Preventing cognitive decline via digital inclusion and virtual game management: an intervention study with older adults in the community.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of cognitive stimulation via digital inclusion and the practice of video games on the cognition of the older population. METHOD: This is a randomized controlled intervention study, nested in a population cohort study. Based on the application of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) test, individuals aged 60 years or older with scores 0 and 0.5 were included and randomly allocated in the Intervention Group (IG) or Control Group (CG). Initially, 160 participants met the selection criteria and underwent neuropsychological evaluation via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), applied before and after intervention. The IG (n = 62) participated in computer-based intervention once a week for one-and-a-half hours, for 4 months. The CG (n = 47) participated in the mindfulness workshops held in the same period. RESULTS: The digital literacy intervention group averaged 2.6 points more in the MoCA after 4 months. The change in the final MoCA decreased in 0.46 points at each unit in the basal MoCA. Individuals with average schooling had an increase of 0.93 points in the change of the MoCA in relation to individuals with low or high schooling. CONCLUSION: Digital inclusion combined with the practice of video games has the potential to improve the cognition of the older population.

Quedas e fatores associados entre idosos atendidos em uma clínica escola: um estudo de coorte / Falls and associated factors among elderly people assisted in a school clinic: a cohort study / Caídas y factores asociados en ancianos atendidos en una clínica escolar: un estudio de cohortes

Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência, a incidência e os fatores associados a quedas entre idosos atendidos em uma clínica escola. Método: O estudo foi dividido em dois componentes, sendo o seguimento transversal de agosto de 2016 a novembro de 2018 (n=129), e o de coorte de agosto de 2018 a novembro de 2018 (n=66). Realizaram-se análises estatísticas, a partir da Regressão Múltipla de Poisson, entre o desfecho e as ca- racterísticas sociodemográficas e de saúde. Resultados: A prevalência e a incidência de quedas foram de 44,2% e 36,4%, respectivamente. Na análise de regressão múltipla de Poisson do estudo transversal, as variáveis sintomas dispépticos, baixos valores no teste Time Up and Go e ter hipertensão foram associadas com a variável queda. No estudo de coorte, a análise reforçou associação entre não ser ex-etilista e ter constipação. Conclu- são: Considera-se elevada a prevalência e incidência de quedas entre os idosos avaliados, e ressalta-se a necessidade de identificação de grupos mais susceptíveis a esse desfecho. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Acidentes por Quedas; Sarcopenia; Fragilidade; Incidência; Fatores de Risco.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, incidence and factors associated with falls among elderly people attended at a teaching clinic. Method: The study was divided into two components, the cross-sectional follow-up from August 2016 to November 2018 (n=129), and the cohort from August 2018 to November 2018 (n=66). Statistical analyzes were carried out, based on Multiple Poisson Regression, between the outcome and sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results: The prevalence and incidence of falls were 44.2% and 36.4%, respectively. In Poisson's multiple regression analysis of the cross-sectional study, the variables dyspeptic symptoms, low values in the Time Up and Go test and having hypertension were associated with the variable fall. In the cohort study, the analysis reinforced the association between not being an ex-alcoholic and having constipation. Conclusion: The prevalence and incidence of falls among the elderly evaluated is considered high, and the need to identify groups more susceptible to this outcome is emphasized.

Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia, incidencia y factores asociados a las caídas entre ancianos atendidos en una clínica docente. Método: El estudio se dividió en dos componentes, el seguimiento transversal de agosto de 2016 a noviembre de 2018 (n=129), y la cohorte de agosto de 2018 a noviembre de 2018 (n=66). Se realizaron análisis estadísticos, basados en Regresión Múltiple de Poisson, entre el desenlace y las características sociodemográficas y de salud. Resultados: La prevalencia e incidencia de caídas fue de 44,2% y 36,4%, respectivamente. En el análisis de regresión múltiple de Poisson del estudio transversal, las variables síntomas dispépticos, valores bajos en el test Time Up and Go y padecer hipertensión se asociaron a la variable caída. En el estudio de cohortes, el análisis reforzó la asociación entre no ser ex-alcohólico y tener estreñimiento. Conclusiones: La prevalencia e incidencia de caídas entre los ancianos evaluados se considera elevada, destacándose la necesidad de identificar grupos más susceptibles a este desenlace.

Reduced circulating folate among older adults caused by continuous work: nested cross-sectional study conducted in a country with folic acid fortification program.

Population aging is 1 of the biggest challenges facing public health today, and cognitive dysfunction is an important concern. Cognitive impairment may be associated with high folate concentrations and low vitamin B12 concentrations; the latter is a common problem among elderly people. Therefore, we hypothesized there was a high circulating folate concentration among older people living in a country with a mandatory folic acid fortification program. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate nutritional status of folate and vitamin B12 among aged people. Three dietary recalls, serum folate (sfolate), erythrocyte (red blood cell) folate (RBC folate), and serum vitamin B12 and homocysteine were collected. Linear regression models were used to investigate factors associated with circulating vitamins. We interviewed 169 participants. Half reported inadequate consumption of folate. However, RBC folate deficiency was observed in 27%, 13% in the serum, and a 10% excess of sfolate. One-quarter reported inadequate consumption of B12, but only 5% had deficiency. Factors negatively associated with circulating folate were continuous work and smoking, and positively associated with polyunsaturated fatty acid. Factor negatively associated with the circulating B12 were use of a dental prosthesis and intake of saturated fatty acid. Permanent investigation of excess of sfolate and B12 deficiency, especially among older adults living in countries exposed to a mandatory folic acid fortification program, is important because of the possible relation to the cognitive function.

Protocol for a Nested Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of the Mindfulness Based Health Promotion Program on the Quality of Life of Older Adults Assisted in Primary Care-"The MBHP-Elderly Study".

Introduction: Population aging is a global phenomenon that has grown rapidly and progressively all over the world. Interventions that promote health must be studied and implemented to make the aging process be with quality of life. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health conditions that compromise the quality of life on the elderly and it can cause damage to the autonomy and activities of daily life. Mindfulness training has been shown to improve psychological health and quality of life on adults. Studies involving Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) with older people are scarce in the literature, but they have been increasing in recent years showing promising results for healthy aging. This trial will investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an MBI on the quality of life of elderly assisted in the Primary Care. Materials and Methods: A cohort-nested randomized controlled trial with 3 assessment points (baseline, post-intervention and 1-year follow up) will be conducted to compare a MBI program (Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion) to a cognitive stimulation control-group in a Primary Care facility. One-hundred and two older adults will be recruited from a cohort of this facility and they will be randomized and allocated into an intervention group (N = 76) and the control group (N = 76). The primary outcome evaluated will be the improvement of quality of life assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD. The secondary outcomes will be cognitive function, psychological health, sleep quality, self-compassion, and religiosity. Qualitative data will be assessed by focus group and the word free evocation technique. The feasibility of the program will also be evaluated by adherence and unwanted effects questionnaires. Discussion: This cohort-nested clinical trial will be the first mixed-methods study with 3 assessment points which will study the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mindfulness-based program for older people in Latin America population. If the findings of this study confirm the effectiveness of this program in this population it will be possible to consider it as intervention that might be implemented as public policy addressed to older people in healthcare systems. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03048708. Registered retrospectively on October 11th 2018.