Screening Tool For Older Adults Research Articles

A novel appetite loss in older adults with and without cognitive impairment (ALOC) screening scale

Appetite is a strong determinant of nutritional status. As cognitive impairment is usually linked to alterations in eating behaviour, people with dementia might experience changes in appetite with the loss of ability to express their needs, including dietary choices and preferences. The aim of the study was to develop an appetite loss screening tool for older adults, inclusive for those with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. The study questionnaire, consisting of 44 binary items related to appetite, was employed among 127 hospitalized older patients (55.9% women, mean age 79.4 ± 7.1 years) with and without cognitive impairment (31.5% categorized as suspected mild dementia, 26.0% as suspected moderate dementia). An exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify items that constitute the final scale, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.81. The final tool consists of seven questions, with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 80.6%, using the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire score as reference. Acceptability post-test was performed in 20 patients (70% women, mean age 79.6 ± 5.3 years) to test the clinical feasibility of the scale. The customized design of the scale, according to the recommendation for written materials for individuals with dementia, empowers older adults, supports diagnosis and encourages their proactivity in the treatment process. The scale was found to perform similarly in older persons with and without cognitive impairment, which renders it a versatile assessment tool.

Validity of the MoCA as a cognitive screening tool in epilepsy: Are there implications for global care and research?

This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of a widely available cognitive screener, the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), to detect cognitive impairment in older patients (age ≥ 55) with epilepsy residing in the US, using the International Classification of Cognitive Disorders in Epilepsy (IC-CoDE) as the gold standard. Fifty older adults with focal epilepsy completed the MoCA and neuropsychological measures of memory, language, executive function, and processing speed/attention. The IC-CoDE taxonomy divided participants into IC-CoDE Impaired and Intact groups. Sensitivity and specificity across several MoCA cutoffs were examined. Spearman correlations examined relationships between the MoCA total score and clinical and demographic variables and MoCA domain scores and individual neuropsychological tests. IC-CoDE impaired patients demonstrated significantly lower scores on the MoCA total, visuospatial/executive, naming, language, delayed recall, and orientation domain scores (Cohen's d range: 0.336-2.77). The recommended MoCA cutoff score < 26 had an overall accuracy of 72%, 88.2% sensitivity, and 63.6% specificity. A MoCA cutoff score < 24 yielded optimal sensitivity (70.6%) and specificity (78.8%), with overall accuracy of 76%. Higher MoCA total scores were associated with greater years of education (p = 0.016) and fewer antiseizure medications (p = 0.049). The MoCA memory domain was associated with several standardized measures of memory, MoCA language domain with category fluency, and MoCA abstraction domain with letter fluency. This study provides initial validation of the MoCA as a useful screening tool for older adults with epilepsy that can be used to identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive neuropsychological testing. Further, we demonstrate that a lower cutoff (i.e., <24) better captures cognitive impairment in older adults with epilepsy than the generally recommended cutoff and provides evidence for construct overlap between MoCA domains and standard neuropsychological tests. Critically, similar efforts in other regions of the world are needed. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) can be a helpful tool to screen for cognitive impairment in older adults with epilepsy. We recommend that adults 55 or older with epilepsy who score less than 24 on the MoCA are referred to a neuropsychologist for a comprehensive evaluation to assess any changes in cognitive abilities and mood.

Combining principal component analysis and logistic regression for multifactorial fall risk prediction among community-dwelling older adults

Falls require comprehensive assessment in older adults due to their diverse risk factors. This study aimed to develop an effective fall risk prediction model for community-dwelling older adults by integrating principal component analysis (PCA) with machine learning. Data were collected for 45 fall-related variables from 1630 older adults in Taiwan, and models were developed using PCA and logistic regression. The optimal model, PCA with stepwise logistic regression, had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.78, sensitivity of 74 %, specificity of 70 %, and accuracy of 71 %. While dimensionality reduction via PCA is not essential, it aids practicality. Our framework combines PCA and logistic regression, providing a reliable method for fall risk prediction to support consistent screening and targeted health promotion. The key innovation is using PCA prior to logistic regression, overcoming conventional limitations. This offers an effective community-based fall screening tool for older adults.

Classification of Fracture Risk in Fallers Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Images and Deep Learning-Based Feature Extraction.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans are one of the most frequently used imaging techniques for calculating bone mineral density, yet calculating fracture risk using DXA image features is rarely performed. The objective of this study was to combine deep neural networks, together with DXA images and patient clinical information, to evaluate fracture risk in a cohort of adults with at least one known fall and age-matched healthy controls. DXA images of the entire body as, well as isolated images of the hip, forearm, and spine (1488 total), were obtained from 478 fallers and 48 non-faller controls. A modeling pipeline was developed for fracture risk prediction using the DXA images and clinical data. First, self-supervised pretraining of feature extractors was performed using a small vision transformer (ViT-S) and a convolutional neural network model (VGG-16 and Resnet-50). After pretraining, the feature extractors were then paired with a multilayer perceptron model, which was used for fracture risk classification. Classification was achieved with an average area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) score of 74.3%. This study demonstrates ViT-S as a promising neural network technique for fracture risk classification using DXA scans. The findings have future application as a fracture risk screening tool for older adults at risk of falls. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

A Novel Three-minute Game-based Cognitive Risk Screening Tool-WeChat Mini-program-based Design and Large-sample Feasibility Studies

To develop a novel cognitive screening tool for older adults in China. "Game-based Cognitive Assessment-3 Minute Version"(G3) was designed and developed based on WeChat mini-program. And its feasibility was analyzed. G3 mini-program contains three one-minute mini digital games and supports users' self-assessment of cognitive functions with instant access to reports. G3 had a good correlation with Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic (MoCA-B) with Pearson's r =0.611 (P<0.001). Among natural users aged 50 and older (71 179), the G3 initiation and completion rates were 99.55% and 92.28%, respectively. The average time to complete G3 assessments was (278.5±73.73) seconds. The novel G3 mini-program has good feasibility and usability for older Chinese adults, and can be used for cognitive screening and home self-assessment.

Suggestions on the ideal method of conducting community screenings for older adults

Background/ObjectivesSince dementia and frailty lead to a reduced quality of life and risk of needing long-term care in the older adults, we hypothesized that evaluations related to dementia and frailty would be useful and of high interest in screening for the older adults. Therefore, we conducted a community screening incorporating multiple simple evaluations related to dementia and frailty. In addition to various functional evaluations, we investigated interest in tests, thoughts on the disease, and the relationships between subjective (i.e., how one feels about oneself) and objective evaluations (i.e., the results of tests and rating scales). The purpose of this study was to examine the thoughts regarding tests and diseases and the functions that make it difficult to accurately perceive changes by oneself, and to obtain suggestions on the ideal method of community screening for the older adults.Subjects/MethodsThe participants were 86 people aged 65 and over living in Kotoura Town who participated in the community screening, for which we obtained background information and body measurements. We also assessed physical, cognitive and olfactory function, evaluated nutritional status, and we administered a questionnaire (interest in tests, thoughts on dementia and frailty, and a subjective functional evaluation).ResultsRegarding interest in tests, the participants answers were highest for physical, cognitive and olfactory function, in that order (68.6%, 60.5%, and 50.0%, respectively). In the survey on thoughts on dementia and frailty, 47.6% of participants felt that people with dementia were viewed with prejudice, and 47.7% did not know about frailty. Regarding the relationship between subjective and objective evaluations, only the assessment of cognitive function did not show a correlation between both evaluations.ConclusionsFrom the viewpoint of the participants’ degree of interest in and the need for accurate evaluations through objective examination, the findings suggest that the assessment of physical and cognitive function may be beneficial as a screening tool for older adults. Objective evaluation is essential, particularly for assessing cognitive function. However, approximately half the participants believed people with dementia were viewed with prejudice and did not know about frailty, which may lead to barriers to testing and low interest. The importance of increasing the participation rate in community screening through disease-related educational activities was suggested.

The association of the comorbidity polypharmacy score (CPS) with functional limitations, frailty, and mortality in older adults with gastrointestinal malignancies.

12036 Background: Older adults share a growing burden of cancer morbidity and mortality. The presence of comorbid medical conditions and polypharmacy may present significant challenges to cancer management for older adults. Although geriatric assessment (GA) is recommended to personalize treatment for older adults with cancer, it remains underutilized in routine oncology practice, and how best to measure comorbidity and polypharmacy remain unknown. The Comorbidity Polypharmacy Score (CPS), which is the sum of the number of comorbid medical conditions and medications for a patient, has been validated in other medical fields. Here we review the association of CPS with key outcomes among older adults with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy. Methods: The Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation (CARE) tool is a brief, patient-completed GA developed for older adults with cancer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). For patients enrolled in the CARE registry, diagnosed with a new GI malignancy between September 2017 and April 2021, we calculated a CPS based upon the number of patient-reported medical comorbid conditions and daily medications. Patients were separated into two groups, those with CPS ≥ 15, or high-risk, and those with CPS &lt; 15. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race, cancer type, and cancer stage, and were performed to examine the potential association between high-risk CPS and falls, functional limitations, frailty, and mortality. Results: 548 patients were included in this study with a mean age of 69.7 years; 44.9% female and 23.9% Black. Common GI malignancies included colorectal (30.8%), pancreatic (25.5%), hepatobiliary (17.7%), and gastroesophageal (10.8%). Patients with CPS ≥ 15 were more likely to report falls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.39, 95% CI 1.91-6.02), dependence in activities of daily living (ADL) (aOR 3.07, 95% CI 1.67-5.66) and instrumental ADL (aOR 3.81, 95% CI 2.02-7.20), and have frailty (aOR 5.17, 95% CI 2.84-9.39). There was not a statistically significant association with either six-month or twelve-month survival. Conclusions: CPS was associated with falls, functional limitations, and frailty, but not survival, among older adults with GI malignancies. This association highlights the potential role of CPS as an efficient screening tool for older adults with cancer who would benefit from more comprehensive comorbidity and medication review.

Religious needs of hospitalized patients

Abstract Introduction. Meeting the religious needs of hospitalized patients is an essential part of nursing care. Their timely identification by nurses and subsequent satisfaction may lead to an easier adaptation to the hospital environment and illness, and contribute to the overall comfort of the patients. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the religiosity of selected hospitalized patients in the premorbid and morbid period and the participation of nurses in meeting religious needs. Material and methods. To achieve the goals, we chose a qualitative method – a case study. A Spiritual Screening Tool for Older Adults and a questionnaire by Canda and Furman were used to assess spirituality and religiosity implicitly and explicitly. The respondent sample consisted of three patients hospitalized in inpatient wards of medical facilities with different gender, diagnoses and duration of the disease. Results. According to Spiritual Screening Tool for Older Adults, we found positive spiritual health in patients A, M and R. Religious needs during hospitalization were partially satisfied in patient A and fully satisfied in patients M and R, but only through individual activities (prayer, visiting the hospital chapel and others). None of the patients had their needs met by nurses. Conclusions. We recommend using the tools aimed at assessing patients’ religiosity and continue with the planning and implementation of nursing interventions accordingly. Active cooperattion with “spiritual assistants” and integrating the issue of religious needs into the content of education of future nurses are also recommended.

242 FALLS-RISK INCREASING DRUGS AND FRAILTY IN OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCING FALLS: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract Background Frailty characteristics such as compromised response to stressors and accumulation of deficits in physiological systems may leave frailer older adults at higher risk of falls, a leading cause of injury and injury-related mortality. One of the more prominent extrinsic risk factors for falls in older adults is the use of Falls-Risk Increasing Drugs (FRIDS). This study aims to examine the relationship between measured frailty and FRIDS in older people who have experienced a fall in the previous 12 months. Methods A prospective observational study was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65 years and a history of falling in the preceding 12 months. Exclusion criteria were age &amp;lt;65 years of age, inability to provide informed consent or participation declined. Medical chart and drugs Kardex review was carried out, followed by a short interview with the patient using a standardised data collection proforma. Frailty was measured using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and the point-prevalence of FRIDS was established using the STOPPFall screening tool. Results Results are presented for the first 100 participants: The mean (±standard deviation [SD]) age of study participants was 82.1 (±6.2), 63% were female. The prevalence of frailty measured using the CFS was 60% (CFS ≥5). The median number of falls in the previous 12 months was 3 (IQR 3). 82% of people who had fallen in the previous 12 months had ≥1 STOPPFall FRID. The difference between number of FRIDs in Frail vs Non-Frail people was not statistically significant. Conclusion Prescription of FRIDS was detected in over 4 out 5 older fallers. Structured medication review using the STOPPFall screening tool for older adults at risk of falls is one useful and easy way of detecting FRIDS with a view to deprescription. Measured frailty does not appear to increase the prevalence of FRIDS in older fallers.

Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Third Edition Predicts Neuropsychological Test Performance.

Effective screening tools can help providers with treatment decisions, including when to refer patients for neuropsychological evaluations, which are the gold standard for cognitive assessment of neurodegenerative disease. The authors examined whether performance on the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Third Edition (ACE-III), a readily available cognitive screening tool for older adults, predicted performance on subsequent neuropsychological evaluations. In total, 217 patients referred for neurocognitive concerns completed a neuropsychological evaluation, including the ACE-III. Patients were diagnosed as having normal cognition (NC, N=67), mild neurocognitive disorder (mild NCD, N=105), or major NCD (N=45). Regression analyses were used to determine whether ACE-III subscale scores predicted performance on neuropsychological measures assessing similar constructs. Logistic regression was used to assess whether ACE-III total score and overall neuropsychological test performance predicted diagnosis. Separate analyses compared those with higher and lower educational attainments. ACE-III subscales and total scores were compared by diagnostic group. Across all groups, ACE-III subscale scores predicted within-construct neuropsychological performances with moderate to strong effects (p<0.001) but were less predictive for those with lower educational attainment. ACE-III total score was less sensitive than overall neuropsychological test performance in predicting neurocognitive disorders. ACE-III subscale and total scores distinguished diagnostic groups (NC>mild NCD>major NCD, p<0.001). ACE-III subscale scores predicted performance on neuropsychological measures assessing similar constructs. However, overall performance on neuropsychological testing was more sensitive than ACE-III total score in predicting neurocognitive disorder diagnosis. Total ACE-III score differed by level of cognitive impairment. Comprehensive neuropsychological testing is recommended for patients who have lower educational status or complex symptom presentations or are younger.

A voice recognition-based digital cognitive screener for dementia detection in the community: Development and validation study.

IntroductionTo facilitate community-based dementia screening, we developed a voice recognition-based digital cognitive screener (digital cognitive screener, DCS). This proof-of-concept study aimed to investigate the reliability, validity as well as the feasibility of the DCS among community-dwelling older adults in China.MethodsEligible participants completed demographic, clinical, and the DCS. Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia was made based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (MCI: MoCA < 23, dementia: MoCA < 14). Time and venue for test administration were recorded and reported. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability were examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted to examine the discriminate validity of the DCS in detecting MCI and dementia.ResultsA total of 103 participants completed all investigations and were included in the analysis. Administration time of the DCS was between 5.1–7.3 min. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in test scores or administration time was found between 2 assessment settings (polyclinic or community center). The DCS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.73), test-retest reliability (Pearson r = 0.69, p < 0.001) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.84). Area under the curves (AUCs) of the DCS were 0.95 (0.90, 0.99) and 0.77 (0.67, 086) for dementia and MCI detection, respectively. At the optimal cut-off (7/8), the DCS showed excellent sensitivity (100%) and good specificity (80%) for dementia detection.ConclusionThe DCS is a feasible, reliable and valid digital dementia screening tool for older adults. The applicability of the DCS in a larger-scale community-based screening stratified by age and education levels warrants further investigation.

Validation of the ALONE Scale: A Clinical Measure of Loneliness.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of a rapid, clinically administrable loneliness screening tool for older adults called the ALONE scale.DesignThis was a cross-sectional study.SettingParticipants were recruited from either ambulatory clinics or a nursing home.ParticipantsParticipants were 65 years of age or older and had SLUMS scores of 14 or greater.MeasurementsConstruct validity of the 5-item ALONE scale was examined through correlation with the previously validated UCLA-20 Loneliness Questionnaire. Divergent validity for discriminating between loneliness and depression was examined through correlation with the PHQ-8 items. Test-retest reliability was assessed by correlation between baseline ALONE scores and those from re-administration in 2–3 weeks.ResultsAmong ambulatory clinic participants (n=199), the ALONE scale showed strong correlation with the UCLA-20 (r=0.81, p < 0.001). Similar correlation coefficients were seen among demographic subgroups: White Americans (n=123) (r=0.81, p < 0.001), Black Americans (n=66) (r=0.79, p < 0.001), adults ≥ 75 years (n=74) (r=0.86, p < 0.001). Among nursing home patients (n=22), the ALONE scale showed fair correlation with the UCLA-20 (r=0.74, p < 0.001). Test-retest of the ALONE scale showed a strong correlation (r=0.89, p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis determined ALONE scale scores of 8 and greater as optimal for severe loneliness screening.ConclusionThis study shows that the ALONE scale has strong validity in assessing older adults for severe loneliness. The brief, comprehensible nature of the ALONE scale reduces adoption burden making it optimal for use in clinical settings.

Feet/Footwear-Related Fall Risk Screening Tool for Older Adults: Development and Content Validation.

Background and PurposeScreening for feet- and footwear-related influences on fall risk is an important component of multifactorial fall risk screenings, yet few evidence-based tools are available for this purpose. We developed the Screening Tool for Feet/Footwear-Related Influences on Fall Risk to support interprofessional health care providers in their efforts to screen for feet/footwear-related influences on fall risk among community-dwelling older adults identified at risk for falling.Materials and MethodsThe study consisted of two phases. During Phase 1, results of a systematic review of lower-limb factors associated with balance and falls informed tool development. The tool's initial draft was evaluated by an external group of nine interprofessional content experts. After incorporating changes recommended by Phase 1 participants, Phase 2 was initiated. During Phase 2, eight new interprofessional experts (19.3 average years of experience) completed the three rounds of a modified Delphi study.ResultsPhase 1 experts recommended modifying eight items and rated the tool's clarity, appeal and clinical feasibility as 81.2/100, 79.1/100, and 76.1/100, respectively. Phase 2 participants suggested combining items with similar recommended actions, adding a question about orthoses, and increasing the specificity of nine items. The refinements resulted in a 20-item screening tool. Each item was approved by the Phase 2 participants with > 80% agreement after two rounds of consensus voting, reflecting the tool's high face and content validity.ConclusionThe new screening tool has high face and content validity and supports identification of feet- and footwear-related influences on fall risk among community-dwelling older adults. The tool can be used by interprofessional healthcare providers completing a multifactorial fall risk screening on community-dwelling adults identified as being at risk for falling.

Predicting Unscheduled Emergency Department Revisits Leading to Acute Hospital Admissions Among Older Adults

Background: Unscheduled emergency department (ED) revisits leading to acute hospital admission (RVA) are tantamount to a failed discharge, associated with physician error, mis-prognosis, and inadequate care planning. Previous research has shown RVA to be associated with adverse outcomes such as ICU admissions, long hospitalizations and mortality. Given the limited impact of pre-existing screening tools for older adults, we developed and validated a machine learning model to predict individual patient risk of RVA within 72 hours and 9 days of index ED visits. Method: A machine learning model was applied to retrospective electronic health record (EHR) data of patients presenting to 2 geographically and demographically divergent urban EDs in 2019. 478 clinically meaningful EHR data variables were included: socio-demographics, ED and comorbidity diagnoses, therapeutics, laboratory test orders and test results, diagnostic imaging test orders, vital signs, and utilization and operational data. Multiple machine learning algorithms were constructed; models were compared against a pre-existing adult ED-RVA risk score as a baseline. Results: A total of 62,154 patients were included in the analysis, with 508 (0.82%) and 889 (1.4%) having 72-hour and 9-day RVA. The best-performing model, combining deep significance clustering (DICE) and regularized logistic regression, achieved AUC of 0.86 and 0.79 for 72-hour and 9-day ED-RVA for older adult patients, respectively, outperforming the pre-existing RVA risk score (0.704 and 0.694). Discussion: Machine learning models to screen for and predict older adults at high-risk for ED-RVA may be useful in directing interventions to reduce adverse events in older adults discharged from the ED.

Self-Administrated Elder Abuse Screening Tool for Older Adults With Visual and Hearing Disabilities

Older adults age 60+ with disabilities are at greater risk of elder abuse compared to those without disabilities. We will describe results from our study to evaluate the usability and feasibility of the VOICES tablet-based elder abuse screening tool with older adults who have visual and hearing disabilities. VOICES is a digital health tool that screens, educates, and motivates older adults to self-report elder abuse. The VOICES tool has been developed and tested to be used with older adults without disabilities. We conducted a usability study with (n=14) older adults who were blind, had low vision, or were hard of hearing. Our evaluation method included both quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate the ease of use and usefulness of the VOICES tool. Usability was measured as the percentage of tasks completed successfully, the average time to perform a task and the issues observed during performance of the tasks. Usability satisfaction was measured by written or verbal feedback on the questionnaires, and verbal comments from each session. Six participants completed the tasks successfully on their own; seven participants (mostly blind participants) completed the tasks with some intervention or help from the moderator. The majority of participants had System Usability Scale (SUS) scores 80 or above. Of all the participants, twelve (92%) stated that they would recommend the VOICES tool to others. Our findings generated universal considerations for more inclusive digital health interventions that accounts for the needs, wants and limitations for older adults with disabilities.

Hal, do I have memory problems? A pilot study investigating a voice recognition cognitive screening tool for detection of neuropsychological changes

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of mild, age‐advanced changes in cognition, defined as mild cognitive impairment, is spiking as the baby boomer population ages. Early and accurate detection of age‐advanced changes in thinking abilities leads to proper care, efficient use of resources, and promotion of research. Indeed, government based health care systems and insurance programs incentivize routine neurocognitive assessment. Brief, paper and pencil cognitive screeners such as the MMSE and MOCA are widely utilized in clinical settings. Such screeners lack sensitivity to subtle cognitive change and specificity related to the cause of decline. Moreover, administration and interpretation of these screeners is time consuming in a busy, clinical setting. Prior research has determined that electronic‐based testing is effective in detecting cognitive change (Zygouris &amp; Tsolaki, 2014). This pilot study aimed to investigate a convenient, platform agnostic, voice‐recognition screening tool for detection of mild, age‐advanced neurocognitive problems.MethodParticipants (n=16) were recruited from a large community‐based neurology practice, who underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological (NP) evaluation as part of their standard of care. Participants were administered an auditory list learning/recall test and a verbal fluency test (F/A/S and animals) via a voice recognition cognitive screening tool. Pearson correlations were conducted to examine the concurrent validity between the standard NP measures and those obtained using the current screening tool.ResultPreliminary data suggests a positive correlation between standard NP measures and those obtained using voice recording and speech recognition technologies; language: F/A/S (r = .716, p &lt; .005), animals (r .810, p &lt; .005); memory: delayed recall (r = .515, p &lt; .05).ConclusionThis pilot study demonstrated concurrent validity between standard NP measures of memory and verbal fluency and those obtained using a novel, voice recording and speech recognition screening tool. These initial data provide support for the efficacy of a computerized based screening tool for older adults. Such a screening too has the potential to maximize utilization across multiple settings (e.g., medical office, hospital, in‐home) and improve early detection of cognitive decline.

Development of a protein energy malnutrition screening tool for older Thais in public residential homes.

This study aimed to develop and validate protein energy malnutrition (PEM) screening tool for older adults in public residential homes, and to test its practicality. This cross-sectional study consisted of two phases: tool development/validation and tool practicality evaluation. In Phase 1, the questionnaire was developed based on literature review and tested for content validity. Older residents were interviewed using this questionnaire to identify potential PEM risk factors. A 24-h recall was used to collect dietary data, and body composition and serum albumin were measured. In Phase 2, practicality of new PEM screening tool was evaluated by intended users. Data were analysed by χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and multiple logistic regression. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was used to estimate the best fit model. Four public residential homes in central region, Thailand. 249 older residents residing in public residential homes and eight intended users. 26·9 % had PEM (serum albumin <3·5 g/dl). According to multiple logistic regression and AIC values, PEM predictors were having pressure ulcer, experiencing significant weight loss and taking ≥ 9 types of medicine daily. These predictors were included in PEM screening tool. Regarding the tool performance test, area under the ROC curve was 0·8 (P < 0·001) with sensitivity and specificity of 83·9 and 45·5 %, respectively. For its practicality, eight intended users reported that it was useful and easy to use. New screening tool may be capable of identifying PEM in older residents, and further testing is required before being recommended for use.

Clinical characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of the revised Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination (ACE-R) in older adults with a low educational level

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) as a cognitive screening tool for older adults with low levels of schooling and healthy aging, MCI and dementia in Brazil. Methods: All participants underwent neurological and psychiatric examinations and were administered a validated version of ACE-R. Results: A total of 85 participants were evaluated; most were females (84.7%, n = 72). The post hoc analysis showed statistical differences in ACE-R total scores between older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and controls (p &lt; 0.001) and in subitem scores including verbal fluency, language, visuospatial skills and attention (p &lt; 0.001). The visual-spatial skills subitem was the most strongly correlated with schooling level (r = 0.509, p &lt; 0.001), whereas late, immediate recall and recognition memory were not influenced by schooling. The ACE-R had the best diagnostic accuracy in discriminating between MCI and controls = 0.69 (&lt;57.5; 80/66), MD and controls = 0.98 (&lt;50; 100/96), MCI and MD = 0.86 (&lt;49.5; 100/74). Conclusions: ACE-R and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores for older adults with MCI and controls were significantly lower than those reported in similar studies. These preliminary findings support the need for establishing reliable cut-off scores for cognitive assessment of older Brazilian adults with low schooling at risk for dementia taking into consideration ecological and local variables.

Population normative data for three cognitive screening tools for older adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACTIn sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),cognitive screening is complicated by both cultural and educational factors, and the existing normative values may not be applicable. The Identification of Dementia in Elderly Africans (IDEA) cognitive screen is a low-literacy measure with good diagnostic accuracy for dementia.Objective: The aim of this study is to report normative values for IDEA and other simple measures [i.e., categorical verbal fluency, the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) 10-word list] in representative community-dwelling older adults in SSA.Methods: Individuals aged ≥60 years resident in 12 representative villages in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and individuals aged ≥65 years resident within three communities in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria underwent cognitive screening. The normative data were generated by the categories of age, sex, and education.Results: A total of 3,011 people in Tanzania (i.e., 57.3% females and 26.4% uneducated) and 1,117 in Nigeria (i.e., 60.3% females and 64.5% uneducated) were screened. Individuals with higher age, lower education, and female gender obtained lower scores. The 50th decile values for IDEA were 13 (60–64 years) vs. 8/9 (above 85 years), 10–11 uneducated vs. 13 primary educated, and 11/12 in females vs. 13 in males. The normative values for 10-word list delayed recall and categorical verbal fluency varied with education [i.e., delayed recall mean 2.8 [standard deviation (SD) 1.7] uneducated vs. 4.2 (SD 1.2) secondary educated; verbal fluency mean 9.2 (SD 4.8) uneducated vs. 12.2 (SD 4.3) secondary educated], substantially lower than published high-income country values.Conclusions: The cut-off values for commonly used cognitive screening items should be adjusted to suit local normative values, particularly where there are lower levels of education.

Nutritional Risk Screening Tools for Older Adults with COVID-19: A Systematic Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with high risk of malnutrition, primarily in older people; assessing nutritional risk using appropriate screening tools is critical. This systematic review identified applicable tools and assessed their measurement properties. Literature was searched in the MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS databases. Four studies conducted in China met the eligibility criteria. Sample sizes ranged from six to 182, and participants’ ages from 65 to 87 years. Seven nutritional screening and assessment tools were used: the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002), the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the MNA-short form (MNA-sf), the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), the Geriatric NRI (GNRI), and modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically ill (mNUTRIC) score. Nutritional risk was identified in 27.5% to 100% of participants. The NRS-2002, MNA, MNA-sf, NRI, and MUST demonstrated high sensitivity; the MUST had better specificity. The MNA and MUST demonstrated better criterion validity. The MNA-sf demonstrated better predictive validity for poor appetite and weight loss; the NRS-2002 demonstrated better predictive validity for prolonged hospitalization. mNUTRIC score demonstrated good predictive validity for hospital mortality. Most instruments demonstrate high sensitivity for identifying nutritional risk, but none are acknowledged as the best for nutritional screening in older adults with COVID-19.