The Associations of Sensory Impairment With 10-Year Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: The Health and Retirement Study, 2010-2020.

BACKGROUND: Studies have examined the association between dual sensory impairment and late-life cognitive outcomes in the U.S with inconsistent findings. OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between sensory impairment and 10-year risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease among U.S. adults aged ≥ 50. METHODS: A prospective cohort study based on the Health and Retirement Study from 2010 to 2020. Individuals aged ≥ 50 years without self-reported dementia and Alzheimer's disease in 2010 were included in the analysis. Self-reported visual and hearing impairments were measures in 2010. Main failure events included self-reported incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease over a 10-year follow-up period. Participants were categorized as having no visual or hearing impairment, visual impairment only, hearing impairment only, and dual sensory impairment. Fine-Gray competing risk regression model was applied to estimate the associations of sensory impairment with incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease, adjusted for demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and health conditions at baseline. RESULTS: Of 20,248 identified individuals, 14.6% had visual impairment only, 11.2% had hearing impairment only, and 9.1% had dual impairment at baseline. After adjusting for all covariates, dual sensory impairment was associated with higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.23-1.73) and Alzheimer's disease (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03-1.76). Visual impairment only was also associated with incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease among individuals <65 years. CONCLUSION: Older adults in the U.S. with visual and hearing impairments simultaneously had a particularly greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, indicating the needs of targeted screening for timely treatment and further prevention of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Implementation and evaluation of a community-based mindful walking randomized controlled trial to sustain cognitive health in older African Americans at risk for dementia.

BACKGROUND: With an increasing proportion of older adults and the associated risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) around the globe, there is an urgent need to engage in ADRD risk reduction efforts. African American (AA) older adults in the U.S. are disproportionally impacted by ADRD compared to other races and ethnicities. Mindful walking integrates two potentially protective factors of ADRD by elevating mindfulness and physical activity (i.e., walking), resulting in a synergistic behavioral strategy that is feasible and safe for older adults. However, the efficacy of applying this intervention for cognitive health outcomes has not been evaluated using experimental designs. METHODS: This paper documents the goal and protocol of a community-based, mindful walking randomized controlled trial to examine the short- and longer-term efficacy on cognitive and other health-related outcomes in ADRD at-risk AA older adults. The study outcomes include various brain health determinants, including cognitive function, quality of life, psychological well-being, physical activity, mindfulness, sleep, and overall health status. In addition, the estimated costs of program implementation are also collected throughout the study period. This study will recruit 114 older adults (ages 60+ years) with elevated ADRD risk from the Midlands region of South Carolina. Older adults are randomly assigned to participate in 24 sessions of outdoor mindful walking over three months or a delayed mindful walking group (n=57 in each group). Participants in both groups follow identical measurement protocols at baseline, after 12 weeks, after 18 weeks, and after 24 weeks from baseline. The outcome measures are administered in the lab and in everyday settings. Costs per participant are calculated using micro-costing methods. The eliciting participant costs for mindful walking engagement with expected results are reported using the payer and the societal perspectives. DISCUSSION: This study will generate evidence regarding the efficacy of mindful walking on sustaining cognitive health in vulnerable older adults. The results can inform future large-scale effectiveness trials to support our study findings. If successful, this mindful walking program can be scaled up as a low-cost and viable lifestyle strategy to promote healthy cognitive aging in diverse older adult populations, including those at greatest risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT06085196 (retrospectively registered on 10/08/2023).

Students report more positive attitudes toward older adults following an interprofessional service-learning course.

The aim of this study was to assess undergraduate students' perceptions of older adults over the semester in an interprofessional service-learning course that implemented a health promotion program called Bingocize® at community facilities for older adults. Students were surveyed at the beginning of the semester, at midterm, and at the conclusion of the course. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess the students' perceptions and experiences. Results suggest that a course on aging that includes interprofessional service-learning in geriatric settings is associated with a significant increase in positive perceptions of the older adult population. Further research, however, is warranted to validate the findings.

Interrelationships Among Resilience, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Depression, and Academic Outcomes in Student Military Veterans.

Resilience, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are important factors to consider as student military Veterans work to reintegrate into society. The impact of these factors on academic success is not fully understood, but is important for rehabilitation professionals, student advisors, and counselors. The current study examined the impact of resilience, depression, PTSD, and TBI on student Veteran academic outcomes, and whether the amount of student Veterans' military experience moderated the effect of these factors on academic performance. Seventy-seven student Veterans completed measures that assessed resilience, grade point average, academic disruptions, and symptoms of depression, PTSD, and TBI. Path analysis was used to determine the manner in which the variables influenced academic performance. Results indicate that student Veterans should not be viewed as a homogeneous group and their needs differ based on level of military experience. Academic disruption among less experienced Veterans was most associated with symptoms of depression, whereas academic disruption among more experienced Veterans was most associated with symptoms of TBI. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(2), 35-43.].

Role of resilience in the rehabilitation of adults with acquired brain injury.

PURPOSE: The goals of this review paper are to present an overview of the literature on resilience in adults with ABI, to describe approaches to measuring resilience in clinical practice and to discuss practical suggestions for promoting resilience in rehabilitation of adults with ABI. METHOD: We employed systematic review of journal articles, books, and websites related to resilience in adults with acquired brain injury (ABI). RESULTS: Resilience was associated with adaptation and adjustment for individuals faced with serious injury such as ABI. However, research examining the construct of resilience is limited. CONCLUSION: While rehabilitation typically focuses on the identification and reduction of impairments for improving functioning, a focus on resilience may allow for recovery in a broader sense that exceeds expected outcomes.

Age-Related Hearing Loss, Cognitive Decline, and Social Interaction: Testing a Framework.

PURPOSE: Aging increases risk for hearing loss, cognitive decline, and social isolation; however, the nature of their interconnection remains unclear. This study examined the interplay between age-related hearing loss, cognitive decline, and social isolation in adults by testing the ability to understand speech in background noise, a challenge frequently reported by many older adults. METHOD: We analyzed data collected from 128 adults (20-79 years of age, Mage = 51 years) recruited as part of the Aging Brain Cohort at the University of South Carolina repository. The participants underwent testing for hearing, cognition, and social interaction, which included pure-tone audiometry, a words-in-noise (WIN) test, a hearing questionnaire (Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale [SSQ12]), a social questionnaire (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-57 Social), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We used a single pure-tone average (PTA) threshold value and a single WIN threshold value for each participant because there were no differences on average between the left and right ears. RESULTS: Poorer hearing was significantly associated with cognitive decline, through both PTA and WIN thresholds, with a stronger association observed for WIN threshold. Adults with poorer hearing also exhibited greater social isolation, as evidenced by their WIN threshold and SSQ12 score, although not through PTA. This connection was more pronounced with the WIN threshold than with the SSQ12 score. Cognition was not related to social isolation, suggesting that social isolation is affected more by the ability to understand words in noise than by cognition in a nondemented population. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding speech in challenging auditory environments rather than mere threshold detection is strongly linked to social isolation and cognitive decline. Thus, inclusion of a word-recognition-in-noise test and a social isolation survey in clinical settings is warranted. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.26237060.

Cognitive intervention results in web-based videophone treatment adherence and improved cognitive scores.

BACKGROUND: We report findings from an intervention study using telehealth modalities to determine whether provision of telehealth services can improve access to care and increase adherence to cognitive therapy in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) while matching traditional care in terms of outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Veterans who were initially non-adherent to clinic-based cognitive therapy were offered a newly developed treatment. The control participants were selected from patient records of veterans who had completed cognitive treatment and matched to MOPS-VI participants on the basis of age, marital or relationship status, and composite memory index score. Baseline and post-treatment cognitive functioning as assessed by the Test of Memory and Learning 2nd Edition (TOMAL-2) was obtained for all participants. The MOPS-VI modules were designed to increase understanding of TBI and elicit problem-solving skills for attention and memory impairment. Results Sixty-seven percent of veterans (who were assigned to the MOPS-VI treatment group because they were initially non-adherent with the clinic-based treatment) completed the MOPS-VI telemedicine treatment. RESULTS: of a two-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA) comparing baseline and follow-up scores on the TOMAL-2 in the MOPS-VI and control groups revealed there was a significant pre-post assessment effect, indicating that participant's memory and learning improved after treatment for both MOPS-VI and standard treatment groups. There was no significant difference between clinic-based treatment and MOPS-VI therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary evidence supports the efficacy of the treatment, defined as increased compliance in completing the treatment program, and improvements in standardized memory and learning test results comparable to those following clinic-based treatment.

Effectiveness of systematic articulation training program accessing computers (SATPAC) approach to remediate dentalized and interdental /s, z/: a preliminary study.

Traditional methods for treating speech distortion errors in older school-age children have tended to yield mixed success. The current study was a preliminary evaluation of an alternative approach called the Systematic Articulation Training Program Accessing Computers (SATPAC), which was tested for the remediation of /s/ and /z/. Procedures involved a sequence of phonetic placement and/or oral-motor placement cues as needed to establish the targets, followed by concentrated drill structured around a facilitating context nonsense word and then advanced to more natural contexts. Participants were 18 children aged 6 years, 9 months to 11 years, 10 months. Treatment involved once per week, individual, 10-min. sessions with an experienced speech-language pathologist. Group A (n = 9) received 15 weeks of treatment, while treatment was delayed for Group B (n = 9). Then the groups were reversed. During period one, Group A (treated) significantly improved their accuracy of /s, z/ in spontaneous speech, while Group B (untreated) showed no significant change. During period two, Group B improved significantly when treatment was applied. The majority of the participants retained proficiency two years later.

A Tutorial for Speech-Language Pathologists: Physical Activity and Social Engagement to Prevent or Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults.

PURPOSE: This tutorial provides an overview of two behavioral approaches, physical activity and social engagement, to prevent or slow cognitive decline in older adults and to increase awareness in the field of speech-language pathology of the important role that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play in an interprofessional team working with this population. METHOD: A review of exercise science, neuroscience, and social science literature was used to synthesize evidence and to outline the impact of physical activity and social engagement on cognition. The following topics were explored: How do exercise and social engagement support cognition? What are modifiable risk factors of dementia? What is the impact of inactivity and isolation on cognition? What is the potential role of the SLP on an interprofessional team focusing on preventive measures for cognitive decline? What is the impact of physical exercise and social engagement on nursing home residents? RESULTS: Research increasingly points to the critical importance of physical activity and social engagement to prevent cognitive decline in normal aging and to slow cognitive decline associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Research suggests that physical activity maintains or improves memory, attention, executive function, visuospatial function, speed of processing, and general cognitive function. Social engagement has been found to maintain and improve general cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral interventions are an effective strategy to prevent or slow cognitive decline in the older adult population. SLPs have a role to play on an interprofessional team that works to prevent cognitive decline. By considering factors that play a role in the prevention of cognitive decline, such as physical activity and social engagement, the quality of life and overall health of older adults can be improved. Areas of improvement include memory, attention, executive function, visuospatial function, speed of processing, and general cognitive function.

How an Intergenerational Book Club Can Prevent Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Older adults are at higher risk for social isolation because of widowhood, loss of friends, retirement, physical limitations, geographic relocation, and caregiving demands. Behavioral interventions aimed at increasing social contact may help to maintain cognition and prevent cognitive decline. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine a novel intervention for social isolation with an intergenerational book club that had weekly in-person and virtual meetings of college students and older adults. We wanted to know whether the study was feasible and if our methods would be likely to generate meaningful results should it be expanded to a larger number of participants. We predicted that wellbeing and cognition would improve following participation in the book club. Results found that while measures of quality of life and affect were not statistically different before and after participation in a book club, scores on a measure of cognition (the Montreal Cognitive Assessment) were statistically significant between groups (intervention and control) showing greater improvement among book club participants.

Predictors of Therapy Response in Chronic Aphasia: Building a Foundation for Personalized Aphasia Therapy.

Chronic aphasia, a devastating impairment of language, affects up to a third of stroke survivors. Speech and language therapy has consistently been shown to improve language function in prior clinical trials, but few clinicially applicable predictors of individual therapy response have been identified to date. Consequently, clinicians struggle substantially with prognostication in the clinical management of aphasia. A rising prevalence of aphasia, in particular in younger populations, has emphasized the increasing demand for a personalized approach to aphasia therapy, that is, therapy aimed at maximizing language recovery of each individual with reference to evidence-based clinical recommendations. In this narrative review, we discuss the current state of the literature with respect to commonly studied predictors of therapy response in aphasia. In particular, we focus our discussion on biographical, neuropsychological, and neurobiological predictors, and emphasize limitations of the literature, summarize consistent findings, and consider how the research field can better support the development of personalized aphasia therapy. In conclusion, a review of the literature indicates that future research efforts should aim to recruit larger samples of people with aphasia, including by establishing multisite aphasia research centers.

Facilitators and Barriers to Attendance in a Nursing Home Exercise Program.

Women and residents in Certified Nursing Homes (CNHs) with higher star ratings had better attendance in exercise and social engagement programming (ie, Bingocize) than men and residents in CNHs with lower ratings. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to determine whether resident factors and nursing home star ratings influenced attendance in Bingocize, a therapeutic exercise program that incorporates opportunities for social engagement in nursing homes. DESIGN: This is a descriptive study of data collected across multiple nursing homes over 17 months. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected from residents in 25 certified nursing homes in the mid-southern United States. METHODS: The program consisted of two 45-60-minute sessions each week. Bingocize attendance was recoded as number of sessions attended each month from September 2017 to February 2019 in 25 nursing homes. The impact of gender, age, cognitive functioning, and Nursing Home Star Ratings on adherence to the program based on percentage of Bingocize sessions attended was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1165 residents of certified nursing homes were recruited and participated in Bingocize; 55% of participants attended Bingocize infrequently or had poor attendance, 21% of the participants had average attendance, and 24% had good attendance. The association between gender and level of attendance was significant (P = .045). The star rating of the nursing home also affected attendance. As star level of the nursing home increased, the percentage of good attendance increased (P < .001): 19.12% (1 star), 20.69% (2 stars), 23.57% (3 stars), 33.76% (4 stars), and 36.63% (5 stars). Neither age nor cognitive functioning [based on Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS)] had a significant impact on attendance. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We examined adherence to an exercise program called Bingocize based on percentage of sessions attended in 25 nursing homes. Women and residents in nursing homes with higher star ratings were reported to have better attendance in Bingocize than men or residents in nursing homes with lower ratings, respectively. Residents of all ages and cognitive ability can successfully participate in the Bingocize program.

Visual discrimination predicts naming and semantic association accuracy in Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVE: Language impairment is a common symptom of Alzheimer disease (AD), and is thought to be related to semantic processing. This study examines the contribution of another process, namely visual perception, on measures of confrontation naming and semantic association abilities in persons with probable AD. METHODS: Twenty individuals with probable mild-moderate Alzheimer disease and 20 age-matched controls completed a battery of neuropsychologic measures assessing visual perception, naming, and semantic association ability. Visual discrimination tasks that varied in the degree to which they likely accessed stored structural representations were used to gauge whether structural processing deficits could account for deficits in naming and in semantic association in AD. RESULTS: Visual discrimination abilities of nameable objects in AD strongly predicted performance on both picture naming and semantic association ability, but lacked the same predictive value for controls. Although impaired, performance on visual discrimination tests of abstract shapes and novel faces showed no significant relationship with picture naming and semantic association. These results provide additional evidence to support that structural processing deficits exist in AD, and may contribute to object recognition and naming deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that there is a common deficit in discrimination of pictures using nameable objects, picture naming, and semantic association of pictures in AD. Disturbances in structural processing of pictured items may be associated with lexical-semantic impairment in AD, owing to degraded internal storage of structural knowledge.

Use of fMRI in the study of chronic aphasia recovery after therapy: a case study.

PURPOSE: The role of intensity of aphasia therapy was investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to document changes in neural activation patterns associated with massed versus distributed therapy in an individual with chronic conduction aphasia. METHOD: Language therapy targeted word-finding deficits and phonological processing. fMRI scans were acquired at baseline, after massed therapy, and after distributed therapy. RESULTS: Treatment was effective, as demonstrated by increases in performance on standardized measures, narrative analysis, and task performance in the fMRI scanner. Task improvement across fMRI testing sessions corresponded with increases in fMRI blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal. Greatest behavioral gains and BOLD signal increases occurred after massed therapy, with slight gains accompanying distributed therapy. Increases in fMRI BOLD signal occurred after therapy in left basal ganglia and right hemisphere frontotemporal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Intensity of aphasia therapy impacts the recovery process and warrants additional research. Basal ganglia and right hemisphere structures may be important neural substrates for aphasia recovery.

Dysgraphia in Alzheimer's disease: a review for clinical and research purposes.

PURPOSE: This article presents a critical review of literature on dysgraphia associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Research presented includes discussions of central and peripheral spelling impairments as well as the impact of general, nonlinguistic cognitive functions on dysgraphia associated with AD. METHOD: The studies critically reviewed were from a variety of disciplines, with emphasis on seminal work, recent literature, and the first author's research. CONCLUSIONS: Studies have shown that writing impairment is heterogeneous within the AD population; however, there are certain aspects of the writing process that are more vulnerable than others and may serve as diagnostic signs. Identifying patterns of writing impairment at different stages of AD may help to chart disease progression and assist in the development of appropriate interventions.

A comparison of verbal and written language in Alzheimer's disease.

UNLABELLED: Few studies have examined characteristics of both verbal and written language of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study used parallel measures (picture description, word fluency, spelling to dictation, and confrontational naming) to compare verbal and written language of individuals with mild AD, moderate AD, and normal controls (14 participants per group). Goals were to determine whether verbal/written differences would be exhibited within groups, and to identify measures sensitive to the effects of mild AD. Results showed that increasing AD severity led to decline in performance for most tasks, but only word fluency differentiated subjects with mild AD from normal controls. Confrontational naming was the only task to identify a difference in verbal and written performance for an AD group but not controls; moderate AD subjects performed worse in written naming. Similar verbal and written performance for the spelling to dictation task indicates impairment to central spelling processes in AD. LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of this activity, participants will be able to: (1) identify verbal and written language measures which are sensitive to the effects of mild AD; (2) describe similarities and differences in verbal and written language performance among mild AD subjects, moderate AD subjects, and controls; (3) describe how findings may inform clinical practice for individuals with mild AD.

Using memory strategies to improve 24-hour dietary recalls among older adults.

Dietitians commonly use 24-hour recall to obtain estimates of the typical food intakes for a population. This study was designed to determine whether using an encoding strategy or support at the time of retrieval improves older adults' 24-hour recall of food items and amounts consumed. The study included 17 older adults ranging from 74 to 91 years of age. Lunch was served to these individuals, and 24-hour dietary recall and recognition of food items consumed at the meal were conducted the following day. Portion sizes for five food items served at the meal, as well as memory tests for recall and recognition and a visual perceptual test, were also administered. Among older adults, use of an encoding strategy did not enhance memory of food items and amounts consumed. However, when the adults were provided support with a visual recognition aid at the time of food item recall, individuals remembered more food items but not amounts consumed. Performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale I and II, Verbal Paired Associates, was found to be a predictor of subjects' performance on 24-hour recall.

Genetics internet resources for allied health professionals.

As the field of genetics continues to grow at a rapid rate, so does the application to patient care delivered by allied health professionals. At the same time, it has been shown that allied health professionals often lack confidence in their knowledge of genetics as a result of limited education about genetics. The current study was an interdisciplinary effort devised to explore Internet resources for learning about human genetics as they apply to the allied health professions. A rating scale was developed to assess the format and the content of the websites and to assess other websites that may be identified in the future. Four of the seven websites that received the highest mean ratings are discussed in more detail. Two of the websites address basic concepts in genetics, and the other two provide resources for current topics and research in genetics as it pertains to patient care.

Fricatives at 18 months as a measure for predicting vocabulary and grammar at 24 and 30 months.

PURPOSE: Language develops at variable rates in young children, yet markers for different developmental trajectories, have not been identified. Production of fricatives in words may be one marker because they are later developing sounds and contribute to syntactic production. We examined whether children who produced fricatives in words by 18 months had better vocabulary and grammar scores at 18, 24, and 30 months than children who did not. METHOD: The expressive language skills of 37 toddlers who did and did not produce fricatives in words by 18 months of age were compared at 18, 24 and 30 months of age. RESULTS: Expressive vocabulary scores and the use of grammatical markers were significantly better for children who produced fricatives by 18 months than for those who did not. This effect was consistent across scores at 18, 24, and 30 months. The total number of consonants and total number of fricatives produced at 18 months did not significantly predict expressive vocabulary scores. CONCLUSIONS: Because the children who produced fricatives by 18 months demonstrated better expressive language skills than their peers who did not produce fricatives by 18 months, the early production of fricatives by toddlers may be a marker of a faster expressive language developmental trajectory. LEARNING OUTCOMES: Readers will: (1) describe the relationship between early phonological development and early expressive lexical development, (2) describe the role of perceptual and motor development in speech sound the acquisition, and (3) describe the potential relationship between the production of fricatives and expressive language development.

A comparison of rating scales used in the diagnosis of extraesophageal reflux.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of agreement between reflux area index scores, the reflux symptom index (RSI), and the reflux finding score (RFS). Inter- and intrarater reliability of the RFS was assessed. A criterion of pH 5 was used to evaluate its effects on agreement. STUDY DESIGN: Adult participants were enrolled in this prospective study. METHODS: Eighty-two participants (72 patients and 10 controls) completed the RSI, videoendoscopy, and 24-hour pH probe monitoring. The reflux area index for extraesophageal reflux (EER) events was calculated at pH 4 and 5. Two speech-language pathologists and one otolaryngologist independently rated 36 endoscopic examinations using the RFS through a web-based system. A repeated rating of six examinations was completed. RESULTS: Chi-square revealed poor agreement between the diagnostic tools, regardless of which pH criterion was used. Intraclass correlation coefficients revealed fair interrater reliability of the RFS and moderate intrarater reliability. Independent-sample t tests for the RFS and reflux area index (RAI) scores failed to identify patients from normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight the lack of agreement among the current available diagnostic tools for EER. Raters were not in agreement regarding the presence and severity of physical findings of EER. Results support the need for greater consensus among the clinical tools used in the diagnosis of EER. Physical rating scales may overidentify patients and would benefit from uniform scales and training. Assessing EER occurring at pH 5 may also yield important diagnostic information. Further research is needed to verify normative RAI cutpoints.