The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2007
Age-related differences in the force generation capabilities and tendon extensibilities of knee extensors and plantar flexors in men.
Recently, the number of elderly individuals who participate in sports has increased, thus injuries from overuse are now becoming recognized in the elderly population. Therefore, it is important to determine which muscle groups and tendons are most affected with aging to plan appropriate exercise interventions for elderly individuals. In particular, muscles and tendons in knee extensors and plantar flexors play an important role during locomotion. The purpose of this study was to compare the knee extensor and plantar flexor muscles and tendons. ⋯ These results suggest that the age-related weakness in knee extensors may be attributed to muscle atrophy, whereas that in plantar flexors is not, and that elderly persons have less extensible tendon structures in both sites.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2007
Delirium superimposed on dementia predicts 12-month survival in elderly patients discharged from a postacute rehabilitation facility.
Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is highly prevalent and associated with high mortality among hospitalized elderly patients, yet little is known about the effect of DSD on midterm mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess 12-month survival in patients with DSD and matched groups with dementia alone, delirium alone, or neither delirium nor dementia. ⋯ Demented patients who experienced delirium during hospitalization had a more than twofold increased risk of mortality in the 12 months following discharge than did patients with dementia alone, with delirium alone, or with neither dementia nor delirium.