Outcomes and interventions in the elderly with and without cognitive impairment: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical follow-up studies are necessary for a better understanding of the evolution of cognitive impairment as well as the development of better assessment and intervention tools. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether older people with preserved cognition (PC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) show differences in clinical outcomes and interventions after a 32-month period. METHODS: One hundred twenty-four community-dwelling older people were included and classified in one of three groups (PC, MCI and mild AD). Information on clinical outcomes (deaths, new diagnoses, falls, need for assistance or changes in routine and hospitalizations) and interventions (increased use of medication, physiotherapeutic intervention, practice of physical exercise, etc.) in the 32-month period were collected by telephone or during a home visit on a single day. RESULTS: Ninety-five participants (35 with PC, 33 with MCI and 27 with AD) were reevaluated after 32 months. The need for assistance/changes in routine was significantly higher in the AD group, especially with regard to basic activities of daily living. Unlike the other groups, the PC group did not show "other diagnoses" (urinary incontinence, prolapse, change in vision or autoimmune disease). No significant differences were found regarding other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Older people with and without cognitive impairment exhibited differences in some clinical outcomes after 32 months, such as need for assistance or changes in their routine and new diagnoses of specific diseases. Therefore, the multidimensionality of geriatric patients should be considered when planning assessments and interventions.

INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos com acompanhamento clínico são necessários para um melhor entendimento da evolução do quadro cognitivo e desenvolvimento de melhores estratégias de avaliação e intervenção. OBJETIVO: Investigar se idosos com cognição preservada (CP), comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL) e doença de Alzheimer (DA) leve apresentam diferenças nos desfechos clínicos e intervenções realizadas ao longo de 32 meses. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi constituída de 124 idosos residentes na comunidade foram incluídos e classificados em um dos três grupos (CP, CCL, DA leve). Informações sobre desfechos clínicos (óbitos, novos diagnósticos, quedas, necessidade de assistência ou mudanças de rotina e hospitalizações) e intervenções realizadas (aumento do uso de medicamentos, intervenção fisioterapêutica, prática de exercícios físicos e outras) foram coletadas, no período de 32 meses, por telefone ou durante visita domiciliar em um único dia. RESULTADOS: Após 32 meses, 95 idosos (35 CP, 33 CCL e 27 DA) foram reavaliados. A necessidade de assistência/mudanças de rotina foi significativamente maior no Grupo DA, principalmente para as atividades básicas de vida diária. Diferentemente dos outros grupos, o Grupo CP não apresentou "outros diagnósticos" (incontinência urinária, prolapso, alterações visuais e doença autoimune). Nenhuma outra diferença significativa foi encontrada quanto às outras variáveis. CONCLUSÃO: Os idosos com e sem comprometimento cognitivo apresentaram diferenças em alguns desfechos clínicos após 32 meses, como necessidade de assistência/mudanças de rotina e novos diagnósticos de doenças específicas. Assim, a multidimensionalidade do idoso deve ser considerada ao planejar avaliações e intervenções.

Effects of resistance training on the performance of activities of daily living in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

AIM: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training in activities of daily living performance in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. METHODS: An exploratory and longitudinal study, lasting for 16 weeks, with the participation of 34 patients divided equally in: the training group (TG), who participated in a resistance training protocol (three sets of 20 repetitions in five exercises); and the social gathering group (SGG), who participated in a social interaction protocol (i.e. group dynamics, writing and reading activities). RESULTS: We observed significant differences between the groups in moving around the house, climbing stairs, standing up from the floor and putting on socks tests. CONCLUSION: This study showed that resistance training improves agility, lower limb strength, balance and flexibility in AD patients, while SGG protocol is important to improve the agility.