• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: Each item in the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) questionnaire has differential importance to an individual's life functioning based on gender. However, IADL has mostly been utilized for its total score alone, without gender specificity. We identify the impact of each item on the transition from amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) to Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD), and determine if the impact of each item differs by gender. Methods: Subjects were aMCI or ADD with a global clinical dementia rating of 0.5 or 1. The sample size was 146 men and 154 women. We used logistic regression analysis to determine the effect of each item of IADL on the transition from aMCI to ADD. Results: The odds ratio (OR) for "remembering recent events" had similar values: 27.2 for men, and 27.7 for women. Gender difference was identified in the item with the highest OR value. For women, the "using transportation" item was 63.3, and for men, "conducting financial affairs" was overwhelmingly high at 89.1. Conclusions: Functional decline on items with relatively higher ORs may indicate higher probability of a transition from aMCI to ADD. The OR of "conducting financial affairs" was relatively higher for both genders. In terms of gender differences, "conducting home repair" for men, and "using transportation" for women, have relatively higher impact. This study demonstrates that during the transition from aMCI to ADD, each item of IADL shows a staggered decline in functioning, and that this decline is gender-specific.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.505-512
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• 2020

This study is done to provide basic data on the effective operation of the new policies by examining the satisfaction level of the elderly with dementia visiting dementia care centers located in 25 autonomous districts of S city. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 217 elderly with dementia who visited the above dementia care center from July 1 to September 30, 2019. The satisfaction tool is a chart score scale that displays negative-positive expressions at both ends of a straight line. The result shows that satisfaction level is significantly higher in the group with trust in the visiting institutions than in the group with distrust (t=9.74, p<.001), higher in cognitive impairment group than in dementia group (t=0.13, p=.034), and higher in mild depression group than in more severe depression group (t=2.31, p=.022). Satisfaction ratios analyzed by logistic regression shows significant differences in factors like gender, age, education, and walking pattern. In conclusion, it is important to run health support programs that consider user characteristics to improve the satisfaction of newly introduced dementia care centers.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine interventions and supporting systems by dementia stage, take a look at dementia insurance policies in Korea and the United States, and present Korean private insurance programs for dementia patients. According to the study, our suggestions of a design of private insurance products for Korean dementia patients are as follows. First, the products should support people aged 80 and older. Second, new products should include the mild stage dementia in the insurance coverage. Third, non-pharmacological treatments, such as the cognitive stimulation, the cognitive training, and exercises need to be covered through the new private insurance. Fourth, the private insurance should be contained home health care services in its coverage. These suggestions can reduce the dependence of the public insurance, help people choose appropriate treatments for themselves, and give people a good opportunity to improve the effect of dementia treatment and to increase the satisfaction of patients and their families.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.91-102
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a digital group reminiscence program on elderly patients with mild dementia who were registered with Day Care Centers. Methods: The study was conducted with elderly patients with mild dementia in Day Care Centers in D city. The patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group and were assessed for cognitive function, depression, and ego integrity using pre-test and post-test designs. A digital group reminiscence program was applied to the experimental group. Data was collected from July 5 to September 17, 2021, using questionnaires in three sessions. Results: The pre-test cognitive function score was 12.00 in the experimental group and 11.09 in the control group. The post-test cognitive function score was 19.20 in the experimental group and 14.42 in the control group. The later cognitive function score was 18.00 in the experimental group and 13.31 in the control group. The pre-test depression score was 8.32 in the experimental group and 9.91 in the control group. The post-test depression score was 6.05 in the experimental group and 8.82 in the control group. The later depression score was 6.94 in the experimental group and 9.02 in the control group. The pre-test ego integrity score was 41.39 in the experimental group and 39.55 in the control group. The post-test ego integrity score was 57.95 in the experimental group and 51.41 in the control group. The later ego integrity score was 55.88 in the experimental group and 42.15 in the control group. Cognitive function, depression, and ego integrity showed significant differences according to group (p<.05), time (p<.001), and interaction between group and time (p<.01). Conclusion: The digital group reminiscence program was found to be effective in improving cognitive function and ego integrity and reducing depression in elderly patients with mild dementia. Further research is needed to explore the effects of repetitive digital group recall programs based on the progress, course, age, and communication level of dementia.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.136-145
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: We developed a new digital cognitive assessment called Seoul Cognitive Status Test (SCST), formerly called Inbrain Cognitive Screening Test. The purpose of this study was to validate the clinical utility of the SCST by comparing its scores of those with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and dementia diagnosed by the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet (CERAD-K). Methods: All participants (n=296) who completed the CERAD-K, SCST, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living tests were included in this study. Total score, cognitive domain scores, and subtest scores of the SCST were compared among the 3 groups (SCD, aMCI, and dementia). Additionally, correlations between SCST and CERAD-K subtests were examined. Results: Cognitive domain scores and total score of the SCST showed significant differences among the three groups, with scores being the highest in the order of SCD, aMCI, and dementia (p<0.001). Most subtests of the SCST also showed higher scores in the order of SCD, aMCI, and dementia (p<0.001). However, SCD and aMCI groups showed no significant differences in scores of the Phonemic Word Fluency Test (p=0.083) or Korean Trail Making Test-Elderly version Part A (p=0.434). Additionally, there was no significant difference in the score of Place Recognition (p=0.274) of the Word-Place Association Test between aMCI and dementia groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, differences in total score, cognitive domain scores, and subtest scores of the SCST among the 3 groups of participants diagnosed using CERAD-K confirm the clinical utility of the SCST for cognitive assessment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.466-476
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore characteristics of eating behavior according to level of functional status of elders with dementia (EWD), and to examine feeding time, change in food intake and body mass index (BMI) according to eating behavior. Methods: Participants were 149 EWD residing in long-term care facilities located in Seoul or Gyeonggi province and evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Exam-Korean version, Korean version-Activities of Daily Living, and Eating Behavior Scale (EBS). Feeding time, change in food intake, and BMI were also measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0, specifically descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Chi-square test. Results: Participants' mean EBS score was $10.43{\pm}6.01$ and half of them (54.4%) needed moderate or total assistance while eating. The EBS score was significantly lower for elders with severe dementia compared to those with mild or moderate dementia; and elders with severe ADL dependence compared to those with mild or moderate ADL dependence. Lower EBS scores were related to longer feeding time, a greater the rate of participants with decreased food intake and 'underweight' BMI. Conclusion: Nursing intervention programs which are designed for EWD are needed to maintain functional eating skills and prevent negative consequences in this population.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.104-114
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop and evaluate a dementia prevention intervention program for the elderly with mild cognitive disorder. Methods: The study was nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of the study were a total of 68 elderly who ranged from 21 to 24 of total scores of K-MMSE, aged over 65, in home. The program consisted of music therapy, humor therapy, art therapy, dancing therapy, recreation, and health education to enhance brain function. The program was applied to the experimental group twice a week, ninety minutes per session for eight weeks. The data were analysed by using chi-square test and t-test. Results: The variables measured in the experimental group and the control group before the intervention were not significantly different in the homogeneity test. The dementia prevention program improved the cognition(t=9.243, p<.001), self-esteem(t=.4.336, p<.001), quality of life(t=8.375, p<.001) and reduced depression(t=-3.913, p<.001). Conclusion: These findings confirmed that the dementia prevention program made a contribution to improving cognitive function, self-esteem, and quality of life and also to reduce depression in the elderly with mild cognition disorder. Therefore, it is recommended that this program could be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for the elderly with mild cognitive disorder.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.146-152
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• 2021

This study aims to develop a protocol for the visualized memory training program using the picture book and evaluate its clinical utility. A total of 5 sessions were conducted for 5 elderly people with mild dementia. Rey-Kim II, GDS-Short, word test were conducted to observe its effectiveness before and after the program. As a results overall memory was improved but was not statistically significant. Overall depression was also improved and statistically significant. The effect of word memory varies depending on individuals' degenerative conditions. In conclusion, the visualized memory training program using the picture book is effective in improving the memory to some extent and had an emotional effect of reducing depression in mild dementia. In the future it is necessary to research its effects in larger population.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.279-283
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• 2019

Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture, a treatment that injects Hominis placenta extract into acupoints, has been suggested in the literature and researches that it could be used for cognitive decline. We experienced a case of mild neurocognitive disorder treated with Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture could be a possible treatment modality producing substantial clinical result in cognitive function which is assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination-Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), Korean Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), and Korean-Dementia Rating Scale (K-DRS). A 84-year-old man with mild neurocognitive disorder received Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture on GV20, CV12, and bilateral ST36 for a month. The results of neuropsychological examination showed increase in scores after treatment of Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture. Before treatment, they were 15 points for MoCA-K, and 120 points for K-DRS (7.6%), but after treatment, they elevated by 21 points for MoCA-K and 137 points for K-DRS (100%). MMSE-DS score was 28 points, unchanged before and after treatment. It did not cause any side-effect. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture could be a safe option for treating mild neurocognitive disorder.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.120-129
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• 2018

Background and Purpose: Prospective memory (PM) has a known relationship with frontal function, and PM decline has been observed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Cerebral small vessel disease, as evidenced by white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), is linked to frontal dysfunction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between PM decline and WMHs in patients with aMCI. Methods: Of 74 enrollees with aMCI, 69 completed this prospective study. We compared total scores and sub-scores of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) administered at baseline and 3 months later, stratifying patients by degree of WMHs. Results: A significant decline was seen in PRMQ total scores and PM scores at the 3-month mark in patients with moderate (vs. mild) degrees of WMHs ($-2.8{\pm}7.2$ vs. $0.2{\pm}7.1$; p=0.032). In addition, patients with moderate (vs. mild) degrees of deep WMHs (DWMHs) showed greater PM decline, whereas PM loss in patients with mild, moderate, or severe degrees of periventricular WMHs (PVWMHs) did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Findings of this study indicate that the burden of WMHs is consistently implicated in PM deterioration experienced by patients with aMCI, and signifies greater PM decline, especially in instances of extensive DWMHs. Greater attention to the change of PM is therefore needed in aMCI patients with WMHs.