ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT. Dementia causes disorders in multiple higher cortical functions. Visual impairment could further impact cognition in those with dementia. This study reports the results of a computerized attention training program in a patient with dementia and visual impairment. The case involves a 98-year-old woman with bilateral maculopathy and moderate dementia. The program consisted of pre- and post-assessments and training sessions. Assessments included the Cantonese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the digit span forward test, the Chinese version of the Verbal Learning Test (CVVLT), and the Test of Attentional Performance (TAP). Training sessions were conducted once to twice a week for a total of 8 45-minute sessions. The participant showed a decrease in the CVVLT score and improvements in TAP parameters. The results indicated that, in visually impaired older adults with dementia, attention and processing speed (measured by a sensitive test such as TAP) could potentially be improved with appropriate computerized training.
RESUMO. A demência causa distúrbios em várias funções corticais superiores. O comprometimento da visão pode impactar ainda mais a cognição em pessoas com demência. Este estudo relata os resultados de um programa de treinamento computadorizado de atenção em um paciente com demência e deficiência visual, uma mulher de 98 anos com maculopatia bilateral e demência moderada. O programa consistia em avaliações e pré- e pós-sessões de treinamento. As avaliações incluíram o Mini-Exame do Estado Mental em Cantonês, o teste de extensão de dígitos, a versão chinesa do Teste de Aprendizagem Verbal (CVVLT) e o Teste de Desempenho de Atenção (TAP). As sessões de treinamento foram realizadas uma a duas vezes por semana, com um total de 8 sessões de 45 minutos. A paciente apresentou diminuição no escore CVVLT e melhora nos parâmetros TAP. Os resultados indicaram que em idosos com deficiência visual com demência, a atenção e a velocidade de processamento (medida por um teste sensível como o TAP) poderiam ser melhoradas com a realização de treinamento computadorizado adequado.
Subject(s)
Humans , Attention , Vision Disorders , Computer User Training , DementiaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A number of dysregulated miRNAs have been identified and are proposed to have significant roles in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus or renal pathology. Alpinia oxyphylla has shown significant anti-inflammatory properties and play an anti-diabetes role. The objective of this study was to detect the alteration of miRNAs underlying the anti-diabetes effects of A. oxyphylla extract (AOE) in a type II diabetic animal model (C57BIKsj db-/db-). RESULTS: Treatment with AOE for 8 weeks led to lower concentrations of blood glucose, urine albumin, and urine creatinine. 17 and 13 miRNAs were statistically identified as differentially regulated in the DB/DB and db-/db- AOE mice, respectively, compared to the untreated db-/db- mice. Of these, 7 miRNAs were identified in both comparison groups, and these 7 miRNAs were verified by quantitative real-time PCR. Functional bioinformatics showed that the putative target genes of 7 miRNAs were associated with several diabetes effects and signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: These founding suggest that the potential of AOE as a medicinal anti-diabetes treatment through changes in the expressions of specific miRNAs. The results provide a useful resource for future investigation of the role of AOE-regulated miRNAs in diabetes mellitus.