Association between upper limb movements during drumming and cognition in older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia at a nursing home: a pilot study.

Background: Despite the association between motor dysfunction and dementia, quantitative assessment of dementia-related specific motor dysfunction in patients with severe dementia is difficult. Thus, this study aimed to develop a new method to measure upper limb motor function in people with dementia. Methods: We examined the relationship between dementia severity and dementia-related specific motor dysfunction using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a dementia screening test. Participants comprised 16 nursing home residents with a mean age of 86 years and MMSE score of 14.56 (range, 1-23) Points. Participants were seated in a circle and instructed to play a drum that was placed in their lap using mallets (drumsticks) in their dominant hand. Acceleration and gyroscopic sensors were attached to their wrists to collect data on arm movements while drumming. Upper limb motor characteristics were confirmed by recording acceleration and arm movement during drumming and analyzing the correlation with handgrip strength. Results: Handgrip strength was correlated with arm elevation angle during drumming. The arm elevation angle displayed a significant regression equation with the MMSE score and showed the best regression equation along with handgrip strength (adjusted R2 = 0.6035, p = 0.0009). Conclusion: We developed a new method using drums to measure upper limb motor function in people with dementia. We also verified that the average arm elevation angle during drumming could predict cognitive dysfunction. This system may be used to monitor people with dementia in a simple and safe way.

Effects of Two Short-Term Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults during COVID-19 Confinement in Japan: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aerobic exercise improves executive function-which tends to decline with age-and dual-task training with aerobic exercise improves the global cognitive function. However, home-based older adults could not follow these programs due to social isolation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Therefore, we conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial with 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia who were randomly assigned into the Nordic walking (aerobic exercise), dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise), or control group. The participants in both exercise intervention groups trained for 30 min, three times per week, for 4 weeks. All groups consumed amino acid-containing foods three times per week. We found that both exercise intervention groups showed improvements in executive function, while the dance group showed additional improvement in global cognitive function. The dance group showed a higher maximum gait speed, greater improvement in imitation ability, and improved executive function and cognitive function than the Nordic walking group. The intervention programs did not significantly affect the muscle mass or muscle output than the control group; however, both programs improved the participant neurological functions such as the heel lift, with dance training being the most effective intervention. In conclusion, dance training effectively improves cognitive function.

Drum Communication Program Intervention in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia at Nursing Home: Preliminary Evidence From Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Inactivity and consequent deterioration of cognitive and physical function is a major concern among older adults with the limited walking ability and need a high level of care in nursing homes. We aimed to test whether a drumming communication program (DCP) that uses the rhythmic response function of the elderly with cognitive impairment, dementia, and other debilitating disorders would improve their cognitive and physical function. Methods: We conducted a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to investigate the effects of the DCP in 46 nursing home residents who needed high levels of nursing care. The participants were randomly assigned to an intervention and control group. The intervention group attended 30 min of the DCP thrice a week for 3 months. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination-Japanese (MMSE-J) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Physical function was measured using grip strength and active upper limb range of motion with the dominant hand. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). These measures were analyzed before and after the DCP intervention period, and data for the two groups were compared thereafter. Results: Initially, the participants had low scores on the MMSE-J, and 84.78% of them used wheelchairs. Following the DCP intervention, the MMSE-J and FAB scores of the DCP group improved significantly. In terms of motor function, the active range of motion of the wrist palmar and the shoulder flexion improved in the intervention group. Regarding body composition, the skeletal muscle mass index, total body protein, and the dominant hand muscle mass that was adding physical load decreased. Conclusions: The DCP provided the participants with an opportunity to engage in continued exercise for 3 months. The intervention group exhibited improved cognitive function and upper limb motion range, and changes in body composition. The results suggest that DCP can be used as an intervention method to promote exercise and improve various health and cognitive functions. Trial Registration: This trial was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN000024714) on 4 November 2016. The URL is available at https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000028399.

Frequent Karaoke Training Improves Frontal Executive Cognitive Skills, Tongue Pressure, and Respiratory Function in Elderly People: Pilot Study from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

We tested whether karaoke training improves cognitive skills and reduces the risk of physical function impairments. We conducted a single-blinded randomized controlled trial in 26 elderly participants at residential care facilities, who were generally healthy or required the lowest level of care. Participants were near the threshold for mild cognitive impairment with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and close to the sarcopenia cut-off with the skeletal muscle mass index. Pulmonary function as measured with spirometry and tongue strength were used as markers for physical functions affected by sarcopenia. Karaoke training occurred once a week for two hours, with an hour of homework assigned weekly. Karaoke training significantly improved the Frontal Assessment Battery at bedside (FAB) compared with an active control group receiving scratch art training (F = 8.04, permutation p-value = 0.013). Subscore improved with inhibitory control (F = 7.63, permutation p-value = 0.015) and sensitivity to interference (F = 11.98, permutation p-value = 0.001). We observed improved tongue pressure (F = 4.49, permutation p-value = 0.040) and pulmonary function by a greater increase in FIV1 (F = 5.22, permutation p-value = 0.047). Engaging elderly people, especially those in care homes, with karaoke training exercises that are moderately physically challenging may be a key to slowing cognitive decline and preventing dysphagia by sarcopenia.

Ultrasound attenuation and phase velocity of moderately concentrated silica suspensions.

Ultrasound attenuation coefficient and phase velocity of moderately concentrated suspensions of charged silica particles were measured as a function of frequency. The attenuation coefficients were found to be significantly smaller than the theoretical prediction, and such a difference did not appear in the neutral particle suspensions under the corresponding concentrations. In this study, we have investigated the acoustic spectra of silica particles with different particle sizes, concentrations as well as salt concentrations. It was revealed that the noticeable deviation from the theoretical estimation only appeared in the case of large particle sizes close to the wavelength of ultrasound, and could be circumvented by addition of small amount of salt to suppress the electrostatic interactions of the charged silica particles.

Ultrasound attenuation and phase velocity of micrometer-sized particle suspensions with viscous and thermal losses.

The attenuation coefficient and the phase velocity of micrometer-sized polydivinylbenzene particles in water were investigated by ultrasound spectroscopy equipped with 10-30MHz longitudinal wave transducers. While the surrounding liquid could be assumed to be inviscid for large particles with the size comparable to the wavelength of longitudinal ultrasound, the viscous and thermal waves were considered to have important roles with decreasing the particle size because the particle size becomes comparable with those wavelengths. In this study, these contributions were systematically investigated by changing the particle-size.

Simultaneous screening for JAK2 and calreticulin gene mutations in myeloproliferative neoplasms with high resolution melting.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, novel calreticulin (CALR) mutations were discovered in Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) non-mutated myelofibrosis (PMF) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) cases, with a frequency of 60-80%. We examined clinical correlations and CALR mutation frequency in our myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) cases, and introduce an effective test method for use in clinical practice. METHODS: We examined 177 samples previously investigated for the JAK2 mutation for differential diagnosis of MPN. JAK2 and CALR mutations were analyzed using melting curve analysis and microchip electrophoresis, respectively. Next, we constructed a test for simultaneous screening of the JAK2 and CALR mutations utilizing high resolution melting (HRM). RESULTS: Among 99 MPN cases, 60 possessed the JAK2 mutation alone. Of the 39 MPN cases without the JAK2 mutation, 14 were positive for the CALR mutation, all of which were ET. Using our novel screening test for the JAK2 and CALR mutations by HRM, the concordance rate of conventional analysis with HRM was 96% for the JAK2 mutation and 95% for the CALR mutation. CONCLUSION: Our novel simultaneous screening test for the JAK2 and CALR gene mutations with HRM is useful for diagnosis of MPN.

Loneliness as expressed by schizophrenic patients in the early remission phase.

We examine the clinical and psychotherapeutic significance of the "emotion of depression," particularly "loneliness," focusing on the postpsychotic depression in one phase of the early remission phase and prolonged early remission phase according to the so-called "remission process theory" of schizophrenia (Nakai). We first present details of two cases representative among 30 patients who discussed "loneliness" with their chief therapist. Then, in the Discussion, we classify the expressions of "loneliness" into four modes, taking "loneliness as isolation open to the other." In this phase, the patient strongly seeks a "deeply significant other" as a "partner for even a little protection against loneliness," and the therapist often assumes this role. This role is extremely important to the patient's passage through the early remission phase. We stress that the presence of this "partner for even a little protection against loneliness" is of great significance for the problems of subsequent progress or stagnation in the remission process, and the issue of ongoing deterioration as well.