ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Population aging and the consequences of social distancing after the COVID-19 pandemic make it relevant to investigate the feasibility of remote interventions and their potential effects on averting functional decline. OBJECTIVE: (1) To investigate the feasibility, safety, and adherence of a remote protocol involving physical and cognitive exercises for older women with normal cognition; (2) to examine its effects on cognitive and well-being variables. METHODS: Twenty-nine women (age ≥ 60 years old) were randomized into experimental group (EG; n = 15) and control group (CG; n = 14). The EG performed a 40-minute session of cognitive and physical exercises, and CG performed a 20-minute stretching session. Both groups performed 20 sessions via videoconference and 20 on YouTube twice a week. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Verbal Fluency Test, Digit Span (direct an inverse order), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Well-being Index (WHO-5) were applied in pre- and post-interventions by phone. RESULTS: Overall adherence was 82.25% in EG and 74.29% in CG. The occurrence of adverse events (mild muscle pain) was 33.3% in EG and 21.4% in CG. The EG improved verbal fluency and attention (p ≤ 0.05); both groups had improved depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The present study met the pre-established criteria for feasibility, safety, and adherence to the remote exercise protocol among older women. The results suggest that a combined protocol has more significant potential to improve cognitive function. Both interventions were beneficial in improving the subjective perception of well-being.
ANTECEDENTES: O envelhecimento populacional e as consequências do isolamento social após a pandemia de COVID-19 tornaram relevante investigar a viabilidade, segurança e aderência de intervenções remotas e potenciais efeitos para prevenir declínios funcionais. OBJETIVO: (1) Investigar a viabilidade, segurança e aderência de um protocolo remoto de exercícios físicos e cognitivos; (2) investigar os possíveis efeitos sobre variáveis de cognição e de bem-estar. MéTODOS: Vinte e nove mulheres foram randomicamente divididas em grupo experimental (GE; n = 15) e grupo controle (GC; n = 14). O GE realizou sessões de 40 minutos de exercícios físicos e cognitivos e o GC, 20 minutos de alongamentos. Totalizaram 20 sessões por videoconferência e 20 pelo YouTube, duas vezes por semana. O Teste de Fluência Verbal, o Teste de Dígitos (ordem direta e inversa), a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS) e o Índice de Bem-Estar (WHO-5) foram aplicados no pré e pós-intervenção, por telefone e formulário digital. RESULTADOS: A aderência geral média foi de 82,25% no GE e 74,29% no GC. A ocorrência de eventos adversos (dores musculares leves) foi de 33,3% no GE e 21,4% no GC. O GE teve melhora em fluência verbal e atenção (p ≤ 0.05) e ambos os grupos tiveram melhora significativa nos sintomas depressivos. CONCLUSãO: O presente estudo atendeu aos critérios preestabelecidos para a viabilidade, segurança e aderência do programa oferecido entre idosas. Os resultados sugerem que o protocolo combinado tenha maior potencial de aprimorar funções cognitivas. Ambas as intervenções foram benéficas para a percepção subjetiva de bem-estar.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Exercise Therapy , Feasibility Studies , Humans , Female , Aged , COVID-19/prevention & control , Middle Aged , Exercise Therapy/methods , Patient Compliance , Cognition/physiology , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) has been a topic of debate since its introduction in publications. More frequent in the elderly population, it is characterized by gait disturbance, urinary urge incontinence and cognitive decline. Therefore, it is a clinical-radiological entity with relatively common findings for the age group, which together may have greater specificity. Therefore, its diagnosis must be careful for an adequate selection of patients for treatment with ventricular shunt, since the symptoms are potentially reversible. The tap test has a high positive predictive value as a predictor of therapeutic response, but a negative test does not exclude the possibility of treatment. Scientific efforts in recent years have been directed towards a better understanding of NPH and this narrative review aims to compile recent data from the literature in a didactic way for clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure , Hydrocephalus , Aged , Humans , Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure/diagnostic imaging , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) has been a topic of debate since its introduction in publications. More frequent in the elderly population, it is characterized by gait disturbance, urinary urge incontinence and cognitive decline. Therefore, it is a clinical-radiological entity with relatively common findings for the age group, which together may have greater specificity. Therefore, its diagnosis must be careful for an adequate selection of patients for treatment with ventricular shunt, since the symptoms are potentially reversible. The tap test has a high positive predictive value as a predictor of therapeutic response, but a negative test does not exclude the possibility of treatment. Scientific efforts in recent years have been directed towards a better understanding of NPH and this narrative review aims to compile recent data from the literature in a didactic way for clinical practice.
RESUMO A hidrocefalia de pressão normal (HPN) é tema de debate desde sua introdução na literatura. Mais frequente na população idosa, caracteriza-se por distúrbio de marcha, urge-incontinência urinária e declínio cognitivo. Portanto, trata-se de uma entidade clínico-radiológica com achados relativamente comuns para a faixa etária, que em conjunto, podem ter maior especificidade. Sendo assim, seu diagnóstico deve ser criterioso para uma adequada seleção de pacientes para tratamento com a derivação ventricular, uma vez que os sintomas são potencialmente reversíveis. O tap test possui valor preditivo positivo alto preditor de resposta terapêutica, mas um teste negativo não exclui a possibilidade de tratamento. Esforços científicos nos últimos anos têm sido direcionados para melhor entendimento da HPN e essa revisão narrativa se propõe a compilar dados recentes da literatura de forma didática para a prática clínica.
