• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.156-162
• /
• 2018

Background and Purpose: Previous studies have reported conflicting results about the prevalence of seizures in Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are few epidemiological studies on this topic in Asia. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine demographic and clinical characteristics as well as incidence for seizures in AD patients compared to non-AD patients in a prospective, longitudinal, community-based cohort with a long follow-up. Methods: Data were collected from National Health Insurance Service-National Elderly Cohort (NHIS-elderly) Database to define patients with AD from 2004-2006 using Korean Classification Diseases codes G30 and F00. We performed a 1:5 case-control propensity score matching based on age, sex, and household income. We conducted Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to estimate the risk of epilepsy in AD patients. Results: In the cohort study, patients with AD had higher risk for epilepsy than those without AD, with hazard ratio of 2.773 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.515-3.057). This study also showed that male gender and comorbidities such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease increased the risk of developing epilepsy. Patients with AD had 1.527 (95% CI, 1.375-1.695) times higher mortality rate than those in the control group. Conclusions: AD patients have significantly higher risk of developing epilepsy than non-AD patients.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.128-148
• /
• 2023

Dementia is an umbrella term that describes the loss of thinking, memory, attention, logical reasoning, and other mental abilities to the extent that it interferes with the activities of daily living. More than 50 million individuals worldwide live with dementia, which is expected to increase to 131 million by 2050. Recent research has shown that poor oral health increases the risk of dementia, while oral health declines with cognitive decline. In this narrative review, the literature was based on the "hypothesis" that dementia and oral health have a close relationship, and appropriate oral health and occlusal rehabilitation treatment can improve the quality of life of patients with dementia and prevent progression. We conducted a literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using the search terms "dementia," "major neurocognitive disorder," "dentition," "occlusion," "tooth loss," "dental prosthesis," "dental implant," and "occlusal rehabilitation" in the title field over the past 30 years. A total of 131 studies that scientifically addressed dementia, oral health, and/or oral rehabilitation were included. In a meta-analysis, the random effect model demonstrated significant tooth loss increasing the dementia risk 3.64-fold (pooled odds ratio=3.64, 95% confidence interval [2.50~5.32], P-value=0.0348). Tooth loss can be an important indicator of cognitive function decline. As the number of missing teeth increases, the risk of dementia increases. Loss of teeth can lead to a decrease in the ascending information to the brain and reduced masticatory ability, cerebral blood flow, and psychological atrophy. Oral microbiome dysbiosis and migration of key bacterial species to the brain can also cause dementia. Additionally, inflammation in the oral cavity affects the inflammatory response of the brain and the complete body. Conversely, proper oral hygiene management, the placement of dental implants or prostheses to replace lost teeth, and the restoration of masticatory function can inhibit symptom progression in patients with dementia. Therefore, improving oral health can prevent dementia progression and improve the quality of life of patients.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.185-191
• /
• 2001

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness as a screening test of Clock Drawing Test(CDT) compared with the standard K-DRS in probably dementia. Methods: The subjects for this study consisted of 19 elderly persons who visited to the outpatient department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry of the Kyunghee Oriental hospital. They received the K-DRS and the Clock Drawing Test. Three observers evaluated them with circle, numbers, hands. Inter-rater reliability of scores from Clock Drawing Test was assessed and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examined the relationships between scores from Clock Drawing Test and K-DRS. Results: Correlations between individual raters was highly significant (r= .957, .974, and .970, respectively: p<.001). There was stastically significant correlations between K-DRS and CDT scores (r= 0.849, p<.001). Conclusions: The CDT can be rated reliably by observers and correlations between CDT and K-DRS is significantly high. We confirmed the usefulness of CDT as simple, easily administered, low cost, and reliable general screening test for dementia.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.9-19
• /
• 2010

Recently, Korea is constantly increasing its elderly care hospitals, and requires establishment of general evacuation plan considering old people's behavioral characteristics and physical states in emergency situations such as fire, and etc. In addition, because most of the facility users are patients under serious dementia and stroke, they feel difficulty evacuating by themselves, with differing evacuation time according to each walking status (bed, wheel chair, and various supplementary instruments), which is why it makes it difficult to have them all evacuate. This paper, in order to suggest data reference for designing on the basis of functionality, used various collected data utilizing Simulex to measure evacuation time through the model of elderly care hospital, a medical facility. During the study, several problems were found.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.237-256
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to verify whether Mediterranean diet, which proved to have a significant effect on preventing dementia for people aged 65 or older, could be well modified to be a Korean-style Mediterranean diet. This study was performed as a randomized-controlled trial for 6 weeks. Functional physical changes, cognitive scores, depression scores and dietary changes were all assessed. The walking speed (P<0.001) and the cognitive scores were statistically improved in only the experimental group (P<0.001), and the depression scores were also significantly improved in only the experimental group (P<0.01). The dietary intake showed a 30% improvement for consuming more than 7 cups per day of vegetables and fruits. When the participants were contacted four months after the end of the study, 90% of them said that the Korean-style Mediterranean diet was feasible and 100% said the nutrition interventions helped them maintain the diet during their daily lives. The results suggest that although the Mediterranean diet can be difficult to apply, any limitations of this healthy diet can be overcome.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2018

At present, the elderly population in Korea is 14% of the total population and then We has entered an the society of advanced age. Along with this, elderly people with dementia and palsy are also increasing. The demand for elderly nursing homes for elderly people with severe diseases such as dementia and stroke is also increasing, and the existing buildings are being secured by Conversion of existing buildings. However, it is difficult to evacuate and fire due to the out of date of buildings by Conversion of existing buildings. For example, there is a fire in the Indukukwon, Pohang City and Hyosung Geriatric Hospital, Jangseong in Korea, which have changed the use of existing buildings. Many elderly people died in a night fire. It was because of the sandwich panel walls and PVC flooring material produced toxic gas instantly. In this study, we investigated the nursing home that changing the use and established fire prevention of human injury and countermeasure of evacuation. First, the sandwich panels which leading to deaths due to the toxic gas were installed in most nursing home. We recommend the RC, the masonry wall, and the glass fiber panel instead of the sandwich panels, In addition, the PVC flooring is most used in nursing home, the flooring material is considered such as the building stones, the tile, and the yellow soil closing instead of the PVC flooring. Second, we investigated the installation status of fire fighting equipment. As a result, the automatic-emergency open&shut equipment, the smoke ventilator and the evacuation slide were rarely installed. In order to secure the golden time in case of fire and to prevent the asphyxia caused by the toxic gas, the law should be amended to install the equipment.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2020

As the number of elderly people rapidly increases, needs of patient safety monitoring system also increases in indoor and outdoor medical facilities. With developing technologies related to sensors and information and communication technology, various dementia patient monitoring systems have been proposed. However, previous studies that depend on wearable devices provides limited functionalities. In this paper, we designed an integrated system that includes smart devices to monitor patient's status, user friendly UI/UX, and interaction with hospital information system. Medical teams and carers can receive satus of each patient in real-time and trace the location of dementia patients outdoor as well as indoor by using the proposed system.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.57-72
• /
• 1997

The objectives of this study are : 1) To understand self-care ability, living habits, utilization patterns of medical facililties for the elderly in Puk-Cheju county which has the highest percent age of senior citizens among Cheju rural community: 2) To identify factors which influence living quality and long life for the eldely 3) To develop health care service with a view to guaranteering living quality The eldely population of Puk-Cheju county was $10.8\%$ in 1995. It will be increasing and is projeted $23.0\%$ by 2030. The result indicated that utilizations rate by out-patient were 5.89 claims and utilizations rate by in-patient were 0.17 claims per person. The highest disease among respondents were disease of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. A total of 310 elderlys were responded to analyze self-care ability and health behavior. The most important factors of long life were to have peaceful mind$(50.0\%)$. The common disease of acute and chronic disease was musculoskeletal system disease. $66.8\%$ of respondents went to hospital and local clinic when they got sick. The most needed health care service was home visiting service among public health center, representing $31.4\%$. The repondent's self-care ability and self-efficacy were relatively superiority. A total of 92 elderlys were conducted the intelligence test for the rate of dementia and their average age was 74.3. The result of Minimental State Scale indicated that 25% of respondents were suspected to be dementia. The followings are recommendations based on the survey result. 1) Concidering every conditions of self-care ability and health status for elderly. It is important to embody appopriate health care service. 2) Considering concrete method, it is necessary to establish health service, which match health status and self-care ability, and various planning for sepecial facilities for the elderly. 3) It is desiable to make actual programs for the elderly in each community level. 4) It must be develop the better use of volunteers and programs for prevention of dementia. Finally, Concerning the orgarnization of public health center, community health center need to be reorganized for health service for the elderly. It is important to develop and operate health promotion for the elderly, and it is necessary to form the foundation for the support of facilities equipments. This contribute to promote health status for the rural elderly.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.247-262
• /
• 2019

This study involved the effects of home-visit program with cognitive-stimulating activities on cognitive function and memory self-efficacy of an elderly with dementia special rating(5rates). The study was conducted from February 11 to April 26, 2019 using a 65-year old woman residing in G Metropolitan City. The individual subject study used an A-B-A design. The subject performed activities that required thinking and resolving in order to stimulate both her body and cognition. The activities chosen were easily accessible to those having a form of mild dementia, rates 5 dementia special rating, and repetitively stimulated the subject's intellectual capacity in an attempt to increase her degraded cognitive functioning. Specifically, the activities exercised both short-term memory and recollection using familiar letters, numbers, and bodily movements frequently encountered in daily life. The program positively affected the subject's memory and concentration. In addition, the program was found to be feasible for home use by those with mild dementia, obviating the need to travel to a location like a welfare center. The author presents specific activities for stimulating cognition that can effectively intervene to positively influence the cognitive functioning and memory of those with rates 5 dementia special rating.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.30-41
• /
• 2022

Background and Purpose: In this study we aimed to find the association between neuropsychological performance and body mass index (BMI) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, we investigated the effects of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype in the relationship between the BMI and cognition in MCI. Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 3,038 subjects with MCI aged 65-90 from the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea and a dementia cohort of the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. MCI patients were classified into three subgroups according to the Asian standard of BMI. We compared cognitive performances between groups by one-way analysis of variance. To investigate the effects of the APOE genotype, we used multivariate linear regression models after adjusting for possible confounders. Results: Even though normal BMI groups were younger, had more females, and had less comorbidities, the higher BMI groups had better cognitive functions. Among subjects with APOE ε4 carriers, there was a positive relationship between the BMI and the memory task alone. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that higher BMI in patients with MCI were associated with better cognitive performance. The effects of the APOE ε4 genotype in the associations between BMI and cognition were distinguishing. Therefore, according to physical status, APOE ε4 genotype-specific strategies in the assessments and treatments may be necessary in elderly patients with MCI.