[Structural cerebral changes in subjects with mild cognitive impairment]. / Strukturelle zerebrale Veränderungen bei Probanden mit leichter kognitiver Beeinträchtigung Eine MR-volumetrische Studie.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological changes in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) revealed by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-one subjects with cognitive impairment and 22 healthy controls were compared with 12 patients suffering from mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The volumes of the following brain structures were assessed: total intracranial compartment, cerebrospinal fluid compartment, whole brain, and medial temporal substructures (hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus). Subjects with mild cognitive impairment showed a significantly reduced volume of the right parahippocampal gyrus over healthy controls. Volumes of the other regions and structures did not differ between the MCI group and controls. The volumetric and neuropsychological findings of the present study support the hypothesis that mild cognitive impairment - at least in some of the affected individuals - can be seen as a preclinical stage of AD and that atrophy of the parahippocampal gyrus might be useful as an early marker of AD.

Article predictors of wellbeing and autonomy before and after geriatric rehabilitation.

The aim of this study was to explore changes in the correlational association between predictors (i.e. sociodemographics, subjective health, social support, anxiety and coping) and outcome measures (i.e. subjective wellbeing and autonomy) before and after rehabilitation treatment. The data came from a sample of 90 patients (mean age 78.8 years; 84 percent female; 37 percent stroke, 44 percent fracture, 19 percent other diagnoses), who were assessed before and after rehabilitative treatment. Results revealed that although changes between predictors and outcomes were not prevalent with respect to subjective wellbeing, they were clearly evident with respect to autonomy. Whereas psychological variables, such as state anxiety and behavioural coping, played no predictive role at entry, they became the strongest predictors of autonomy at discharge.

[Success and variability of success of inpatient rehabilitation of the elderly: an empirical study based on medical-psychiatric and psychosocial indicators]. / Erfolg und Erfolgsvariabilität stationärer Rehabilitation alter Menschen: Eine empirische Studie auf der Basis medizinisch-geriatrischer und psychosozialer Indikatoren.

This study considers findings of psychological gerontology as particularly important for geriatric rehabilitation research. Its concrete aim was to describe the course and outcome of geriatric rehabilitation based on a wide range of success criteria, to explore the influencing role of age, sex, and diagnosis as well as to describe the variability pattern of success. The data were gathered from a sample of 100 older adults who underwent treatment in a German inpatient rehabilitation unit. Participants were assessed across five measurement occasions by use of a state-of-the-art geriatric assessment and a psychological data collection part. The results underline, for one, that significant improvements of functional as well as psychological capacity were obtained. Second, age and sex played practically no role concerning the course of the success criteria, whereas diagnosis revealed some statistically meaningful effects. Third, it was found that the variability of success was characterized by a relatively homogeneous pattern of gain with regard to functional criteria; with respect to psychological variables, heterogeneity was more pronounced and some participants show loss as well, a chance for further improvement of the geriatric rehabilitation.

Prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in an elderly community sample.

The term "mild cognitive impairment" refers to cognitive deficits which exceed normal physiological aging processes, but do not fulfill the criteria for dementia. While recent studies indicate that the respective deficits can be reliably assessed, different diagnostic criteria have prevented a wide application of this diagnosis in clinical practice. The aims of the present study were (1) to assess the prevalence rates of four current diagnostic concepts and (2) to investigate mild cognitive impairment with respect to psychological and sociodemographic variables. Data from 202 probands recruited from the interdisciplinary longitudinal study on adult development were analyzed. On the time of examination, probands were between 60 to 64 years old and in a good health. The following prevalence rates were determined: 13.5% for age-associated memory impairment (AAMI), 6.5% for age-consistent memory impairment (ACMI), 1.5% for late-life forgetfulness (LLF), and 23.5% for aging-associated cognitive decline (AACD). Complaints of cognitive deficits were significantly correlated with higher scores on depression and neuroticism scales but with none of the neuropsychological measures. Reduced performance in neuropsychological tests was associated with a lower educational level and socioeconomic status. We conclude that the prevalence rates of mild cognitive impairment are highly dependent on the diagnostic criteria applied. In this respect the self-report of cognitive decline might be a less useful criteria. Longitudinal studies are warranted to further elucidate the predictive value of these diagnostic criteria.

[Mild cognitive deficit in the elderly. Results of a gerontologic study]. / Leichte kognitive Beeinträchtigung im Alter. Ergebnisse einer gerontologischen Untersuchung.

The term "mild cognitive impairment" refers to cognitive deficits which exceed normal physiological aging processes, but do not fulfill the criteria for dementia. The prevalence rates of four current concepts were compared in a sample of 202 healthy 60-64 year-old participants recruited from the interdisciplinary longitudinal study on adult development and aging (ILSE). Furthermore, the relationships between cognitive deficits and psychological and sociodemographic variables were examined. The following prevalence rates were determined: 13.5% for age-associated memory impairment, 6.5% for age-consistent memory impairment, 1.5% for late-life forgetfulness and 23.5% for aging-associated cognitive decline. Subjective cognitive complaints did not correlate with results obtained from neuropsychological tests. Significant correlations were however found between subjective cognitive complaints and higher scores on depression and neuroticism scales. Significant correlations were also found between a reduced test performance and a lower educational level and socioeconomic status. Longitudinal studies are warranted to further elucidate the predictive value of these diagnostic concepts.

Anticipation of and adjustment to retirement.

The role of anticipation of retirement was studied by comparing two samples under different conditions: in the West German sample, retirement could be anticipated as "normal" with regard to the economic changes in most industrial societies between 1992 and 1994, whereas the members of the East German sample were faced with mandatory retirement, with few changes in the anticipation of this event. Findings confirm the hypotheses regarding a more negative view of retirement, different ways of coping with retirement, and equal status of cognitive functioning and health. They did not confirm the hypothesis of a lower degree of well-being in the East.

[Gender-specific differences in the development of social relations in the elderly--results of an empirical study]. / Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede der Gestaltung sozialer Beziehungen im Alter--Ergebnisse einer empirischen Untersuchung.

This study examined gender differences in the social networks of 60 healthy women and men aged 65 to 89 years. Semi-structured interviews and a modification of the social convoy method (Kahn and Antonucci, 1980) were used. The results confirm the assumption of sex-role-specific behavior in social relationships. Gender differences were not found in the size of the social network.