A conceptual model for achieving well-being in adults with mild cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: Low well-being is common among people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). We propose a model to examine how different types of resources work together to maintain well-being in people with MCI. METHODS: Participants included 121 community dwelling adults over the age of 60 who were diagnosed with MCI. Structural equation modeling assessed suggested relationships between resources and well-being. RESULTS: Emotional intelligence, general mental ability, morbidity, economic status, basic activities of daily living, and age were correlated to well-being in a triple mediation process through cognitive function, instrumental activities of daily living, and social support. Model fit was excellent (RMSEA-0.04; IFI-.96; CFI-.96; CMIN/DF-1.23), CONCLUSION: Achieving well-being when coping with MCI requires a combination of objective resources and subjective evaluation of the situation. Ultimately, social support determines an individual's level of well-being. Findings suggest the need to understand what kind of social support is required by those coping with MCI.

The right kind of smart: emotional intelligence's relationship to cognitive status in community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether emotional intelligence (EI) is associated with cognitive function (CF) in a sample of community-dwelling, non-demented elderly out-patients. DESIGN: Correlational cross-sectional study. SETTING: Two memory clinics in an urban community in central Israel. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals age 60 and older without dementia, recruited from two memory clinics (N = 151). MEASUREMENTS: Health history was obtained from medical charts. All participants underwent tests measuring CF, basic and instrumental function, general mental ability (GMA), EI, and depression. RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 79 years (SD = 7.00) with 96 females (63.6%). Mean score for Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was 21.62 (SD = 3.09) and for EI was 14.08 (SD = 3.30). Linear multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine associations of CF with EI while controlling for gender, age, education, GMA, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Age, education, GMA, and CCI were significant correlates of CF and accounted for 31.1% of the variance [F(7,143) = 10.8, p<0.01] in CF. EI was added in the second block and was the factor most strongly associated with CF, explaining an additional 9.1% (a total of 40.2%) of the variance in CF [F(8,142) = 13.2, p<0.01]. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show the association between EI and CF in older adults. Future prospective studies are needed to explicate the possibility of EI as a protective factor against cognitive decline.

Can methylphenidate reduce fall risk in community-living older adults? A double-blind, single-dose cross-over study.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that methylphenidate modifies markers of fall risk in older adults. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose cross-over study. SETTING: Outpatient movement disorders clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six community-living older adults without dementia (mean age 73.8) with subjective complaints of "memory problems." INTERVENTIONS: The study examined the effects of a single dose of 20 mg of methylphenidate (MPH) on cognitive function and gait. Participants were evaluated before and 2 hours after taking MPH or a placebo in sessions 1 to 2 weeks apart. MEASUREMENTS: The Timed Up and Go and gait variability quantified mobility and fall risk. A computerized neuropsychology battery quantified memory and executive function (EF). RESULTS: Timed Up and Go times, stride time variability, and measures of EF significantly improved in response to MPH but not in response to the placebo. In contrast, MPH did not significantly affect memory or finger tapping abilities. CONCLUSION: In older adults, MPH appears to improve certain aspects of EF, mobility, and gait stability. Although additional studies are required to assess clinical utility and efficacy, the present findings suggest that methylphenidate and other drugs that are designed to enhance attention may have a role as a therapeutic option for reducing fall risk in older adults.