Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/etiology , Smoking/adverse effects , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Physical changes associated with the aging process have both private and public components, and this study investigated the degree to which elderly persons attend to these changes. Sixty subjects, elderly (n = 30) and young (n = 30), equated in terms of physical health, education, and depression, were compared on measures of private body consciousness, public body consciousness, and body competence. Results indicated that healthy elderly persons are more conscious of their external physical appearance and are more positive in their self-evaluations of body competence than are young subjects.
Subject(s)
Aging/psychology , Body Image , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Self ConceptABSTRACT
Although an association of psychiatric symptoms with vitamin B12 deficiency is well accepted, the incidence and nature of these symptoms is not established. To help illuminate the natural history of this illness we review the literature regarding psychopathology associated with B12 deficiency and examine 15 cases, including one of our own, that meet specified criteria for B12-responsive psychosis. In the accepted cases the most common psychiatric symptoms were organic brain syndrome, paranoia, violence, and depression. Several of the patients were not anemic and had no neurologic deficit. Examination of blood smears or obtaining of serum B12 levels should be considered for patients with the symptoms described.
