Dysphagia is closely related to frailty in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Physical phenotype and the cumulative deficit model are two well-known concepts of frailty. One of the main components of frailty is loss of muscle mass and function, which may also include swallowing muscles, therefore is a risk factor for dysphagia. Since dysphagia is seen starting from the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), in this study we aimed to reveal the relationship between frailty and dysphagia and dysphagia-related quality of life through Swallow Quality of Life (SwalQoL) tool in patients with AD and compare them with cognitively intact older adults. METHODS: Comprehensive geriatric assessment, dysphagia evaluation by Eating-Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and SwalQoL questionnaire, and frailty assessment via FRAIL and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) were performed on all 101 participants of the study. Thirty-five patients were cognitively intact, 36 patients were diagnosed with mild AD, and 30 patients were diagnosed with moderate AD. RESULTS: Sex distribution was similar between the groups, however, there was a statistically significant age difference. The prevalence of frailty increased according to both frailty indexes as the cognitive status deteriorated. All parameters of SwalQoL except fear and sleep parameters deteriorated as cognitive status impaired. In quantile regression of the total score of the SwalQoL questionnaire and multivariable logistic regression of EAT-10, frailty, as defined by CFS and FRAIL, was associated with dysphagia and poor quality of life regardless of age, presence of dementia, as well as nutritional status. CONCLUSION: Swallowing difficulties in AD negatively affects the quality of life, and it is closely related to frailty in mild-to-moderate AD.

Balance performance measured by posturography in mild-moderate Alzheimer's Disease: An undervalued assessment.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare balance performance in mild-moderate stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and healthy peers using clinical balance tests and computerized posturography. METHODS: We recruited 95 patients and divided them into two groups; 51 patients (62 % (n=32) female) in AD group and 44 patients in healthy controls group (50 % (n=22) female). Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up & Go (TUG) test were performed. Computerized posturography was performed. RESULTS: The mean age was 77.2±5.5 years in the AD group and 73.8±4.4 years in the control group (p<0.001). Sensory organization test composite equilibrium score (60[30-81], p<0.001), step quick turn-sway velocity (69.2 [38.2-95.8], p<0.001) and step quick turn-time (3.8 [1.6-8.4], p<0.001) were significantly impaired in mild-moderate stage AD patients. Berg Balance Scale (50 [32-56], p<0.001) and TUG test (13.0 [7.0-25.7], p<0.001) results were worse in AD. CONCLUSIONS: Computerized posturography measures were impaired in mild-moderate AD patients. The results highlight importance of early screening for balance and fall risk in AD patients. The study provides multi-dimensional and holistic assessment of balance performance in early-stage AD patients. Alzheimer's disease patients at earlier stages are prone to fall risk and should be evaluated accordingly.

Antibody response with SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) in Turkish geriatric population.

BACKGROUND: Sars-CoV-2 infection influences older individuals at the forefront, and there is still limited data on the COVID-19 vaccine response in the geriatric population. This study aimed to assess antibody response after vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine and examine possible factors affecting this response in a geriatric population. METHODS: individuals who have been on at least the 28th day after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine were included. Comprehensive geriatric assessment tools and the Clinical Frailty Scale were performed. SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific IgG antibodies were detected and, levels ≥1 U/ml were defined as seropositive, <1 U/ml were defined as seronegative. RESULTS: a total of 497 patients were included and divided into three groups according to the days past after the second dose of the vaccine (Group 1: 28-59 days, Group 2: 60-89 days and Group 3: 90 days and more). Groups included 188, 148 and 171 patients, respectively. Seropositivity rate in each group was 80.9,73.2 and 57.3%, respectively. In Groups 1 and 2, Charlson Comorbidity Index score was higher in the seronegative group (P = 0.023 and P = 0.011, respectively). In Group 3, the prevalence of frailty was significantly higher in the seronegative group (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the antibody response after vaccination with Sars-CoV 2 inactivated vaccine in the Turkish geriatric population. Moreover, this is the first study revealing the relationship between antibody response and frailty. Larger studies are needed to confirm the antibody response duration and the association between frailty and COVID-19 vaccine response.

Insomnia and falls in older adults: are they linked to executive dysfunction?

BACKGROUND: Insomnia increases the incidence of falls and impairs executive function. Moreover, falls are associated with executive function impairment. The relationship between falls and executive function in patients with insomnia is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between falls and executive function in individuals with insomnia and a control group. METHODS: This study involved 122 patients (47 insomnia, 75 controls). The Mini-Mental State Examination, Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment Screen, Trail Making Test A, clock-drawing test, and digit span test were used to measure executive function. Semantic and working memory dual task was also performed. Fall history was recorded and the Falls Efficacy Scale - International administered. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 71 years (range: 65-89 years), and 60.7% were women. The insomnia group scored lower on the three-word recall than the control group (P = 0.005), but there was no difference between the groups on cognitive tests. Fall history and fear of falling were more frequent in the insomnia group (P = 0.003, P < 0.001). Semantic and working memory dual tasks were correlated with clock-drawing test only in the insomnia group (r = -0.316, P = 0.031; r = -0.319, P = 0.029). Depression (odds ratio (OR) = 9.65, P = 0.001) and Trail Making Test A (OR = 1.025, P = 0.07) were independently associated with insomnia. Four-metre walking speed (OR = 2.342, P = 0.025), insomnia (OR = 3.453; P = 0.028), and the semantic memory dual task (OR = 1.589; P = 0.025) were also independently associated with falls. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that dual tasking and executive function are related to falls in patients with insomnia. Managing insomnia and assessment of executive dysfunction may have beneficial effects on preventing falls.

Impact of frailty and ultrasonography-based sarcopenia on the development of postoperative complications in gastrointestinal cancer patients

Background/aim: Gastrointestinal (GI) system cancers are frequent among older adults and it is still difficult to predict which are at increased risk for postoperative complications. Frailty and sarcopenia are increasing problems of older population and may be associated with adverse outcomes. In this study we aimed to examine the effect of sarcopenia and frailty on postoperative complications in older patients undergoing surgery for GI cancers. Materials and methods: Forty-nine patients admitted to general surgery clinic with the diagnosis of gastrointestinal system cancers were included in this cross-sectional study. Frailty status was assessed using the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS). Sarcopenia was defined due to the EWGSOP2 criteria and ultrasonography was used to evaluate muscle mass. Results: The median age of the patients was 70 (min-max: 65­87). Fourteen (28.6%) patients were found to be sarcopenic and 16 (32.7%) patients were frail, and 6 (37.5%) of these patients were also severe sarcopenic (p = 0.04). When the postoperative complications were assessed, time to oral intake, time to enough oral intake, length of hospital stay in the postoperative period were found to be longer in frail patients (p = 0.02, p = 0.03, p = 0.04 respectively). Postoperative complications were not different due to the sarcopenia. Conclusion: Frailty, but not sarcopenia was associated with adverse outcomes in older adults undergoing GI cancer surgery. Comprehensive geriatric assessment before surgical intervention may help to identify patients who are at risk.

Cutoff values for appendicular skeletal muscle mass using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in a reference group of Turkish adults.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine cutoff values for different appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) methods measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a reference group of the Turkish population. METHODS: Body composition analyses were performed with DXA, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was adjusted to body size as ASMI using height squared (ASM/ht2 ), weight (ASM/wt), and body mass index (BMI) (ASM/BMI). Sex-specific cutoff values were obtained as 1 and 2 standard deviations (SDs) below the mean values of ASM/ht2 , ASM/wt, and ASM/BMI. RESULTS: A total of 207 (106 women and 101 men) healthy adults were enrolled. Sex-specific cutoff values based on 1 SD below the mean values of ASM, ASM/ht2 , ASM/BMI, and ASM/wt were 14.44, 5.45, 0.61, and 24.07 in women and 22.63, 7.22, 0.90, and 29.04 in men, respectively; 2 SDs below the mean values of ASM, ASM/ht2 , ASM/BMI, and ASM/wt were 11.96, 4.65, 0.51, and 21.75 in women and 19.26, 6.40, 0.78, and 26.55 in men, respectively. ASM, ASM/BMI, ASM/ht2 , and ASM/wt were statistically significant positively correlated with handgrip strength (r = 0.81, r = 0.78, r = 0.73, and r = 0.67, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, ASM/BMI was found to be the most suitable ASM adjustment method to predict muscle strength.

Prevalence of nutrition disorders and nutrition-related conditions in older patients with Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUNDS: Alzheimer's disease is frequently encountered with nutrition-related conditions such as malnutrition, sarcopenia, frailty, overnutrition, and micronutrient abnormalities in older patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of nutrition disorders and nutrition-related conditions in the same patient group. METHODS: A total of 253 older patients with Alzheimer's disease underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment, which included nutrition-related disorders, malnutrition via the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), frailty via the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and sarcopenia was diagnosed according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People-2 criteria. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 79.8 ± 6.5 years, and 58.1% were women. In our patients, 64.8% had malnutrition or were at risk of malnutrition; 38.3% had sarcopenia; 19.8% were prefrail; and 80.2% were frail. Malnutrition, frailty, and sarcopenia prevalence increased as the Alzheimer's disease stage progressed. Malnutrition was found to be significantly related with frailty scores via CFS (odds ratio [OR], 1.397; P = 0.0049) and muscle mass via fat-free mass index (FFMI) (OR, 0.793; P = 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, age, MNA-SF, and CFS were included in the model to detect the independent correlates of probable and confirmed sarcopenia. CFS was independently associated with probable and confirmed sarcopenia (OR, 1.822; P = 0.013; OR, 2.671; P = 0.001, respectively). Frailty was similarly related with FFMI (OR, 0.836; P = 0.031). Obesity was independently related with FFMI (OR, 0.688; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, nutrition disorders and nutrition-related conditions can present concurrently in patients with all stages of Alzheimer's disease; therefore, these frequent problems should be screened and diagnosed accordingly.

Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria with different muscle assessments including muscle ultrasound with hospitalized internal medicine patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to identify cutoff values for muscle ultrasound (US) to be used in Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, and to define the effect of reduced muscle mass assessment on malnutrition prevalence at hospital admission. METHODS: A total of 118 inpatients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Six different muscles were evaluated by US. Following defining thresholds for muscle US to predict low muscle mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis, malnutrition was diagnosed by GLIM criteria with seven approaches, including calf circumference, mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), handgrip strength (HGS), skeletal muscle index (SMI), rectus femoris (RF) muscle thickness, and cross-sectional area (CSA) in addition to without using the reduced muscle mass criterion. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 64 (18-93) years, 55.9% were female. RF muscle thickness had moderate positive correlations with both HGS (r = 0.572) and SMI (r = 0.405). RF CSA had moderate correlation with HGS (r = 0.567) and low correlation with SMI (r = 0.389). The cutoff thresholds were 11.3 mm (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.835) and 17 mm (AUC = 0.737) for RF muscle thickness and 4 cm² (AUC = 0.937) and 7.2 cm² (AUC = 0.755) for RF CSA in females and males, respectively. Without using the reduced muscle mass criterion, malnutrition prevalence was 46.6%; otherwise, it ranged from 47.5% (using MAC) to 65.2% (using HGS). CONCLUSIONS: Muscle US may be used in GLIM criteria. However, muscle US needs a standard measurement technique and specific cutoff values in future studies.

Defining prognostic factors in older patients with endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer (EC) is most frequently seen in older and postmenopausal women. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of recurrence and survival and clinical, pathological, surgical, and treatment factors affecting recurrence and survival in older patients with EC. METHODS: Three hundred and six (21.7%) patients aged ≥ 65 out of a total of 1413 patients diagnosed with and treated for epithelial EC at the Division of Gynecologic Oncology between January 1993 and May 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. All patients were staged according to FIGO 2009 staging system. Progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were determined. Independent prognostic factors affecting recurrence and survival were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 68 (65-92) years. Eighty-nine patients (29.1%) were diagnosed with stage III-IV disease. Tumor type was endometrioid in 226 (73.9%) patients, and 101 (33%) patients were diagnosed with FIGO grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer. One hundred fifty-three patients received adjuvant therapy after surgery. Five-year PFS, 5-year CSS, and 5-year OS were 73%, 85%, and 83%, respectively. Only the 2009 FIGO stage was independently associated with PFS (OR = 3.495, 95% CI 1.592-7.675; p = 0.002) and CSS (OR = 6.135, 95%CI 1.269-31.417; p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 2009 FIGO stage was found to be the only independent prognostic factor associated with recurrence and death in older patients with endometrial cancer.

Comparison of Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short and Long Form to predict all-cause mortality up to 7 years in geriatric outpatients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to find out whether the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) can predict mortality up to 7 years when compared with the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Long Form (MNA-LF) in geriatric outpatients. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in patients (≥65 years) who were admitted to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital. MNA-SF and MNA-LF results were available for all patients. Patients were grouped as normal nutrition status (score 12-14), at risk of malnutrition (score between 8 and 11), or malnourished (score ≤7) according to MNA-SF. Based on MNA-LF, patients had normal nutrition status (score ≥24), were at risk of malnutrition (score 17-23.5), or were malnourished (score <17). Survival of the patients was assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: The study included 209 patients (62.2% female). During the 7-year follow-up, 77 (36.8%) patients died. After adjusting for age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index, MNA-SF was significantly associated with all-cause mortality during 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 7-year follow-up time. MNA-LF was superior to MNA-SF to estimate 6-month (P = 0.004) and 1-year mortality (P = 0.031). There was no difference between MNA-SF and MNA-LF regarding 3-year, 5-year, and 7-year mortality. CONCLUSION: MNA-SF can predict short-term and long-term mortality in geriatric outpatients as well as MNA-LF. A cut-off value of 11, indicating risk of malnutrition according to MNA-SF, may be used for the risk estimation of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year mortality. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of screening all geriatric outpatients for malnutrition and especially the risk of malnutrition for early intervention and treatment.

The role of muscle ultrasound to predict sarcopenia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide data about the role of muscle ultrasound (US) to predict sarcopenia. METHODS: A total of 313 geriatric outpatients (age ≥65 y) were enrolled in the study. After a comprehensive geriatric assessment, anthropometric measurement and handgrip strength (HGS) data were obtained and a bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using HGS and bioelectrical impedance analysis data. Gastrocnemius medialis (GC), rectus femoris (RF), and rectus abdominis (RA) muscle thickness as well as the RF cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured with US. The role of muscle US to predict sarcopenia was defined with a receiver operating characteristics analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of probable and confirmed sarcopenia were 43.8% (n = 137) and 13.4% (n = 42), respectively. All muscle US parameters had positive correlations with both HGS and the fat-free mass index. There were inverse correlations between all muscle US parameters and the five-item sarcopenia questionnaire. The RF CSA had stronger correlations with the five-item sarcopenia questionnaire, HGS, and the fat-free mass index than others. The values of GC, RF, and RA muscle thickness and the RF CSA to predict sarcopenia for women/men were 13.9/13.8 mm (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.817/0.707 mm), 13/15.5 mm (AUC: 0.760/0.736 mm), 4.3/5.2 cm2 (AUC: 0.766/0.773 cm2), and 6.6/7.0 mm (AUC: 0.740/0.688 mm), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GC, RF, and RA muscle thickness and the RF CSA all may predict sarcopenia accurately in geriatric outpatients.

Best Practice Recommendations for Geriatric Dysphagia Management with 5 Ws and 1H.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a geriatric syndrome. Changes in the whole body that occur with aging also affect swallowing functions and cause presbyphagia. This condition may progress to oropharyngeal and/or esophageal dysphagia in the presence of secondary causes that increase in incidence with aging. However, no study has been published that provides recommendations for use in clinical practice that addresses in detail all aspects of the management of dysphagia in geriatric individuals. This study aimed to answer almost all potential questions and problems in the management of geriatric dysphagia in clinical practice. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team created this recommendation guide using the seven-step and three-round modified Delphi method via e-mail. The study included 39 experts from 29 centers in 14 cities. RESULTS: Based on the 5W and 1H method, we developed 216 detailed recommendations for older adults from the perspective of different disciplines dealing with older people. CONCLUSION: This consensus-based recommendation is a useful guide to address practical clinical questions in the diagnosis, rehabilitation, and follow-up for the management of geriatric dysphagia and also contains detailed commentary on these issues.

Effect of clinical pharmacists' interventions on dementia treatment adherence and caregivers' knowledge.

AIM: Poor adherence with dementia medications is common among patients and caregivers, owing to the absence of perceived effect, polypharmacy, and adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of clinical pharmacists' interventions on the adherence to dementia treatment and the caregivers' knowledge of dementia. METHODS: This study was conducted at a geriatric outpatient clinic of the university hospital between October 2018 and April 2019. The Morisky Green Levine Adherence Scale (MGLS) to patients or caregivers and the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool Version Two (DKAT2) to caregivers were applied at the beginning of the study and 4 months later by a clinical pharmacist. After the scales were applied in the first interview, verbal information about the importance of adherence to dementia treatment, and incorrect answers of caregivers in DKAT2 were provided by the clinical pharmacist. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients and 91 caregivers were included in the study. High adherence to treatment was determined in 70.2% of the patients in the first interview and in 95.7% in the second interview (P < 0.001). The mean score of DKAT2 was 15.53 ± 2.44 in the first interview, while the median score of DKAT2 in the second interview was 19.11 ± 1.25 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The intervention of clinical pharmacists significantly increased the adherence to dementia treatment and the caregivers' knowledge of dementia. Close monitoring of dementia patients and caregivers by clinical pharmacists and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team play an important role in dementia care. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 506-511.

Sleep quality and sleep-disturbing factors of geriatric inpatients.

PURPOSE: Insomnia, a common problem in older adults, may be precipitated by multiple factors including medical conditions, social, behavioral, and environmental factors. The aims of our study were to evaluate sleep pattern changes during hospitalization, determine the predictors of sleep quality and sleep disorders in geriatric inpatients. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, all ≥ 65-year-old patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards were assessed at the time of hospitalization and after 1 week. Insomnia Severity Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to define insomnia and subjective sleep quality. All patients underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. Data of factors contributing sleep disturbances during hospitalization were recorded. RESULTS: Totally 101 patients were recruited. Mean ± SD age was 73.5 ± 5.2 years and 53.5% were female. Frequency of poor sleepers was 58.4% at baseline and 64.7% after 1 week according to PSQI score (p 0.804). Although the total scores and frequency of insomnia did not change in the first week of hospitalization, sleep duration was significantly shortened (6.4 ± 2.6 h vs. 5.9 ± 2.7 h, respectively; p < 0.001). Age, pain, restless legs syndrome, Katz ADL, and Lawton-Brody IADL scores were independent correlates of insomnia during hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The study showed that insomnia was associated with geriatric syndromes in hospitalized geriatric patients, and hospitalization reduced duration of sleep. Sleep quality and insomnia evaluation should be a fundamental part of assessment in hospitalized older adults. Considering the negative outcomes of insomnia, sleep disrupting factors should be identified and corrected.

Ultrasonography versus bioelectrical impedance analysis: which predicts muscle strength better?

Background & Aim: Muscle strength seems to be more relevant to the functionality than muscle mass in sarcopenia. Different diagnostic techniques are available for the evaluation of muscle mass. Ultrasonography (USG) seems to have some advantages compared to other techniques especially bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) including being not affected of the results by the factors like extreme body mass indexes (BMI) or hypervolemia. The aim of the study is to determine and compare the muscle strength prediction value of muscle mass measured by using USG or BIA and determine the cut-off values for the Turkish population.Methods: One hundred and thirty six patients admitted to geriatrics outpatient clinic for comprehensive geriatric assessment were included in the study. Body composition was determined by BIA and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was measured. Thickness of the gastrocnemius muscle was measured via USG. Diagnosis of sarcopenia was made according to the EWSGOP 2 diagnostic criteria.Results: The best cut-off value for gastrocnemius muscle thickness to predict low HGS was ≤13.8 mm (AUC:0.690,p <0.001). SMI was not found to predict low HGS (AUC:0.573,p >0.05). Comparison of AUCs for gastrocnemius muscle thickness and SMI showed that gastrocnemius muscle thickness had higher AUC (p=0.008). For predicting sarcopenia, the best cut-off value of gastrocnemius muscle thickness was found to be ≤12.3 mm in women (AUC: 0.862,p <0.001) and ≤12.3 mm in men (AUC:0.900, p < 0.001).Conclusions: In this study, we found that gastrocnemius thickness measured by USG seems to predict low HGS better than SMI measured by BIA.

Long-term effect of masked hypertension management on cognitive functions in geriatric age: geriatric MASked hypertension and cognition follow-up study (G-MASH-cog MONITOR).

OBJECTIVES: Masked hypertension, defined as nonelevated clinic blood pressure with elevated out of clinic blood pressure, has been associated with increased cardiovascular events, mortality and cognitive impairment. No evidence exists regarding the effect of treating masked hypertension. In this study, we followed-up the patients in the G-MASH-cog study for 1 year and aimed to examine the effect of the management of masked hypertension on cognitive functions. METHODS: The G-MASH-cog study participants were followed-up for 1 year. In masked hypertensive individuals, lifestyle modification and antihypertensive treatment (perindopril or amlodipine) were initiated for blood pressure control. Measurements of cognitive tests and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at baseline and at 1-year follow-up were compared. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (30 in masked hypertension group; 31 in normotensive group) were included. Mean age was 72.3 ± 5.1 and 59% of the participants were female. Compared with baseline ambulatory blood pressure measurement results, patients with masked hypertension had significantly lower ambulatory blood pressure measurement results after 1-year follow-up. The quick mild cognitive impairment test (Q-MCI-TR) score increased with antihypertensive treatment (Q-MCI score at baseline = 41(19-66.5), at 1 year = 45.5 (22-70), P = 0.005) in masked hypertensive patients. In the final model of the mixed-effects analysis, when adjusted for covariates, interaction effect of the masked hypertension treatment with time was only significant in influencing the changes in Q-MCI scores over time in patients aged between 65 and 74 years (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of masked hypertension in older adults was associated with improvement in cognitive functions.

A Reliable Tool for Assessing MCI and Dementia: Validation Study of DemTect for Turkish Population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia prevalence are expected to increase with aging. The DemTect is a very quick and easy tool to administer and recognize the early stages of dementia and MCI. In this study we aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of a Turkish version of the DemTect and define cut off values for different age and educational levels. One of our aims is also to compare the sensitivity and specifity of the DemTect to other common screening tools. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with MCI, 55 patients with dementia and 91 patients with subjective memory complaints (SMC) were enrolled in the study. The DemTect was translated into Turkish by forward-backward translation and compared with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment Turkish version (QMCI-TR) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). In order to test interrater reliability, the DemTect was administered to 11 patients, on the same day, by 2 trained raters. To establish test-retest reliability, the same rater scored the tool a second time on 11 patients within 2 weeks. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 73 (min-max: 65-90) years, 54.5% were female. We found a strong correlation between DemTect scores and the MMSE, the QMCI, and the MoCA (r = 0.725, r = 0.816, r = 0.821, respectively; p < 0.001). In ROC analysis, the cut-off point of the DemTect to differentiate MCI from SMC was 11.5 with 92.6% sensitivity, 91.2% specificity, AUC 0.973 and the cut-off point of the DemTect to differentiate dementia from SMC was 9.5 with 96.4% sensitivity, 100% specificity, AUC 0.916. Cronbach α was 0.823. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.873 (95% CI: 0.598-0.964) for interrater reliability and 0.966 (95% 0.777-0.982) for test-retest reliability (Cronbach α = 0.932, 0.966 respectively). CONCLUSION: The DemTect is a very reliable tool to assess Turkish patients with MCI and dementia.

Role of Ultrasonography in Estimating Muscle Mass in Sarcopenic Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is the coexistence of sarcopenia and obesity in an individual. The present study is designed to define the usefulness of skeletal muscle ultrasonography (US) in the definition of SO. METHODS: Eighty-nine participants aged ≥65 whose body mass index (BMI, kg/m2 ) was ≥30 were consecutively enrolled in an outpatient clinic of geriatric medicine. All underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. US measurements were obtained in 6 different muscles consisting of core and limb muscles. We defined SO as the presence of low muscle function (defined by a handgrip strength < 27 kg in males and <16 kg in females) and high BMI (≥30). RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 72 (65-85) years; 81% were female, and 35% (n = 31) had SO. Anthropometric parameters that estimate muscle mass were lower in the sarcopenic group, but estimations of muscle mass with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) did not differ between groups. All US estimations of muscle mass were lower in sarcopenic obese participants, albeit not all significantly. RF muscle cross-sectional area (RF CSA) and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness were most strongly correlated with grip strength (r = 0.477 and r = -508, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that the optimum cutoff point of RF CSA for SO was ≤5.22 cm2 , with 95.8% sensitivity and 46.7% specificity (area under the curve: 0.686). CONCLUSIONS: US evaluation of muscle mass may be more accurate than BIA-derived skeletal muscle index assessment for the diagnosis of SO.