ABSTRACT
The elderly are at nutritional risk as a result of multiple physiological, social, psychological, and economic factors. Physiological functions naturally decline with age, which may influence absorption and metabolism. Social and economic conditions can adversely affect dietary choices and eating patterns. However, at the same time, the nutrient needs of the elderly for certain nutrient (such as vitamins, minerals, proteins) is higher than for younger adults. This article reviews the importance of zinc (Zn) in elderly people, particularly for behavioural and mental function, micronutrient status, immune and antioxidant system, and bone metabolism.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Nutrition Surveys , Zinc , Aged , Aging/immunology , Aging/metabolism , Antioxidants/physiology , Bone and Bones/drug effects , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Cognition/drug effects , Cognition/physiology , Europe/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Micronutrients/deficiency , Middle Aged , Zinc/immunology , Zinc/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Baseline data are reported from a study of the effects of zinc supplementation on cognitive function in older adults as assessed by the CANTAB computerised test battery. DESIGN: This is a multicentre prospective intervention study employing a randomised double-blind design. SETTING: European community-based study. PARTICIPANTS: There are 387 healthy adults aged 55-87 y from centres in France, Italy and Northern Ireland. INTERVENTIONS: Measures of visual memory, working memory and attention were obtained at baseline (prior to supplementation). RESULTS: Younger adults (<70 y) performed significantly better than older adults (>70 y) on all tests, with minimal differences between centres. In addition, men outperformed women on tests of spatial span, pattern recognition memory and reaction times, although these gender differences varied somewhat between centres. CONCLUSIONS: The results are generally consistent with previous age- and gender-related effects on cognitive functioning.
Subject(s)
Aging/psychology , Cognition/physiology , Dietary Supplements , Zinc/administration & dosage , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Analysis of Variance , Attention/physiology , Double-Blind Method , Europe/epidemiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Memory/physiology , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Prospective Studies , Reference Values , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Zinc is known to be essential for a great number of biochemical activities and physiological and cognitive functions. The objective of Zenith study was to investigate the effects of Zn, as a nutritional supplement, on psychological and behavioural factors and on surrogate markers that are indicative of trends towards better health in order to evaluate the need for dietary recommendations specific to the studied population. We report in this paper the summary of baseline results obtained before Zn supplementation.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Micronutrients , Nutrition Surveys , Zinc , Aged , Aging/immunology , Aging/metabolism , Basal Metabolism/drug effects , Basal Metabolism/physiology , Bone and Bones/drug effects , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Cognition/drug effects , Cognition/physiology , Europe/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/physiology , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/statistics & numerical data , Thyroid Hormones/bloodABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Most individuals with Parkinson's disease live in their own homes cared for by a family member. Providing such long term care can be a source of significant stress, with many carers experiencing sleep difficulty, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and other symptoms of psychological strain. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used psychological treatments in clinical use today, with applications across the full range of clinical conditions. It has been previously used in the management of other carer groups. The present study sought to evaluate the efficacy of CBT in treating psychological distress in a group of Parkinson's disease carers. METHOD: A total of 30 carers scoring at caseness level on the 28 item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were randomised to receive either a course of 12-14 sessions of CBT or to a no-treatment control group. RESULTS: Although some change was observed in both groups, significantly greater improvement on the GHQ-28 was observed after three months in the CBT treated group. Similar findings were observed in measures of caregiver strain and subjective burden, with the benefits being maintained over a subsequent three month follow up period. CONCLUSIONS: These results offer preliminary support to the value of a CBT approach in the management of psychological morbidity in Parkinson's disease carers. Further larger scale research is needed in the future to examine the generalisability of the findings to a broader range of carers, assess the longer term impact on outcome in carers and those with Parkinson's disease, and explore how CBT can be best delivered in the most cost effective manner.
