Age-related changes in neural recruitment for cognitive control.

The dual mechanisms of control (DMC; Braver, Gray, & Burgess, 2007) framework postulates a distinction between proactive and reactive modes of cognitive control. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to examine age differences in the neural correlates of proactive and reactive control for task-switching. Whereas proactive control is associated with brain activity for anticipatory task preparation, reactive control is accompanied by reduced preparatory activity, but increased activation during task execution. Switching between tasks was based on feedback-based transition cueing which places particularly high demands on mechanisms for cognitive control. Older adults maintained good performance accuracy at the expense of slower response times. No age-related increase in behavioral switching costs was observed. The cue-locked ERP (P3a) data revealed an age-related decrease in neural activity related to the processing of switch cues. In the target-locked ERPs, there was an increased frontal focus of the P3b in older adults. These ERP data indicate an age-related neural under-recruitment for proactive cognitive control and an age-related neural over-recruitment for reactive cognitive control. They are consistent with the idea that older adults may not fully implement task settings before target onset, after which they need to catch up on the omitted preparatory task settings.

Possibilities and acceptance of mobile information technologies for the elderly - first results of an empirical study.

This paper summarizes the results of a questionnaire-study conducted for the project "Safe and mobile through accompanying assistance systems" (SIMBA) founded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The study analyzes the mobility requirements and obstacles of the 55 yearold and older seniors in three age-groups (N=210) to develop suitable health-enabling technologies. It focuses on the mobility of the elderly on foot, by public transport, by bicycle and by taxi. The usage and the acceptance of existing mobile devices are determined, to select a suitable terminal for assistance systems. The results show, that although public transport is a very important way of travelling for seniors, its role decreases with higher age. Above the age of 65 years only a small fraction of seniors uses new communication technologies. This implies that smartphones as mobility aids are only suitable for the youngest group of seniors and for future, perhaps more technology-friendly generations.

Are caregiving courses useful? An empirical study from Antalya, Turkey.

In 2008, the National Social and Applied Gerontology Society (NSAGS) of Turkey held free caregiving courses for women, caring seniors, as a part of European Union (EU) programs. This course drew great attention and participation was common. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of this course on participants and non-participants of this course. The test-sheet and an envelope with a stamp on it, were sent to the registered addresses of the women who applied for the course. One hundred twenty-four of total 276 questionnaire returned. The average age was 39.4 ± 9.6 years (± S.D.) and the level of education was low. Most of participants (80.6%) lived with the elderly in the same house; 83.9% of them also have a job besides their caring function. Most of the participants (82.1%) were still caring for their patients. The findings presented here are based on the comparison of two groups (i.e., caregivers who attended and who did not attend the course). After caregiving training, participants felt more an "inner peace" when caring for their elderly (p ≤ 0.05). Participants (39.5%) of the course felt more efficient concerning their duty as caregiver. Non-attenders to the course made more negative statements concerning their concentration to their caregiving functioning (55.2% vs. 40.7%) (p ≤ 0.05). Perception on stress showed better results in the group of participants, who attended the course (p<0.05). More attenders (43%) of the course believed they could cope better with stress (p ≤ 0.05). This study showed that caregiving courses might be useful for caregivers of elderly people. The rapid increase of elderly people in need of care, will show a high demand for qualified caregivers. The NSAGS fulfilled an important duty by organizing these caregiving courses. This is an important signal showing that national gerontological organizations in Turkey might address the important needs concerning demographic aging in community.

Health-enabling technologies for pervasive health care: on services and ICT architecture paradigms.

BACKGROUND: Progress in information and communication technologies (ICT) is providing new opportunities for pervasive health care services in aging societies. OBJECTIVES: To identify starting points of health-enabling technologies for pervasive health care. To describe typical services of and contemporary ICT architecture paradigms for pervasive health care. METHODS: Summarizing outcomes of literature analyses and results from own research projects in this field. RESULTS: Basic functions for pervasive health care with respect to home care comprise emergency detection and alarm, disease management, as well as health status feedback and advice. These functions are complemented by optional (non-health care) functions. Four major paradigms for contemporary ICT architectures are person-centered ICT architectures, home-centered ICT architectures, telehealth service-centered ICT architectures and health care institution-centered ICT architectures. CONCLUSIONS: Health-enabling technologies may lead to both new ways of living and new ways of health care. Both ways are interwoven. This has to be considered for appropriate ICT architectures of sensor-enhanced health information systems. IMIA, the International Medical Informatics Association, may be an appropriate forum for interdisciplinary research exchange on health-enabling technologies for pervasive health care.