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193 results on '"Gardini, Simona"'

1. Mental imagery

Author

Gardini, Simona, primary, Cornoldi, Cesare, additional, and De Beni, Rossana, additional

Published
2020
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3. The Efficacy of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia

Author

Lobbia, Alessandra, Carbone, Elena, Faggian, Silvia, Gardini, Simona, Piras, Federica, Spector, Aimee, and Borella, Erika

Abstract

Abstract.Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is an internationally used, evidence-based psychosocial intervention for people with mild-to-moderate dementia. The present review thus aimed specifically to examine the reliability of the findings and the strength of the evidence obtained in studies on the CST protocol concerning any benefit in terms of cognitive functioning, perceived quality of life, psychological, behavioral, and everyday life functioning of people with dementia, and their family caregivers’ health status, quality of life, and burden of care. A systematic literature search on studies specifically adopting the CST protocol in patients with mild-to-moderate DSM-IVdementia – eventually involving their family members – was performed. A total of 238 papers were screened and 12 finally included in the qualitative analysis after inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. The Jadad Scale and the Stroke Prevention and Educational Awareness Diffusion (SPREAD) method were used to appraise the studies’ methodological quality. Moderate levels of evidence emerged for general cognitive functioning, language comprehension and production, and quality of life. The levels of evidence were weaker for short-term memory, orientation, praxis, depression, social and emotional loneliness, behavior, and communication in people with dementia, and for their caregivers’ health status and anxiety symptoms. Albeit with the limited quality of reviewed evidence, and the need for more studies on CST, the present review highlights the value of this program as part of dementia care services to sustain the cognitive functioning and quality of life of people with dementia.

Published
2024
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5. The Generation and Maintenance of Visual Mental Images: Evidence from Image Type and Aging

Author

De Beni, Rossana, Pazzaglia, Francesca, and Gardini, Simona

Abstract

Imagery is a multi-componential process involving different mental operations. This paper addresses whether separate processes underlie the generation, maintenance and transformation of mental images or whether these cognitive processes rely on the same mental functions. We also examine the influence of age on these mental operations for independence of components. In Experiment 1, younger (22 years) and older (69 years) adults generated and maintained general, specific, contextual and autobiographical visual mental images evoked in response to concrete nouns. The older adults had longer generation times, but there was no difference between the two groups on maintenance. Both groups had shortest generation and maintenance times for general images, whereas only the older adults took longest in generating autobiographical images. In Experiment 2, the total maintenance time and number of transformations for each type of image were compared in another group of younger and older adults. General images were less transformed and more subject to decay for both groups. The older people maintained the autobiographical mental images for longest compared to other image types. In conclusion, image generation, maintenance and transformation seem to be differently affected by type of image and aging, supporting a model of their cognitive segregation.

Published
2007
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9. Stimulus-driven attentional capture: an empirical comparison of display-size and distance methods

Author

Turatto, Massimo, Galfano, Giovanni, Gardini, Simona, and Mascetti, Gian Gastone

Subjects
Psychology and mental health
Abstract

Four experiments examined attentional capture by colour as assessed by two different investigative methods. Subjects performed a visual search task for a vertical-target line embedded among tilted-distractor lines, presented inside 4, 8, or 12 coloured discs. Interestingly, when the colour singleton was task irrelevant, and data were analysed by means of the display-size method combined with the zero-slope criterion, no evidence for attentional capture by colour was found. However, when data were analysed by means of the distance method, which consists of monitoring the spatial relationship between the target and the singleton, results showed that the target was found faster and/or more accurately when it was inside the singleton than when it was in a nonsingleton location. This provided evidence for a stimulus-driven attentional capture. In addition, the application of signal detection methodology showed that attentional capture, as revealed by the distance method, resulted from a perceptual modulation at the singleton location, rather than from a criterion shift. We conclude that, at least with the kind of stimuli used here, the display-size method combined with the zero-slope criterion is less than ideal for investigating how static discontinuities can affect the automatic deployment of visual attention.

Published
2004

17. Behavioral and Neurophysiological Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Fronto-Temporal Dementia

Author

Ferrucci, Roberta, primary, Mrakic-Sposta, Simona, additional, Gardini, Simona, additional, Ruggiero, Fabiana, additional, Vergari, Maurizio, additional, Mameli, Francesca, additional, Arighi, Andrea, additional, Spallazzi, Marco, additional, Barocco, Federica, additional, Michelini, Giovanni, additional, Pietroboni, Anna Margherita, additional, Ghezzi, Laura, additional, Fumagalli, Giorgio Giulio, additional, D'Urso, Giordano, additional, Caffarra, Paolo, additional, Scarpini, Elio, additional, Priori, Alberto, additional, and Marceglia, Sara, additional

Published
2018
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18. Efficacy of cognitive stimulation therapy for older adults with vascular dementia [Eficácia da terapia de estimulação cognitiva para idosos com demência vascular]

Author

Federica, Piras, Carbone, Elena, Faggian, Silvia, Elisa, Salvalaio, Gardini, Simona, and Borella, Erika

Subjects
cognitive stimulation therapy (CST), general cognitive functioning, quality of life, vascular dementia, cognitive stimulation therapy (CST), general cognitive functioning, quality of life, vascular dementia
Published
2017

23. Lofexidine versus clonidine in rapid opiate detoxification

Author

Gerra, Gilberto, Zaimovic, Amir, Giusti, Francesca, Di Gennaro, Cristiana, Zambelli, Ursula, Gardini, Simona, and Delsignore, Roberto

Subjects
Clonidine -- Usage, Heroin habit -- Drug therapy, Drug abuse -- Care and treatment, Detoxification (Substance abuse treatment) -- Research, Health
Abstract

The aim of the present study is to evaluate lofexidine and clonidine, in an accelerated opiate detoxification procedure (3 days), without anaesthesia. Forty heroin-dependent individuals were detoxified, evaluating withdrawal symptoms, craving levels, mood changes, urine toxicologic screens, and dropout during therapy with either (1) clonidine, oxazepam, baclofen, and ketoprofene, with naloxone and naltrexone for 3 days (20 subjects) or (2) lofexidine, oxazepam, baclofen, and ketoprofene with naloxone and naltrexone for 3 days (20 subjects). Both clonidine and lofexidine rapid detoxifications were found effective. The subjects treated with lofexidine showed significantly lower levels of withdrawal symptoms, fewer mood problems, less sedation and hypotension. No significant differences in craving levels, morphine metabolites in urine, or dropout rate were evidenced between the two groups. The early use of naltrexone during detoxification in combination with either alpha-2-agonist facilitated the acceptance for long-term naltrexone treatment. Lofexidine appeared to be more useful than clonidine in a 3-day accelerated opiate detoxification, not only to counteract withdrawal symptoms, but also in the treatment of dysphoria and mood changes. Because lofexidine does not produce hypotension, safe outpatient treatment, without hospital support, could be possible. Keywords: Lofexidine; Clonidine; Naltrexone; Naloxone; Oxazepam; Heroin; Withdrawal

Published
2001

28. P2-017: The Effectiveness of Action Observation Treatment (AOT) in Alzheimer's Disease: Benefit on Temporal Orientation and Visuo-Prassic Abilities

Author

Caffarra, Paolo, primary, Perini, Marta, additional, Reda, Valentina, additional, Barocco, Federica, additional, Michelini, Giovanni, additional, Spallazzi, Marco, additional, Simona Gabriella, Di Santo, additional, Caltagirone, Carlo, additional, Rozzini, Luca, additional, Padovani, Alessandro, additional, Buccino, Giovanni, additional, Fulvia, Di Iulio, additional, Camanini, Giuseppe, additional, and Gardini, Simona, additional

Published
2016
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35. Recovery from Transient Global Amnesia Following Restoration of Hippocampal and Fronto–Cingulate Perfusion

Author

Caffarra, Paolo, Concari, Letizia, Gardini, Simona, Spaggiari, Sabrina, Dieci, Francesca, Copelli, Sandra, Ghetti, Caterina, and Venneri, Annalena

Subjects
nervous system, Article Subject, mental disorders, psychological phenomena and processes
Abstract

A patient who suffered a transient global amnesia (TGA) attack underwent regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) SPECT imaging and neuropsychological testing in the acute phase, after one month and after one year. Neuropsychological testing in the acute phase showed a pattern of anterograde and retrograde amnesia, whereas memory was within age normal limits at follow up. SPECT data were analysed with a within subject comparison and also compared with those of a group of healthy controls. Within subject comparison between the one month follow up and the acute phase detected increases in rCBF in the hippocampus bilaterally; further rCBF increases in the right hippocampus were detected after one year. Compared to controls, significant hypoperfusion was found in the right precentral, cingulate and medial frontal gyri in the acute phase; after one month significant hypoperfusion was detected in the right precentral and cingulate gyri and the left postcentral gyrus; after one year no significant hypoperfusion appeared. The restoration of memory was paralleled by rCBF increases in the hippocampus and fronto-limbic-parietal cortex; after one year neither significant rCBF differences nor cognitive deficits were detectable. In conclusion, these data indicate that TGA had no long lasting cognitive and neural alterations in this patient.

Published
2010
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36. Cognitive stimulation therapy in the Italian context: its efficacy in cognitive and non-cognitive measures in older adults with dementia.

Author

Capotosto, Emanuela, Belacchi, Carmen, Gardini, Simona, Faggian, Silvia, Piras, Federica, Mantoan, Vanessa, Salvalaio, Elisa, Pradelli, Samantha, and Borella, Erika

Subjects
TREATMENT of dementia, CARE of dementia patients, COGNITIVE ability, QUALITY of life, DISEASES in older people, PHYSIOLOGY
Abstract

Objective: Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) has been shown to have significant benefits in enhancing cognitive functioning and improving the quality of life of people with mild to moderate dementia. The present study examines the efficacy of the Italian version of the therapy (CST-IT).Methods: Older adults with mild to moderate dementia (n = 39) were randomly assigned to two programs: one group participated in the CST-IT, consisting of 14 sessions (twice a week for 7 weeks) and the active control group took part in alternative general activities. The outcome measures were cognitive functioning (measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination-MMSE-, the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment scale-cognitive subscale, the backward digit span test, and a narrative language test); quality of life (Quality of life--Alzheimer's Disease scale); mood (Cornell scale for depression in dementia and the social and emotional loneliness scale); functional activities in daily living (Disability Assessment for Dementia); and behavior (neuropsychiatric inventory).Results: After the intervention, only the CST-IT group maintained its MMSE score, while the control group displayed deterioration. The CST-IT group also performed better in some of the cognitive measures (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale and narrative language), mood measures (Cornell scale, social and emotional loneliness scale with a decrease in reported loneliness), and the Quality of life--Alzheimer's Disease scale. No other treatment effect was observed.Conclusions: The findings confirm the efficacy, at least in the short term, of the CST in sustaining cognitive functions and perceived quality of life in older adults with dementia in the Italian care setting as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2017
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38. P3‐104: A NOVEL MUTATION IN PROGRANULIN GENE IN BEHAVIOURAL VARIANT FRONTO‐TEMPORAL DEMENTIA

Author

Gardini, Simona, primary, Galimberti, Daniela, additional, Fenoglio, Chiara, additional, Cioffi, Sara, additional, Pietroboni, Anna, additional, Calvi, Alberto, additional, Scarpini, Elio, additional, Concari, Letizia, additional, Barocco, Federica, additional, Spallazzi, Marco, additional, Ghetti, Caterina, additional, Ruffini, Livia, additional, and Caffarra, Paolo, additional

Published
2014
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