos números de óbitos no Brasil.

Resumo A pandemia da “novel coronavirus disease” 2019 (COVID-19), infecção causada pelo coronavírus 2 da síndrome respiratória aguda grave (SARS-CoV-2), tem descortinado uma realidade até então oculta: a vulnerabilidade da população residente em instituições de longa permanência para idosos (ILPI). Diversas publicações científicas têm revelado a concentração de até 60% dos óbitos atribuídos à COVID-19 em tais instituições. A maioria dos residentes em ILPI reúnem os principais fatores de risco para morbimortalidade pela COVID-19, o que torna imprescindível a definição de ações voltadas à prevenção da transmissibilidade do SARS-CoV-2 neste ambiente, além das medidas usuais de distanciamento social e isolamento dos portadores da doença. Propõem-se, no presente artigo, estratégias de rastreamento da infecção em residentes e trabalhadores de ILPI por meio de testes laboratoriais disponíveis no Brasil. A identificação precoce de indivíduos portadores do SARS-CoV-2 com possibilidades de transmissão ativa e continuada do vírus permite a adoção de medidas que interrompam o ciclo de transmissão local da infecção.

BACKGROUND: Existing instruments for the diagnosis of frailty are limited by their focus on mobility evaluation, failure to incorporate comorbidities, and dichotomous classification of patients as frail or non-frail, which hinders adequate identification of frail older adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frailty profile of outpatients seen at a secondary geriatric care service in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as measured by the Visual Scale of Frailty, and describe the five levels of health status proposed by this instrument in terms of function, disabilities, and comorbidities. METHODS: The medical records of patients who attended the clinic between February 2011 and February 2014 were evaluated, and the patients classified in accordance with the Visual Scale of Frailty. Continuous variables were analyzed by ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test, and categorical variables, by the χ2 test. Analyses were performed in SPSS Version 19.0. RESULTS: A total of 813 medical records were evaluated. Among these patients, 5.2% were considered robust, 31% at risk of frailty, 24.6% as frail, 34.8% as highly complex frail, and 4.4% as frail individuals in the final stage of life. Analysis of the health status categories demonstrated an association between these categories, greater functional impairment, and greater presence of disabilities and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The Visual Scale of Frailty is a useful tool in assessing the health status of older adults and indicated a high prevalence of frailty in the studied population.

A pandemia pela COVID-19 trouxe a necessidade de novas estratégias para o seu enfrentamento pela atenção primária à saúde, uma vez que abordagens convencionais poderão não ser efetivas. A infecção pelo SARS-Cov-2 tem como principais alvos os idosos e os indivíduos com hipertensão arterial, diabetes mellitus e doença cardiovascular prévia. No município de Uberlândia-MG, este grupo populacional, elemento central da gestão da saúde, vem sendo estratificado por risco, conforme propõe modelo de atenção as condições crônicas. A estratificação de risco tem sido fundamental para o enfrentamento da crise da COVID-19, sendo planejada não apenas de acordo com a idade das pessoas idosas, e sim a partir do índice de vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional, aliando a isto a estratificação de risco de hipertensão e diabetes daqueles idosos portadores destas condições crônicas.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a capacidade da Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) em predizer a mortalidade em até 90 dias e outros desfechos desfavoráveis em idosos admitidos em um Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência (SHE). Método Estudo de coorte prospectivo que incluiu idosos admitidos e que permaneceram por pelo menos uma noite no SHE de um hospital público terciário. O grau de fragilidade basal foi avaliado através da CFS e sua pontuação, o preditor estudado, por meio da curva Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC). Analisou-se como desfecho primário a mortalidade em 90 dias. Considerou-se como desfechos secundários: mortalidade em 180 dias, declínio funcional, readmissão no SHE, reinternação e necessidade de atenção domiciliar. Resultados 206 participantes foram incluídos. Dos 127 idosos frágeis, 40 (31,5%) faleceram até o 90º dia comparado a 5 (6,3%) do grupo não frágil (p

Objective To analyze the health predictors associated with frailty in the older population treated at a Secondary Care Service in Geriatrics and Gerontology, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional observational study involving a sample of 4,323 individuals aged 60 years or older that underwent a clinical-functional evaluation was conducted. Sociodemographic and clinical-functional variables were analyzed and compared against the dependent variable of the study: clinical-functional stratum, as measured by the Visual Frailty Scale, dichotomized into frail and non-frail. Univariate logistic regressions were performed and the variables with p-value

Resumo Objetivo Analisar os preditores de saúde associados à fragilidade na população idosa atendida em um serviço de Atenção Secundária em Geriatria e Gerontologia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos Estudo observacional transversal, envolvendo amostra de 4.323 indivíduos com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, submetidos a avaliação clínico-funcional. Selecionou-se variáveis sociodemográficas e clínico-funcionais que foram analisadas em comparação à variável dependente do estudo: estrato clínico-funcional por meio da Escala Visual de Fragilidade de forma dicotomizada em frágil e não frágil. Foram realizadas regressões logísticas univariadas. As variáveis com valor p

Introdução: O Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico-Funcional-20 (IVCF-20) é um instrumento de triagem para a população idosa, em que se destaca uma aplicação rápida e simples, o qual pode ser feito, inclusive, por profissionais que não sejam da área geriátrica. Dessa forma, ele envolve áreas que englobam de maneira ampla a saúde do idoso: idade, autopercepção da saúde, atividades diárias, cognição, humor, mobilidade, comunicação e comorbidades múltiplas. Sendo assim, é uma ferramenta de grande valor para a identificação de pontos de alerta na saúde do idoso e para um cuidado integral, haja vista que essa análise não apenas impacta na saúde física, mas também na saúde mental e no convívio social dessa faixa etária. Objetivo: Identificar as principais diretrizes e protocolos atuais de abordagem do idoso na saúde pública por meio da aplicação do Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico-Funcional-20 (IVCF-20) e seus impactos. Material e métodos: Revisão bibliográfica cuja busca dos estudos primários foi realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, SciELO, CINAHL e LILACS e na revisão de prontuários disponibilizados pelo Instituto Jenny de Andrade Faria. Resultados: Observou-se que o prognóstico de idosos atendidos no Instituto Jenny de Andrade Faria do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC) que tiveram o seu IVCF-20 calculado foi positivo, no que tange à redução de quedas, à substituição ou à suspensão de medicamentos, ao aumento de vigília por cuidadores, à prevenção de quadros psicopatológicos, entre outras medidas. Conclusão: A aplicabilidade do IVCF-20 como protocolo determinante na avaliação da saúde do idoso possui imensa validez, pois consiste num instrumento de praticidade e de potencial internacional, capaz de determinar as capacidades e as limitações que permeiam o indivíduo, caracterizando-o como uma ferramenta não só preventiva, mas terapêutica, notoriamente, ao garantir a melhora da qualidade de vida da população idosa.

Objectives: to evaluate two instruments for screening frailty in the elderly in Primary Health Care. Methods: this is an observational, cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, with 396 elderly people. SPSS software helped to perform the statistical analyses. The study used the kappa coefficient and Spearman’s correlation. Results: the kappa coefficient between the Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index 20 and the Edmonton Frailty Scale was 0.496, considered moderate. There was a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.77; p < 0.001) between the frailty conditions and the total score of the two instruments. Conclusions: when this article assessed fragility through the kappa coefficient, both instruments presented positive correlation and agreement. However, the identification of frailty was higher when it used the Edmonton Frailty Scale. RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar dos instrumentos de rastreo de fragilidad en el anciano en la Atención Primaria de Salud. Métodos: se trata de un estudio observacional, del tipo transversal, con abordaje cuantitativo, con 396 ancianos. Los análisis estadísticos fueron realizados con auxilio del software SPSS. Fueron usados el coeficiente kappa y la correlación de Spearman. Resultados: el coeficiente kappa entre el Índice de Vulnerabilidad Clínico Funcional 20 y la Escala de Fragilidad de Edmonton fue de 0,496, considerado moderado. Hubo correlación positiva y significante (r = 0,77; p < 0,001) entre las condiciones de fragilidad y la puntuación total de los dos instrumentos. Conclusiones: al evaluar la fragilidad, ambos los instrumentos presentaron correlación positiva y concordancia cuando verificados por el coeficiente kappa. Entretanto, la identificación de la fragilidad fue superior cuando utilizada la Escala de Fragilidad de Edmonton. RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar dois instrumentos de rastreio de fragilidade no idoso na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo observacional, do tipo transversal, com abordagem quantitativa, com 396 idosos. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com auxílio do software SPSS. Foram usados o coeficiente kappa e a correlação de Spearman. Resultados: o coeficiente kappa entre o Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico Funcional 20 e a Escala de Fragilidade de Edmonton foi de 0,496, considerado moderado. Houve correlação positiva e significante (r = 0,77; p < 0,001) entre as condições de fragilidade e a pontuação total dos dois instrumentos. Conclusões: ao avaliar a fragilidade, ambos os instrumentos apresentaram correlação positiva e concordância quando verificados pelo coeficiente kappa. Entretanto, a identificação da fragilidade foi superior quando utilizada a Escala de Fragilidade de Edmonton.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To review systematically the influence of admission criteria on the mortality of elderly patients under intensive therapy. METHODS We performed a search on the PUBMED and BIREME databases by using the MeSH and DeCS terms “intensive care units”, “patient admission”, and “aged” in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Only prospective and retrospective cohort studies were included. We analyzed the severity score, type of hospital admission, quality of life, co-morbidities, functionality, and elderly institutionalization. RESULTS Of the 1,276 articles found, thirteen were selected after evaluation of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. It was observed that the severity score, functionality, and co-morbidities had an impact on mortality. It was not possible to determine which severity score was more suitable. CONCLUSION We suggest that analysis of functionality, co-morbidities, and severity scores should be conducted to estimate the elderly mortality in relation to the admission to intensive care units. RESUMO OBJETIVO Revisar sistematicamente a influência dos critérios de admissão na mortalidade em pacientes idosos em terapia intensiva. MÉTODOS Realizamos uma busca nas bases de dados PubMed e Bireme, utilizando os termos MeSH e DeCS “intensive care units”, “patient admission” e “aged” em português, inglês e espanhol. Somente estudos de coorte prospectivos e retrospectivos foram incluídos. Foram analisados o escore de gravidade, tipo de internação hospitalar, qualidade de vida, comorbidades, funcionalidade e institucionalização do idoso. RESULTADOS Dos 1.276 artigos encontrados, 13 foram selecionados após avaliação de seus critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Observou-se que o escore de gravidade, a funcionalidade e as comorbidades tiveram impacto na mortalidade. Não foi possível determinar qual escore de gravidade foi mais adequado. CONCLUSÃO Sugerimos que a análise da funcionalidade, de comorbidades e de escores de gravidade seja realizada para estimar a mortalidade dos idosos em relação à internação em unidades de terapia intensiva.

An infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has unveiled a hitherto hidden reality: the vulnerability of the population living in long-term care facilities for the elderly (LTCF). To date, several scientific publications have revealed a concentration of up to 60% of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in such institutions. Most LTFC residents share the primary risk factors currently associated with increased morbimortality due to the COVID-19 infection. It is crucial to define actions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 spread in this environment, besides the usual measures of social distancing and isolation of the carriers of this disease. This paper proposes strategies for the investigation of this infection in LTCF residents and workers using laboratory tests available in Brazil. The early identification of individuals with SARS-CoV-2, who may actively and continuously spread the virus, allows adopting measures aimed at interrupting the local transmission cycle of this infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses difficulties for long-term care institutions for the elderly, with increased mortality rates for the residents. This study aims to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on mortality of institutionalized elderly in Brazil. Estimates of the percentage of elderly deaths occurring in care homes were calculated for Brazil, States and Regions using estimates for the total number of deaths. The estimation was based upon information available for other countries. The weighted percentage was 44.7% and 107,538 COVID-19 deaths were estimated for the elderly in these institutions in Brazil in 2020. Higher numbers of deaths were expected in the Southeast Region (48,779 deaths), followed by the Northeast Region (28,451 deaths); São Paulo was the most affected State (24,500 deaths). The strong impact of COVID-19 on the elderly population living in long-term care facilities is clear. Estimates for the country exceeded 100,000 elderly people, potentially the most fragile and vulnerable, and are based upon a conservative number of total deaths, in view of other estimates and the alarming situation of death growth in Brazil from COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of robustness among older adults assisted in primary health care and identify factors in successful aging. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study conducted with older adults in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two questionnaires were used for data collection: the Brazilian Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Function Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ) and the Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index IVCF-20). The adjusted prevalence ratios were obtained by robust Poisson regression. Statistical analysis was performed for older adults in general (60 to 107 years) and stratified by age: from 60 to 79 years and 80 years or more. RESULTS A total of 1,750 older adults aged 60 to 107 years participated; between them, 48.7% were robust. Older adults aged 60 to 79 years (n = 1,421) and 80 years or more (n = 329) had a prevalence of robustness of 55.4% and 19.3%, respectively. Some factors associated with successful aging were: positive self-perception of health, dancing habits, walking habits, absence of cognitive impairment, absence of depressive symptoms and polypathology, as well as daily life independence. After adjustment by age, the absence of polypathology and independence for activities of daily living stand out for robustness between 60 and 79 years; in those aged 80 years and over, independence for activities of daily living and dance practice presented greater strength of association. CONCLUSION The prevalence of robust older adults in primary care is considered satisfactory for the older population in general but decreases with age and is associated with the absence of diseases and disabilities. These results denote the need to redesign the health care system, focusing on promoting and preventing clinical-functional vulnerability. RESUMO OBJETIVO Estimar a prevalência de robustez entre idosos assistidos na atenção primária à saúde e identificar fatores de envelhecimento bem-sucedido. MÉTODOS Trata-se de pesquisa transversal, realizada com idosos no norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram utilizados dois questionários para coleta de dados: Brazilian Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Function Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ) e Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico-Funcional (IVCF-20). As razões de prevalências ajustadas foram obtidas por análise de regressão de Poisson múltipla com variância robusta. A análise estatística foi realizada para os idosos em geral (60 a 107 anos) e estratificada por idade: de 60 a 79 anos e 80 anos ou mais. RESULTADOS Participaram 1.750 idosos, com idade de 60 a 107 anos, sendo 48,7% robustos. Idosos de 60 a 79 anos (n = 1.421) e 80 anos ou mais (n = 329) apresentaram prevalência de robustez de 55,4% e 19,3%, respectivamente. Associaram-se ao envelhecimento bem-sucedido: autopercepção positiva da saúde, dançar, fazer caminhada, não ter comprometimento cognitivo, ausência de sintomas depressivos e de polipatologia, além de independência para atividades de vida diária. Após ajuste por idade, destacam-se para robustez entre 60 a 79 anos a ausência de polipatologia e a independência para atividades de vida diária; naqueles com 80 anos e mais, a independência para atividades de vida diária e a prática de dança apresentaram maior força de associação. CONCLUSÃO A prevalência de idosos robustos na atenção primária pode ser considerada satisfatória para os idosos em geral, mas reduz com a idade e se associa com a ausência de doenças e incapacidades. Esses resultados denotam a necessidade de redesenhar o sistema de atenção à saúde, com foco na promoção e prevenção da vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) and Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index-20 (CFVI-20) instruments regarding degree of agreement and correlation and compare descriptive models with frailty-associated variables in community-dwelling older people in Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, nested in a population-based and household cohort. Baseline sampling was calculated based on a probabilistic approach by conglomerate in two stages. In the first stage, census tract was used as sampling unit. In the second, the number of households was defined according to the population density of individuals aged ≥ 60 years. The Kappa statistic evaluated the agreement between instruments and Pearson's coefficient their correlation. Factors associated with frailty and high risk of clinical-functional vulnerability were identified by multiple analysis of Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: Kappa statistics was 0.599 and Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.755 (p < 0.001). The EFS found a 28.2% prevalence of frailty, and the CFVI-20 found a 19.5% prevalence of high risk of clinical-functional vulnerability. Age equal to or greater than 80 years, history of stroke, polypharmacy, negative self-perceived health, fall in the past 12 months, and hospitalization in the past 12 months were variables associated with frailty in both instruments after multiple analysis. Less than four years of education, osteoarticular disease, and weight loss were associated with frailty only by EFS, and having a caregiver was associated with a high risk of clinical-functional vulnerability only by CFVI-20. CONCLUSIONS: Although the analyses show moderate agreement and strong positive correlation between the instruments, the indicated prevalence of frailty is discrepant. Our results attest the need to standardize the instrument for assessing frailty in community-dwelling older people. RESUMO OBJETIVO: Comparar os instrumentos Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) e Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico-Funcional-20 (IVCF-20) quanto ao grau de concordância e de correlação, bem como comparar modelos descritivos com variáveis associadas à fragilidade em idosos brasileiros comunitários. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, aninhado a uma coorte de base populacional e domiciliar. A amostragem na linha de base foi probabilística, por conglomerados, em dois estágios. No primeiro, utilizou-se como unidade amostral o setor censitário. No segundo, definiu-se o número de domicílios segundo a densidade populacional de indivíduos com idade ≥ a 60 anos. A estatística Kappa analisou a concordância, e o coeficiente de Pearson avaliou a correlação entre os instrumentos. Os fatores associados à fragilidade e ao alto risco de vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional foram identificados por análise múltipla de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. RESULTADOS: A estatística Kappa foi 0,599, e o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi de 0,755 (p < 0,001). A prevalência da fragilidade foi de 28,2% pela EFS, e a prevalência do alto risco de vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional foi de 19,5% pelo IVCF-20. As variáveis associadas à fragilidade, após análise múltipla, em ambos os instrumentos, foram: idade igual ou superior a 80 anos, histórico de acidente vascular encefálico, polifarmácia, autopercepção negativa de saúde, queda nos últimos 12 meses e internação nos últimos 12 meses. Escolaridade inferior a quatro anos, doença osteoarticular e perda de peso foram associadas a fragilidade apenas pela EFS, enquanto possuir cuidador esteve associado a alto risco de vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional somente pelo IVCF-20. CONCLUSÕES: Embora as análises revelem concordância moderada e forte correlação positiva entre os instrumentos, a prevalência de fragilidade apontada é discrepante. O resultado destaca a necessidade de padronizar o instrumento para aferir a fragilidade em idosos comunitários.

Objective To compare the results of neuropsychological tests, evoked potentials N200 and P300 and polymorphisms of ApoE and BDNF rs6265 between patients with normal cognition and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Methods This is a cross-sectional study of elderly individuals with normal cognition and those with MCI and AD, who were submitted to evoked potential tests (N200 and P300) by means of hearing stimuli based on the auditory oddball paradigm. Genotyping was obtained by using the real-time PCR technique. Results Sixty-five patients were evaluated as follows: 14 controls, 34 with MCI and 17 with AD. N200 latency and P300 latency and amplitude were not associated with MCI and AD diagnosis. Patients with cognitive impairment (MCI or AD) showed increase in the latencies of P300 and N200. BNDF gene was not associated with cognitive impairment. Conclusion Latencies of N200 and P300 increased in cognitively impaired patients with the presence of ApoE e-4 allele.

Objetivo: Investigar o perfil social e clínico-funcional de idosos residentes em uma instituição de longa permanência no município de Belém-PA. Método: Estudo epidemiológico, transversal, descritivo e com abordagem quantitativa. A amostra foi constituída por 40 idosos. A ficha de coleta de dados dividiu-se em três categorias: Social, Saúde (índice de massa corpórea, circunferência da panturrilha), e Funcionalidade (grau de dependência), Escore de incapacidade e protocolo de identificação do idoso vulnerável (VES-13). Os dados foram tabulados em uma planilha do programa Excel® e a análise descritiva dos dados foi realizada por meio do programa estatístico BioEstat versão 5.0, foram realizadas analises de frequência e média. Resultados: Predomínio de idosos do gênero feminino, na faixa etária de 70 a 79 anos, solteiros, naturais da região metropolitana de Belém, com nenhuma escolaridade, pardos, católicos, sem vínculo familiar, e sem filhos, com a principal forma de acesso institucional via Ministério Público. A renda mensal e plano de saúde foram por benefício de prestação continuada e do Sistema Único de Saúde, respectivamente. A proporção de idosos com polifarmácia foi maior. A Hipertensão arterial sistêmica, demência, diabetes mellitus e esquizofrenia foram as comorbidades mais frequentes. Houve predomínio de sobrepeso, CP acima do limite de corte, grau de independência I e média do VES-13 > 3. Conclusão: Medidas importantes devem ser tomadas em relação aos cuidados com esta população, acerca das questões sociais, nutricionais e de funcionalidade, gerando a possibilidade de traçar estratégias de avaliação e intervenção referente à necessidade individual de cada idoso neste contexto.

OBJETIVO: Comparar os instrumentos Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) e Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico-Funcional-20 (IVCF-20) quanto ao grau de concordância e de correlação, bem como comparar modelos descritivos com variáveis associadas à fragilidade em idosos brasileiros comunitários. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, aninhado a uma coorte de base populacional e domiciliar. A amostragem na linha de base foi probabilística, por conglomerados, em dois estágios. No primeiro, utilizou-se como unidade amostral o setor censitário. No segundo, definiu-se o número de domicílios segundo a densidade populacional de indivíduos com idade ≥ a 60 anos. A estatística Kappa analisou a concordância, e o coeficiente de Pearson avaliou a correlação entre os instrumentos. Os fatores associados à fragilidade e ao alto risco de vulnerabilidade clínicofuncional foram identificados por análise múltipla de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. RESULTADOS: A estatística Kappa foi 0,599, e o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi de 0,755 (p < 0,001). A prevalência da fragilidade foi de 28,2% pela EFS, e a prevalência do alto risco de vulnerabilidade clínico-funcional foi de 19,5% pelo IVCF-20. As variáveis associadas à fragilidade, após análise múltipla, em ambos os instrumentos, foram: idade igual ou superior a 80 anos, histórico de acidente vascular encefálico, polifarmácia, autopercepção negativa de saúde, queda nos últimos 12 meses e internação nos últimos 12 meses. Escolaridade inferior a quatro anos, doença osteoarticular e perda de peso foram associadas a fragilidade apenas pela EFS, enquanto possuir cuidador esteve associado a alto risco de vulnerabilidade clínicofuncional somente pelo IVCF-20. CONCLUSÕES: Embora as análises revelem concordância moderada e forte correlação positiva entre os instrumentos, a prevalência de fragilidade apontada é discrepante. O resultado destaca a necessidade de padronizar o instrumento para aferir a fragilidade em idosos comunitários.

The clinical response to donepezil in patients with mild and moderate dementia was investigated in relation to the drug plasma concentration and APOE and CYP2D6 polymorphisms. In a prospective naturalistic observational study, 42 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD with cerebrovascular disease who took donepezil (10 mg) for 12 months were evaluated. Their DNA was genotyped, and the donepezil plasma concentrations were measured after 3, 6, and 12 months. Good responders scored ≥-1 on the Mini-Mental State Examination at 12 months in comparison to the baseline score. The study results indicated the good response pattern was influenced by the concentration of donepezil, but not by APOE and CYP2D6 polymorphisms.

Objectives In 2012, Kamboh and colleagues published a genome-wide association study that identified the DCHS2 gene (rs1466662 T/A) influencing the age at onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to investigate if there is association between the DCHS2 gene and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and AD in a sample of the Brazilian population. Methods 143 controls, 79 aMCI and 299 AD patients were selected and submitted to the same protocol of tests. Genotyping was performed using the Real Time PCR Results Amnestic MCI patients showed a higher prevalence of AA than controls and a lower frequency of TT when compared with controls. We also stratified the sample according to the APOE e4 status. No difference in DCHS2 genotype or allelic frequency occurred in the APOE e4 allele carrier subgroup. Amnestic MCI patients showed a higher frequency of AA genotype and a lower frequency of TA and TT when compared with controls in APOE e4 allele non-carrier subgroup. The allelic distribution followed the same pattern. In AD group, we observed a significant difference with a higher A allelic frequency in AD in this subgroup. A multiple logistic regression demonstrated that in APOE e4 non-carriers, allele rs1466662 was associated to aMCI group. Different variables were associated with aMCI and AD according to APOE e4 status in our sample. Low level of education was associated with AD, while diabetes mellitus type 2 was associated with aMCI. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Conclusions Our findings suggest a possible role for DCHS2 gene in aMCI and AD.

The scope of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with frailty among the elderly in Primary Health Care. It is a cross-sectional study carried out with 1750 elderly people in the Southeast of Brazil. The Brazilian Older American Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ) and the Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index (CFVI) were used for data collection. Descriptive and bivariate analyzes were performed, followed by Poisson regression analysis, with robust variance, to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios (PR). The CFVI identified 357 frail elderly people (20.1%). The variables that remained statistically associated with frailty after multiple analysis were: single/widowed (PR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.02-1.07); four years of schooling (PR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.03-1.08); polypathology (PR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01-1.09); polypharmacy (PR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.17-1.26); mental disorder (PR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.12-1.21); cognitive impairment (PR = 1.71; 95%CI = 1.57-1.86); Daily Living Activity impairment (PR = 1.12; 95%CI = 1.09-1.14); falls (PR = 1.06; 95%CI = 1.03-1.10); hospitalization (PR = 1.39; 95%CI = 1.27-1.52); urinary incontinence and self-perception of health. The conclusion that a significant prevalence of frailty in the study reaffirms the need for a multidimensional approach to the elderly.Objetivou-se conhecer a prevalência e os fatores associados à fragilidade em idosos na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado com1750 idosos no Sudeste do Brasil. Utilizou-se para coleta o Brazilian Older Americans Resources and Services MultiDimensional Function Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ) e o Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico-funcional (IVCF-20). Realizaram-se as análises descritivas e bivariadas, seguidas da análise regressão de Poisson, com variância robusta, para obtenção de razões de prevalência ajustadas. O IVCF-20 identificou 357 idosos frágeis (20,1%). As variáveis estatisticamente associadas à fragilidade após análise múltipla foram: estado civil (RP = 1,05; IC95% = 1,02-1,07), escolaridade (RP = 1,05; IC95% = 1,03-1,08), polipatologia (RP = 1,05; IC95% = 1,01-1,09), polifarmácia (RP = 1,21; IC95% = 1,17-1,26), transtorno mental (RP = 1,16; IC95% = 1,12-1,21), comprometimento cognitivo (RP = 1,71; IC95% = 1,57-1,86), comprometimento de atividades de vida diária (RP = 1,12; IC95% = 1,09-1,14), quedas (RP = 1,06; IC95% = 1,03-1,10), internação (RP = 1,39; IC95% = 1,27-1,52) e incontinência urinária, autopercepção da saúde. Concluiu-se que a significante prevalência de fragilidade do estudo reitera a necessidade de abordagem multidimensional do idoso.

Previous studies suggest that executive functions influence the performance on visuoconstructional tasks. This study aims to investigate whether the relationship between planning ability and the copy of complex figures is mediated by distinct components of executive functions (i.e., working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility). We included a 129 older adults with Alzheimer’s disease (n=36, AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=67), and with no evidence of cognitive impairment (controls, n=26). We evaluated the mediation effect of planning abilities, working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control on visuoconstructional tasks using a multiple mediation models. We found a significant direct effect of planning on visuoconstructional abilities and a partial mediation effect of working memory and cognitive flexibility on visuoconstructional abilities. The present results indicate that the performance on visuoconstructional task is mediated by multiple interrelated executive functions components, in particular working memory and cognitive flexibility. (JINS, 2015, 21, 392–398)

Background:Evidences suggest thatGAB2andBDNFgenes may be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to investigate theGAB2rs2373115 andBDNFrs6265 polymorphisms and the risk of AD in a Brazilian sample.Methods:269 AD patients and 114 controls were genotyped with Real-time PCR. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) was employed to explore the effects of gene–gene interactions.Results:GAB2andBDNFwere not associated with AD in our sample. NeverthelessBDNFVal allele (rs6265) presented a synergic association with theAPOEε4 allele. A multiple logistic regression demonstrated that theAPOEε4 allele and years of education were the best predictors for AD. In ε4 non-carriers sex, education and hypertension were independently correlated with AD, while in ε4 carriers we did not observe any association. The findings were further confirmed by bootstrapping method.Conclusions:Our data suggest that the interaction ofBDNFandAPOEhas significant effect on AD. Moreover in absence of ε4, female sex, low level of education and hypertension are independently associated with AD. Interventions aimed to prevent AD should focus on these factors and also taking into account theAPOEalleles.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Neurotrophic factors and inflammatory markers may play considerable roles in AD. In this study we measured, through Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, the plasma levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neuronal growth factor (NGF), as well as tumor necrosis factor-alpha soluble receptors, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), in 50 AD patients, 37 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 56 healthy elderly controls. BDNF levels, expressed as median and interquartile range, were higher for AD patients (2545.3, 1497.4–4153.4 pg/ml) compared to controls (1503.8, 802.3–2378.4 pg/ml), P

Studies suggest that inflammation is involved in the neurodegenerative cascade of dementias. Immunological mechanisms may be part of the pathophysiological process in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but up till now only vague evidence of such mechanisms has been presented. The B7- CD28/CTLA-4 pathway is an important immunological signaling pathway involved in modulation of T cell activation. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of molecules associated with co-stimulatory signaling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of FTD to Alzheimer disease (AD) and control groups. Our results confirm the previous demonstrated increased expression of CD80 in CD14+ Alzheimer patients T cells but show, for the first time, a reduction in the expression of CTLA-4 in CD4+ FTD cells. As CTLA-4 is the most potent negative regulators of T-cell activation we speculated that peripheral T lymphocytes in FTD are more activated and this could be involved in the neurodegeneration observed in this dementia.

Summary Objective: Translate, transcultural adaptation and application to Brazilian Portuguese of the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study - Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) scale as a cognitive screening instrument. Method: We applied the back translation added with pretest and bilingual methods. The sample was composed by 95 elderly individuals and their caregivers. Thirty-two (32) participants were diagnosed as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, 33 as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and 30 were considered as cognitively normal individuals. Results: There were only little changes on the scale. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.89. The scores were 72.9 for control group, followed by MCI (65.1) and by AD (55.9), with a p-value < 0.001. The ROC curve value was 0.89. We considered a cut point of 72 and we observed a sensibility of 86.2%, specificity of 70%, positive predictive value of 86.2%, negative predictive value of 70%, positive likelihood ratio of 2.9 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.2. Conclusion: ADCS-ADL scale presents satisfactory psychometric properties to discriminate between MCI, AD and normal cognition. Resumo Objetivo: Tradução, adaptação transcultural para o português brasileiro e aplicação da escala Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study - Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) como instrumento de triagem cognitiva. Método: Retrotradução associada ao método bilíngue e de pré-teste. A amostra foi constituída por 95 idosos e seus respectivos acompanhantes, sendo 30 controles, 32 portadores de comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL) e 33 portadores de demência de Alzheimer (DA) em fase inicial. Resultados: Um pequeno número de modificações ocorreu na escala. O coeficiente alpha de Cronbach foi 0,89. O grupo controle pontuou 72,9, seguido pelo CCL (65,1) e pelo DA (55,9), valor p

Higher risk of dementia is expected for patients with late onset depression (LOD) history. The IL-10 polymorphisms are associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). On the other hand, there is no study associating IL-10 polymorphisms to LOD. This study aimed to investigate the -1082G/A polymorphism association in LOD, AD patients and controls and also the peripheral expression of IL-10 in CD4+ T cells. It was done in a case-control study comparing immune system phenotype and genetic polymorphism association among control individuals, LOD and AD patients. Participants were 569 subjects composed the genetics sample (249 AD, 222 LOD and 98 controls) from a tertiary medical center based on Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Flow cytometry analysis was performed in 55 people (22 AD patients, 11 LOD patients and 22 controls). A real time PCR for IL-10 SNP (rs 1800896) through genotyping analysis and flow cytometry evaluation of CD4+ T cells expressing IL-10 was done. An increased CD4+ T cells expressing IL-10 were detected only in the AD group. There was no difference detected in allele or genotype analysis for IL-10 polymorphism among LOD, AD patients or controls. IL-10 might have a role in the modulation of immune response in AD patients, however it is not presented in LOD population.

Objectives Examine the association between polymorphisms in the AKT1 and AKTIP genes and late-onset depression (LOD). Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric diseases. LOD is a disorder that starts after 65 years old. AKT1 is a downstream enzyme that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurotransmitter-related disorders, such as depression. The identification of a novel AKT1-binding protein (AKTIP) was pointed as an important new target. AKTIP binds directly to AKT1, enhancing the phosphorylation of regulatory sites, and this modulation are affected by AKT1 activation. The association of AKT1 and AKTIP polymorphisms with depressive symptoms was not investigated in LOD. Design Genotype tagSNPs in the AKT1 and AKTIP in LOD patients and controls. Settings An academic medical center. Participants Sample composed by 190 outpatients with LOD and 77 healthy individuals. Measures The participants were evaluated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV criteria, MINI-PLUS and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Results Our findings suggested an association between the tagSNP rs3730358 homozygous A/A (p = 0.006) and LOD. A strong association of allele A and increased association for LOD was demonstrated with tagSNP rs3730358 (p-value = 0.003). Limitations Limitation include composition of our control group, where the exclusion criteria generated a kind of super-healthy older group what might have produced a hidden stratification when compared with the LOD. Conclusion This study is the first one to establish the association of the AKT1/AKTIP genes and LOD, and further studies are necessary to clarify the functional role of these proteins. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

OBJETIVO: Analisar o perfil clínico e a atividade autonômica de pacientes com diagnóstico de doença de Alzheimer ou demência mista (DM). MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 54 pacientes com indicação de uso de inibidores da colinesterase, por meio de exame clínico, de eletrocardiograma de repouso e da análise espectral da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC). RESULTADOS: A casuística estudada, constituída por 61,1% de mulheres, apresentava média de 77,1 anos de idade, 3,3 anos de escolaridade, pontuação de 16,4 no miniexame do estado mental e intervalo médio de 26,2 meses entre o início dos sintomas e o diagnóstico. A quase totalidade (90,7%) apresentava comorbidades, com o uso, em média, de 3,7 drogas/paciente. Trinta e um (57,4%) pacientes apresentavam alterações eletrocardiográficas e nove (16,6%), hipotensão ortostática (HO). Esta apresentou associação com o diagnóstico de DM (p = 0,001) e com valores mais baixos dos componentes de baixa (BF) e de alta (AF) frequência da VFC na posição supina (p = 0,000 e p = 0,017), além de valores médios menores de BF em ortostatismo (p = 0,006). O diagnóstico de DM se associou a menores valores de BF nas duas posições (p = 0,003 e p = 0,007). CONCLUSÃO: Na amostra estudada, a presença de comorbidades e o uso de vários fármacos foram frequentes. Foram observados sinais de disfunção autonômica, resultando em HO, principalmente nos pacientes com DM. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and autonomical profile of patients with Alzheimer's disease or mixed dementia (MD). METHODS: Fifty-four patients with indication for cholinesterase inhibitors usewere evaluated through clinical examination, rest electrocardiogram, and spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) variability through digital Holter system recordings. RESULTS: Overall, 61.1% of patients were female and were, on average, 77.1 years of age, 3.3 years of schooling and scored 16.4 points on the Mini Mental State Examination. The gap between symptom onset and diagnosis was 26.2 months. Almost all patients (90.7%) presented at least one clinical comorbidity, and each patient took, on average, 3.7 drugs to control them. Thirty-one patients had some alteration on the electrocardiogram and nine (16.6%) had orthostatic hypotension (OH). The latter was associated with the diagnosis of MD (p = 0.001), with lower values of low (LF) and high (HF) frequency components of the spectral analysis in the supine position (p = 0.000 and p = 0.017, respectively) and with lower values of LF in the orthostatic position (p = 0.006). Diagnosis ofMDwas associated with lower values of LF in both positions (p = 0.003 and p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: This sample of patients had frequent comorbidities, which resulted in the prescription of multiple drugs. Signs of autonomic dysfunction resulting in OH were found mainly in those with MD.

Background:The assessment of visuospatial abilities is usually performed by drawing tasks. In patients with very low formal education, the use of these tasks might be biased by their cultural background. The Stick Design Test was developed for the assessment of this population. We aim to expand the test psychometric properties by assessing its construct, criterion-related and ecological validity in older adults with low formal education.Method:Healthy older adults (n = 63) and Alzheimer's disease patients (n = 92) performed the Stick Design Test, Mini-Mental State Examination, Digit Span Forward and the Clock Drawing Test. Their caregivers answered Personal Care and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living). Construct validity was assessed by factor analysis, convergent correlations (with the Clock Drawing Test), and divergent correlations (with Digit Span Forward); criterion-related validity by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and binary logistic regression; and Ecological validity by correlations with ADL.Results:The test factor structure was composed by one component (R2 = 64%). Significant correlations with the Clock Drawing Test and Digit Span Forward were found, and the relationship was stronger with the first measure. The test was less associated with formal education than the Clock Drawing Test. It classified about 76% of the participants correctly and had and additive effect with the Mini-Mental State Examination (84% of correct classification). The test also correlated significantly with measures of ADL, suggesting ecological validity.Conclusions:The Stick Design Test shows evidence of construct, criterion-related and ecological validity. It is an interesting alternative to drawing tasks for the assessment of visuospatial abilities.

OBJETIVO: Este estudo avaliou a associação entre as doenças crônico-degenerativas e o declínio funcional, a cognição e a predição da mortalidade. MÉTODOS: Um estudo transversal foi realizado em um Serviço de Geriatria em Belo Horizonte, Brasil, envolvendo 424 pacientes subdivididos em dois grupos: controle e com demência. Foram analisados dados sociodemográficos e ambientais, doenças crônicas degenerativas, o Índice de Charlson, dados sobre a demência, funcionais e de cognição. RESULTADOS: Após análise univariada, houve maior frequência de acidente vascular encefálico (AVE), incontinência urinária, constipação intestinal e distúrbio do sono no grupo demência, enquanto na análise multivariada houve maior número de fatores ambientais e distúrbio do sono. Quanto ao Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), AVE e insuficiência cardíaca apresentaram escores mais baixos. Em relação ao Índice de Charlson, houve maior pontuação no grupo com demência. CONCLUSÃO: As comorbidades foram associadas ao declínio funcional nos idosos com demência. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between chronic degenerative diseases and functional decline, cognition, and mortality prediction. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a geriatrics service in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, involving 424 patients subdivided into two groups: control and dementia. The study analyzed socio-demographic and environmental data, chronic degenerative diseases, the Charlson index, and data on functional and cognitive dementia. RESULTS: After a univariate analysis, there was a greater frequency of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), urinary incontinence, constipation, and sleep disorder in the dementia group, while the multivariate analysis showed a greater number of environmental factors and sleep disorder. Regarding the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), CVA, and heart failure presented lower scores. There was a greater score in the dementia group with regarding the Charlson index. CONCLUSION: These comorbidities were associated with the functional decline in elderly people with dementia.

Life expectancy in Brazil has increased markedly over the last 30 years. Hence, age-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), warrant special attention due to their high prevalence in the elderly. Pharmacologic treatment of AD is based on cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) and memantine, leading to modest clinical benefits both in the short and long-term. However, clinical response is heterogeneous and needs further investigation. Objective: To investigate the rate of response to ChEI in AD after three months of treatment. Methods: Patients with mild or moderate dementia due to probable AD or to AD associated with cerebrovascular disease were included in the study. The subjects were assessed at baseline and again after three months of ChEI treatment. Subjects were submitted to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Katz Basic Activities of Daily Living, Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire, Neuropsychiatric Inventory and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Good response was defined by a gain of ≥2 points on the MMSE after three months of treatment in relation to baseline. Results: Seventy-one patients, 66 (93%) with probable AD and five (7%) with AD associated with cerebrovascular disease, were evaluated. The good response rate at three months was 31.0%, being 37.2% and 21.4% in mild and moderate dementia, respectively. There were no significant differences on most tests, except for improvement in hallucinations, agitation and dysphoria in moderate dementia patients. Conclusion: The rate of good clinical response to ChEI was higher than usually reported. Specific behavioral features significantly improved in the subgroup of moderate dementia. RESUMO A expectativa de vida no Brasil aumentou significativamente nos últimos 30 anos. Desse modo, transtornos relacionados à idade, como a doença de Alzheimer (DA), merecem especial atenção, devido à elevada prevalência. O tratamento farmacológico da DA se baseia nos inibidores da colinesterase (IChE) e na memantina, com melhora modesta em curto e longo prazo. Entretanto, a resposta clínica é heterogênea e necessita maior investigação. Objetivo: Investigar a taxa de resposta aos IChE em pacientes com DA após três meses de tratamento. Métodos: Pacientes com demência leve ou moderada devida à DA ou DA com doença cerebrovascular foram avaliados antes e após três meses de uso de IChE. Todos foram submetidos ao Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), Escala de Demência Mattis, avaliação das atividades básicas de vida diária de Katz, Questionário de Pfeffer, Inventário Neuropsiquiátrico e Escala de Depressão de Cornell. Boa resposta foi definida pelo ganho de ≥2 pontos no MEEM em relação à primeira consulta, após três meses. Resultados: Setenta e um pacientes, 66 (93%) com DA provável e cinco (7%) com DA associada à doença cerebrovascular, foram avaliados. A taxa de boa resposta clínica em três meses foi de 31.0%, sendo 37,2% e 21,4% na demência leve e moderada, respectivamente. Não houve diferença significativa na maioria dos testes, exceto para melhora de alucinação, agitação e depressão em pacientes com demência moderada. Conclusão: A taxa de boa resposta clínica aos IChE foi superior à encontrada na literatura. Observou-se melhora de alguns sintomas comportamentais em pacientes com DA moderada.

Introduction: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a for the assessment of executive functions. We investigated its validity and reliability and proposed normative data in a representative sample of older adults. Method: 391 healthy elderly subjects and 93 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients performed the FAB. Internal consistency, convergent correlations, ROC curve and logistic regression were used to assess its psychometric properties. Results: We found good internal consistency, significant correlations with other tests and moderate accuracy (64%) for AD diagnosis. The use of specific subtests increased diagnostic potential (75%). Normative data stratified by age and education were proposed. Conclusion: The FAB showed adequate psychometric properties. The normative values stratified by age and education can improve its clinical use for neuropsychological assessment.

Objective Depression might be a prodromal stage of dementia. Many factors contribute to the etiology of depression and dementia, being inflammation one of those. The present work measured and analyzed immune molecules involved in the innate immunity on cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14+) monocytes trying to investigate any relationship among late-onset depression (LOD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Immune molecules were evaluated in monocytes of AD, LOD patients, and controls using flow cytometry. Results Interestingly, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) expressing CD14+ monocytes were increased in AD patients compared with controls. LOD presented intermediate frequency of CD14+ monocytes expressing IL-1β between controls and AD patients. Conclusion Results suggest that an increased frequency of CD14+ monocytes expressing IL-1β level could be a stage marker related to the pathophysiology of dementia process between normal aging and AD. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

As the proportion of population above age 65 grows, so too increases the prevalence of those individuals who are obese. This phenomenon of an elderly population with obesity is the source of much research and debate with regards to treatment recommendations. It appears that older individuals on the extreme ends of the BMI spectrum, those who are underweight and those who are morbidly obese, have an increased risk of mortality. One major concern in the treatment of obese, elderly individuals is that many may have sarcopenic obesity which can be worsened with weight loss where some degree of lean body mass loss is inevitable. While various methods of weight loss may be recommended in some elderly who are obese, it is clear that any chosen method should be accompanied by a resistance training program in order to preserve muscle mass. For complete coverage of all related areas of Endocrinology, please visit our on-line FREE web-text, WWW.ENDOTEXT.ORG .

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the association between polymorphisms in circadian genes and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and/or late-onset depression (LOD). AD pathology leads to circadian disturbances, with clear negative influence on quality of life. In addition, there is an increasing evidence that regulators of circadian system have effects on AD and LOD pathology. Design and Subjects: An exploratory case-control study designed to evaluate SNPs in the PER2, PER3, CLOCK and OX2R genes in a sample composed by 249 AD, 222 LOD and 112 healthy individuals. Measures: The participants were evaluated using DSM-IV criteria for LOD and NINCDS-ADRDA for AD. Results: In allelic analysis, the OX2R SNP, rs2134294, showed an association of allele C with LOD (p =0.02, OR= 1.6) and AD (p=0.04, OR =1.5). The rs2134294 also showed a genotypic association C/C (p =0.01) for higher risk to develop LOD compared to the control group, with an odd’s ratio of 2.7. The rs9370399 (OX2R) has also shown an association between A allele (p=0.03, OR= 1.4) and AD. These results do not persist after a 1,000 permutations test. For other markers of the OX2R gene and for all other markers of this study no association was found. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study found that the investigated Circadian Genes (PER2, PER3, CLOCK and OX2R) polymorphisms were not associated with LOD or AD.

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is a degenerative brain disorder characterized mainly by cholinergic failure, but other neuro-transmitters are also deficient especially at late stages of the disease. Misfolded β-amyloid peptide has been identified as a causative agent, however inflammatory changes also play a pivotal role. Even though the most prominent pathology is seen in the cognitive functions, specific abnormalities of the central nervous system (CNS) are also reflected in the periphery, particularly in the immune responses of the body. The aim of this study was to characterize the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in AD, which are also markedly disrupted along with the hallmark acetyl-choline dysfunction. Peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells (PBMCs) from demented patients were judged against comparison groups including individuals with late-onset depression (LOD), as well as non-demented and non-depressed subjects. Cellular sub-populations were evaluated by mono-clonal antibodies against various cell surface receptors: CD4/CD8 (T-lymphocytes), CD19 (B-lymphocytes), CD14 (monocytes), and CD56 (natural-killer (NK)-cells). The expressions of dopamine D(3) and D(4), as well as serotonin 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(2A), 5-HT(2B) and 5-HT(2C) were also assessed. There were no significant differences among the study groups with respect to the frequency of the cellular sub-types, however a unique profound increase in 5-HT(2C) receptor exclusively in NK-cells was observed in AD. The disease-specific expression of 5-HT(2C), as well as the NK-cell cyto-toxicity, has been linked with cognitive derangement in dementia. These changes not only corroborate the existence of bi-directional communication between the immune system and the CNS, but also elucidate the role of inflammatory activity in AD pathology, and may serve as potential biomarkers for less invasive and early diagnostic purposes as well.

Objective Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a multifactorial etiology involving an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The Apolipoprotein E e4 (ApoE e4) is the single most important genetic risk factor for sporadic AD. Our aim was to study the association between sociodemographic, clinical data and gene polymorphisms in patients with sporadic AD in a heterogeneous genomic Brazilian population with low educational levels. Methods We selected 169 sporadic AD patients and 97 controls older than 65 years and compared co-variables between them: age, years of education, vascular risk factors, genomic ancestry, and functional polymorphisms of ApoE, BDNF, COMT, and 5-HTTLPR. We also determined the genomic ancestry of all individuals. Results The average years of education was significantly smaller in the patient's group (p = 0.003), and they had a history of depression when compared with controls (p

Recent finding suggests that in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) executive functions deficits may be a frequent clinical finding. Automatic and Controlled attentional processes are related to the allocation of cognitive resources in different stimuli, being important to executive functioning. The present study aims at assessing the hypothesis of executive dysfunction deficits in MCI patients. Method: forty five MCI patients and forty five normal aging controls (NC) were assessed with the Five Digits Test (5D), a Mini-Verbal test version of the Stroop Test. Group comparisons were performed by t tests and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: comparisons indicates significant differences between NC and MCI in efficiency measures of controlled attentional processes, with moderate effect sizes, but not in automatic attentional processes or processing speed. Conclusion: the present work shows a selective pattern of impairment in MCI, indicating specific deficits in executive functioning with spared processing speed.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by impairment in memory and autonomy, causing excessive pressure on family and an overburdened health care system. Early diagnosis, with the appropriate treatment, is important to reduce the pattern of disease progression. Objective: The study sought to identify the most probable causes of delay in diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving AD patients followed at an Outpatient Geriatric Clinic from a tertiary public university hospital was conducted between June 2009 and February 2011. Results: Ninety-four patients were evaluated (66% women), aged 77.76±6.8 years and with median educational level of 3 years (95% CI 2.7-3.80). Regarding severity of dementia, 51.8% of patients were classified as having mild dementia (CDR 1), 40% moderate dementia (CDR 2) and 8.2% severe dementia (CDR 3). Mean educational level of caregivers was 8.3±3.9 years. Among those who believed there was a delay, 36% stated that the "family thought that the changes were normal for the age of the patient" reporting average delay of 1.8 years (95% CI: 1.3-2.5) while 45.3% stated that the "doctor did not reach a diagnosis" reporting a median delay of 1.5 years (95% CI: 1.4-2.3). Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded the time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was excessive. This study may be useful to help increase awareness of issues not sufficiently discussed in the literature, such as diagnostic delay and influence of caregivers' educational level on treatment. Resumo A doença de Alzheimer é caracterizada por comprometimento na memória e na autonomia, causando pressão excessiva em familiares e sobrecarregando o sistema público de saúde. O diagnóstico precoce, com o tratamento adequado, é importante para reduzir o padrão de evolução da doença. Objetivo: O estudo pretende identificar as causas mais prováveis de atraso no diagnóstico. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal envolvendo pacientes com DA acompanhados em Ambulatório de Geriatria de um hospital terciário público entre junho de 2009 e fevereiro de 2011. Resultados: Noventa e quatro pacientes foram avaliados (66% mulheres), com média de idade de 77,8±6,8 anos e com mediana de escolaridade de 3 anos (IC 95%: 2,7-3,8). Quanto à gravidade da doença, 51,8% foram classificados como demência leve (CDR 1), 40% como demência moderada (CDR 2) e 8,2% como demência grave (CDR 3). A escolaridade do cuidador foi de 8,3±3,9 anos. Entre aqueles que acreditavam que havia um atraso no diagnóstico, 36% responderam que "a família achava as alterações como normais para a idade do paciente", com média de 1,8 anos (IC 95%: 1,3-2,5) e 45,3% responderam que "o médico não fez o diagnóstico", com mediana de 1,5 anos (IC 95%: 1,4-2,3). Foi observado que o tempo entre o início dos sintomas e o diagnóstico foi maior do que deveria ser. Conclusão: Este estudo pode contribuir para aumentar o conhecimento sobre questões ainda pouco discutidas na literatura científica, como atraso no diagnóstico e influência da escolaridade do cuidador no tratamento.