RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Neurotropism of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be the source of subtle neuropsychological symptoms in non-cirrhotic patients. Age is a risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI). Thus, asymptomatic elderly people who carry HCV might be at a greater risk of CI. Education can influence test performance. OBJECTIVES: (1) To verify whether elderly people with HCV performed poorer than controls on cognitive tests. (2) To analyze how education affects performance. (3) To verify whether the extent of the effect of education on performance depends on the group (HCV vs. controls) and the type of cognitive test. METHODS: Asymptomatic HCV carriers older than 60 years (n = 41) were matched with 41 corresponding controls. All participants performed the following tests: Mini-Cog, Mini Mental State Examination, clock drawing test (CDT), and verbal fluency. RESULTS: (1) There were no significant differences in cognitive performance between the two groups. (2) Higher education was always associated with better performance. (3) There was a significant group difference in the slopes of the regression lines between years of education and CDT performance. No differences were found for the other three tests. CONCLUSION: Considering the scores on the CDT, the rate of improvement in performance when schooling increases is higher in HCV carriers.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is being increasingly reported among the elderly and major depression (MD) may be associated with suboptimal adherence to treatment. METHODS: Cross-sectional study on factors associated with MD among 72 HIV-infected elderly individuals. RESULTS: Twenty (27.7%) patients were found to have MD. The female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 10.65; p = 0.00586), a low CD4 count during the study (OR = 1.005247; p = 0.01539), and current smoking status (OR = 12.89; p = 0.01693) were independently associated with MD. CONCLUSIONS: Our data underscore the need to attentively search and treat MD among HIV-infected elderly patients.
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo Maior/etiologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Idoso , Bacteriocinas , Contagem de Linfócito CD4 , Estudos Transversais , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Escolaridade , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Carga ViralRESUMO
Introduction Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is being increasingly reported among the elderly and major depression (MD) may be associated with suboptimal adherence to treatment. Methods Cross-sectional study on factors associated with MD among 72 HIV-infected elderly individuals. Results Twenty (27.7%) patients were found to have MD. The female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 10.65; p = 0.00586), a low CD4 count during the study (OR = 1.005247; p = 0.01539), and current smoking status (OR = 12.89; p = 0.01693) were independently associated with MD. Conclusions Our data underscore the need to attentively search and treat MD among HIV-infected elderly patients. .
Assuntos
Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/etiologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Bacteriocinas , Estudos Transversais , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Escolaridade , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Fatores de Risco , Carga ViralRESUMO
Com o envelhecimento da população, os distúrbios de memória têm-se tornado patologias cada vez mais frequentes. Com exceção de uma minoria dos casos cujas causas são reversíveis, estas doenças possuem prognóstico desanimador, curso inexorável e opções terapêuticas muito limitadas. O medicamento fitoterápico mais frequentemente utilizado para distúrbios de memória é o extrato seco de ginkgo biloba (GB). Suas ações antioxidantes, antiagregantes e vasodilatadoras têm encorajado diversos profissionais a utilizarem-no neste tratamento, porém não há registros convincentes que comprovem a eficácia do uso desta substância para tal fim. Objetivos: Avaliar a eficácia do GB na prevenção e no tratamento de distúrbios de memória. Métodos: Revisão sistemática da literatura dos últimos dez anos dos estudos clínicos duplo-cegos, randomizados, placebo-controlados, publicados na língua inglesa. Resultados e Conclusões: Embora tenhamos obtido poucos ensaios controlados sobre o tema, não há evidências suficientes para se indicar o uso da droga com a finalidade de tratar e/ou prevenir distúrbios de memória.