by Ashwini M. Namasivayam-MacDonald  , Luis F. Riquelme  and Sonja M. Molfenter

Received: 02 June 2020;  Published: 29 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003129

The Cobb angle is traditionally used for quantifying the degree of spinal curvature through evaluation of the full spinal cord. When conducting measurements on videofluoroscopy swallowing studies (VFSS), the Cobb angle can measure degree of cervical vertebrae curvature, which may have implications for swallowing. Given that this measure may have utility in dysphagia research, the reliability of this measure taken from C2-C4 and establishing the presence of changes with age were the focus of the current, proof-of-pr [...]

by Temitope Akinjogbin  , Jacob Parnell  and Maria C. Duggan

Received: 05 May 2020;  Published: 13 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003128

Delirium is an acute change in mental status with key features of inattention and disorganized thinking. It is particularly common in older adults, with multiple and varied causes. Delirium increases the risk of morbidity, mortality, institutionalization, and healthcare costs; however, it is often missed because it is difficult to recognize without the use of a validated screening tool. The Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) initiative highlights the need for implementation of a delirium monitoring program in hospi [...]

by Demelza Emmerton  , Samra Khan  , Joanne Conway  , Daniel Mosby  and Ahmed H. Abdelhafiz

Received: 31 May 2020;  Published: 10 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003127

With life-expectancy rising globally, the prevalence of ageing, comorbidity and frailty is likely to increase especially in the low and middle income countries. The emergence of the new COVID-19 pandemic has been concentrated in this group of patients and has led to worse outcomes compared to younger and less comorbid populations. This group of patients is at an increased risk of multi-organ consequences of systemic disease. Therefore, systemic assessment of these patients from the outset and optimisation of their [...]

by Noa Sylvetsky  , Chen Futeran Shahar  , Meir Frankel  and Gabriel Munter

Received: 01 April 2020;  Published: 02 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003126

Hospitalists are at risk for vitamin D deficiency during their active years due to indoor working conditions and insufficient sunlight exposure. The impairment of bone mineral density (BMD) in this group has not been studied. A total of 50 male hospitalists aged ≥ 65 years were enrolled. Their BMD was measured at the femoral neck (FN), lumbar spine (LS), and distal radius (DR), and their medical history and risk factors were assessed through a detailed questionnaire. The FRAX® (Fracture risk assessment tool) [...]

by Hanneke van der Wal- Huisman  , Henk Groen  , Erik Heineman  and Barbara L. van Leeuwen

Received: 08 April 2020;  Published: 01 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003125

Postoperative pain has a negative influence on physical and mental recovery and may result in a variety of postoperative complications. Listening to recorded music has been revealed to reduce pain, but in addition to that, live bedside music further offers the possibility to interact with the patient, respond to their emotions, and help them in adapting their conditions. It, therefore, seems appropriate for older surgical patients. This study examines the effect of live bedside music on postoperative elderly patien [...]

by Julia M. Robertson  and Barbara E. Kingsley

Received: 16 February 2020;  Published: 23 June 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002124

The ability to situate individuals within social categories provides an important social function, allowing people to navigate problems of survival and reproduction within highly complex social structures. This categorization of people with apparently shared characteristics is facilitated by various cues, one of the most important being facial information. There has been a wealth of literature that reports on perceptions of characteristics informed by faciometrics (or the measurement of facial features and associat [...]

by Zheer Al-Mashhadi  , Rikke Viggers  , Rasmus Fuglsang-Nielsen  , Bente Langdahl  , Peter Vestergaard  , Søren Gregersen  and Jakob Starup-Linde

Received: 02 April 2020;  Published: 18 June 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002123

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis are two major public health concerns worldwide, contributing to morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Aging is one of the most significant risk factors for low bone mass, bone fragility, and fractures. Among the several comorbidities that affect the elderly with diabetes, increased fracture risk is a relatively recently discovered complication. Generally, individuals with T2DM exhibit higher bone mineral density, which complicates the assessment of fracture risk. D [...]

by Jacques De Reuck  , Florent Auger  , Nicolas Durieux  , Claude-Alain Maurage  , Vincent Deramecourt  , Charlotte Cordonnier  , Florence Pasquier  , Didier Leys  and Regis Bordet

Received: 06 April 2020;  Published: 04 June 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002122

Regional brain atrophy and an escalation in vascular risk are associated to increasing age in normal cognitive healthy persons. The present post-mortem study compares the incidence of cerebrovascular lesions between young-aged, middle-aged, and elderly cognitive normal persons with additional 7.0-tesla MRI). The patients consisted of 10 young adults, 20 middle-aged adults, and 14 elderly ones. In addition to the macroscopic visible cerebrovascular lesions, a whole coronal section of a cerebral hemisphere was taken [...]

by Nikita Francis

Received: 15 March 2020;  Published: 01 June 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002121

Despite continuous efforts to combat neurodegenerative diseases, researchers have been unable to find an intervention that reverses degeneration and/or improves cognition in dementia or healthy aging. Therefore, it is considerably important to identify lifestyle factors that could potentially aid in healthy brain aging and prevent or delay neurodegenerative diseases. The emerging interest in the ancient practice of fasting has inclined researchers to study the physiological and behavioral effects of this practice. [...]

by Marika Haritos Paul  , Mary Beth Arensberg  , Judy R. Simon  , Satya S. Jonnalagadda  , Suzette L. Pereira  , Jamie S. Partridge  and Joseph A. Rosenthal

Received: 10 April 2020;  Published: 22 May 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2002120

Poor nutrition is linked to frailty and both poor nutrition and frailty are recognized risk factors for falls. This study examined the association between dietary protein intake and subsequent reported falls in community-dwelling older Americans with a history of falls. Other nutritional, functional, and sociodemographic-related variables were also considered in our model. This was a retrospective analysis using data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS), both fu [...]