The Interaction Between Mild Cognitive Impairment with Vestibulo-ocular Reflex, Dynamic Visual Acuity and Postural Balance in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% of the elderly population is falling each year, resulting in a major health problem. Cognitive decline is an independent risk factor for fall. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a cognitive decline that is higher than expected in the subjects' age but does not affect the activities of daily living OBJECTIVE: In the study, vestibulo-ocular reflexes, dynamic visual acuities and postural balances of subjects with mild cognitive impairment were evaluated and compared with the healthy control group. METHODS: For this purpose, 10 subjects with mild cognitive impairment and 10 healthy subjects from the same age group were included in the study. After the hearing test was applied to the subjects, videonistagmography, dynamic visual acuity and computerized dynamic posturography measurements were performed. RESULTS: Computerized Dynamic Posturography VEST parameter, SOT (Sensory Organization Test) 2, SOT 3, SOT 6 and Composite Balance Scores were significantly lower in the MCI group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of videonistagmographic measurements. Dynamic Visual Acuity Perception Time Test scores of the subjects with mild cognitive impairment were significantly longer compared to the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As a result of the study, it was concluded that subjects with mild cognitive impairment were more prone to fall compared to control group and that these subjects should be included in fall prevention rehabilitation programs.

Mini nutritional assessment test long and short form are valid screening tools in Turkish older adults.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a pitfall in older adults despite its high prevalence and serious consequences. There are various screening tests however, none of them have been validated for our country. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that MNA (long form of MNA) and MNA-SF (short form of MNA) are applicable to screen malnutrition in Turkish geriatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-six patients aged 65 years and over who were admitted to our geriatric medicine outpatient clinic were enrolled in the study. Four groups of data (anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, three-day diet record and geriatric assessment scales) were recorded. Long and short forms of MNA test were performed. Two different geriatricians interpreted the patients' nutritional status with the aid of aforementioned data. Patients were divided into three groups which were patients with malnutrition, with malnutrition risk and well-nourished. Concordance between the two geriatricians' clinical assessment was analyzed by kappa statistics. Excellent concordance was found, therefore the first specialist's decisions were accepted as gold-standard. A third physician performed the long and short forms of MNA test. The concordance between the first clinician's assessment and MNA test results were compared subsequently. RESULTS: MNA and MNA-SF results were compared with first clinician's decision of malnutrition and kappa coefficients were 0.68 and 0.66, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated that MNA was 92% sensitive and 86% specific, whereas MNA-SF was 94% sensitive and 81% specific. CONCLUSION: MNA and MNA-SF are suitable for malnutrition screening in Turkish older adults.

Awareness and control of hypertension among the elderly in a university hospital.

Because medically useful information could also be gathered through hospital-based studies, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of HT among the elderly at a university hospital in Turkey. A total of 3,038 elderly were enrolled. Overall, 75.1% of the patients had HT. Among the hypertensive elderly, 88.9% were aware that they had HT, and only 20.9% had BPs that were under control. The low prevalence of control, even among individuals aware of their HT, suggests that the education of health care providers at all stages of professional training is especially important.

Complications due to late diagnosis of celiac disease with co-existing plasma cell dyscrasia in an elderly patient.

Celiac disease is a genetic disorder, presenting with malabsorption-related problems because of mucosal damage after ingestion of gluten. The only known effective treatment is a gluten-free diet. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in preventing complications due to malabsorption. Here we report the case of an elderly patient with a fifteen-year history of diarrhea, diagnosed with celiac disease, who had developed several complications due to malabsorption such as anemia, electrolyte imbalance and osteoporosis. We believe that late diagnosis of celiac disease had played a great role in the development of complications. Moreover, celiac disease poses an increased risk for all types of malignancies. Our patient also had concurrent plasma cell dyscrasia, but did not fulfil the criteria for diagnosis of multiple myeloma.