Geriatrics & gerontology international
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Aug 2015
Portuguese version of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator: Transcultural adaptation and psychometric validation.
To present the translation and validation process of the Portuguese version of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI). ⋯ The psychometric properties of the TFI seem to be consistently good. These findings provide initial evidence that the Portuguese version is a valid and reliable measure for assessing frailty in the elderly.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Aug 2015
Comparative StudyFree and Cued Selective Reminding Test is superior to the Wechsler Memory Scale in discriminating mild cognitive impairment from Alzheimer's disease.
The Logical Memory (LM) and the Verbal Paired Associative Learning (VPAL) are subtests from the Wechsler Memory Scale commonly used to characterize the memory deficit of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) was suggested to assess the memory impairment of AD spectrum patients by the International Working Group on AD. In the present study, we compared the properties of the tests and their accuracy in classifying aMCI and AD. ⋯ Although the instruments had good results, the FCSRT was more accurate in discriminating MCI from AD, and less influenced by the educational level.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Aug 2015
Calf circumference as a surrogate marker of muscle mass for diagnosing sarcopenia in Japanese men and women.
To examine the relationship between calf circumference and muscle mass, and to evaluate the suitability of calf circumference as a surrogate marker of muscle mass for the diagnosis of sarcopenia among middle-aged and older Japanese men and women. ⋯ Calf circumference was positively correlated with appendicular skeletal muscle mass and skeletal muscle index, and could be used as a surrogate marker of muscle mass for diagnosing sarcopenia. The suggested cut-off values of calf circumference for predicting low muscle mass are <34 cm in men and <33 cm in women.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Aug 2015
Characteristics of visiting nurse agencies with high home death rates: A prefecture-wide study in Japan.
The purpose of the present study was to identify characteristics of visiting nurse agencies (VNA) in Japan with high home death rates by a prefecture-wide survey. ⋯ In order to increase the home death rate of people using VNA, policymakers must consider establishing home-based service systems within the community that can provide home end-of-life care services 24 h a day, and support the interactive exchange of information between the visiting nurse and the attending physician.