Purpose:to verify the correlation of the ingested diet with the nutritional status of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients; observation of fiber and fluid consumption and intestinal function. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 77 patients of both genders and their caregivers who were referred to nutritional status care in the three phases (CDR) of the AD. All answered the food anamnesis where it was possible to establish the amount of calories, macronutrients and micronutrients. Anthropometric measurements of weight, height, BMI, AC, TSF and AMC were collected.For the continuous variables, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed and for the analytical statistic the Poisson regression was used. Results:Most of the patients were eutrophic. The studied macronutrients were found to be adequate, except for the protein intake that was higher in the mild phase. No group achieved fiber intake. It was not found significant correlations between fiber consumption and intestinal function. In relation to micronutrients, adequate consumption of iron, vitamins A and B12 were found. Vitamin C intake did not reach DRI in mild patients and zinc consumption was low for patients who belonged to the group with moderated patients. Conclusions:Although it does not reflect the nutritional reality of Brazilian patients with probable AD, this study provided important characteristics of the diet composition that already allow us to establish nutritional action strategies.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a multicomponent exercise training program on motor function and biochemical markers in patients with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. Twenty patients with Alzheimer disease, divided into the intervention group (IG; aged 84 ± 3.1 years) and the control group (CG; aged 86 ± 2.6 years) were included in this study. The intervention group was enrolled into an exercise training program for three months (two sessions of 60 min per week). The CG was instructed to follow their daily rhythm of life (e.g., rest, reading) without a physical training program. After 3 months of participation in a multicomponent exercise program, gait speed, balance and walking parameters were all improved in the intervention group as measured with the Berg Balance Scale, the Tinetti test, the 6-min walking test and the timed up and go test (p < 0.05 for all; percentage range of improvements: 3.17% to 53.40%), except the walking while talking test, and biochemical parameters were not affected (p > 0.05). Our results demonstrate that exercise improves postural control, aerobic capacity and mobility functions in patients with Alzheimer disease. Physical exercise is a safe and effective method for treating physical disorders in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and can easily be integrated in various programs for the management of Alzheimer disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by impairments across several neurocognitive domains, particularly memory and executive function. The study explored the effectiveness of an individual cognitive stimulation (iCS) program on cognitive outcomes in older adults with moderate to moderately severe AD. A multicentre randomized controlled trial was conducted with 80 Portuguese older adults (M-age: 83.0 +/- 7.1 years) with AD. Participants were randomly assigned to either iCS (n = 39; 49%) or treatment as usual (n = 41; 51%). Alzheimer's Disease Severity (ADS) categorized two groups based on Mini-Mental State Examination score: 10-14 in the ADS moderately severe group and 15-20 in the ADS moderate group. In participants with moderate AD, iCS led to significant improvements in memory-related outcomes (particularly Memory Assessment Test) and a trend toward improvement in global cognition. In contrast, no significant effects were observed in participants with moderately severe AD. Meta-analytic comparisons and meta-regression confirmed a significant difference in intervention effectiveness between severity levels. iCS was significantly more effective in individuals with moderate AD than in those with moderately severe AD. This difference in responsiveness between severity levels was statistically confirmed (Q = 11.29, p < .001). iCS was effective in enhancing memory in individuals with moderate AD, with additional indications of global cognitive benefit. However, no meaningful effects were observed in participants with moderately severe impairment, suggesting diminished responsiveness to iCS as disease severity increases.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by impairments across several neurocognitive domains, particularly memory and executive function. The study explored the effectiveness of an individual cognitive stimulation (iCS) program on cognitive outcomes in older adults with moderate to moderately severe AD. A multicentre randomized controlled trial was conducted with 80 Portuguese older adults (Mage : 83.0 ± 7.1 years) with AD. Participants were randomly assigned to either iCS (n = 39; 49%) or treatment as usual (n = 41; 51%). Alzheimer’s Disease Severity (ADS) categorized two groups based on Mini-Mental State Examination score: 10–14 in the ADS moderately severe group and 15–20 in the ADS moderate group. In participants with moderate AD, iCS led to significant improvements in memory- related outcomes (particularly Memory Assessment Test) and a trend toward improvement in global cognition. In contrast, no significant effects were observed in participants with moderately severe AD. Meta-analytic comparisons and meta-regression confirmed a significant difference in intervention effectiveness between severity levels. iCS was significantly more effective in individuals with moderate AD than in those with moderately severe AD. This difference in responsiveness between severity levels was statistically confirmed (Q = 11.29, p < .001). iCS was effective in enhancing memory in individuals with moderate AD, with additional indications of global cognitive benefit. However, no meaningful effects were observed in participants with moderately severe impairment, suggesting diminished responsiveness to iCS as disease severity increases.

With the current development of technologies, health has been receiving technological support for the development of studies that improve the population’s quality of life. This improvement causes an increase in the elderly population, as quality of life can increase life expectancy. Studies show that this elderly population often has diseases that hinder their activities of daily living. Alzheimer’s disease may come to limit the lives of the elderly, as it is responsible for progressive memory loss, deterioration of intelectual skills and difficulty in performing daily tasks. This paper presents Alz-HomeCare, whose solution uses the publish / subscribe model to notify events to people with Alzheimer’s Disease. Contributions to this work include: Systematic Literature Review, designed to identify key assistive technologies used to support people with dementia; a domain model involving Remote Patient Monitoring, Social Networking Services, and Event Notification Systems; the implementation of the notification engine and the applications that interact with it; and the mapping of usage scenarios. The validation of the proposal was based on the mapping of usage scenarios in relation to the notification engine. We conclude that the behaviors involved in the scenarios were solved by the Alz-HomeCare architecture.

This study aimed to evaluate the cognitive performance of patients with glaucoma and compare it to people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glaucoma patients, AD and control group (healthy elderly) were assessed using the MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) and the subtests verbal fluency, word list memory, delayed recall of the word list, word list recognition test Boston naming test and construction praxis from CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease). The results of each test were compared between the groups. One hundred and twelve patients were evaluated, 50 healthy elderly with a mean age of 71.2 ± 5.2 years; 41 patients with glaucoma (72.2 ± 4.4 years) and 21 patients with AD (79.0 ± 7.6 years). AD patients had, on average, advanced disease. Noted a reduction in the cognitive assessment tests in all evaluated, both for patients with glaucoma, and for those with AD compared with controls (p <0.001 for all). When the results from patients with glaucoma and AD were paired, it was noted that the AD patients had lower cognitive function (p <0.001), except for the tests CERAD Boston (p = 0.1) and praxis (p = 0.6). Glaucoma patients, however, presented results of cognitive tests similar to those described for patients with mild AD, including lower values for MMSE (21.9 ± 3.7), Boston (10.6 ± 2.6) and praxis (5.9 ± 2.3).

Com o aumento da idade média da população houve incremento de prevalência de afecções neurológicas crônicas, degenerativas, como a Doença de Alzheimer (DA). O aprofundamento do conhecimento dos processos do estilo de vida no que se refere ao estado nutricional e de suas relações com a cognição são de importância para orientação e conduta desses idosos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar o estado nutricional de idosos com DA e sua relação com aspectos clínicos, neurocognitivos, comportamentais e de estilo de vida. Foram avaliados 43 idosos procedentes do ambulatório de Neurologia Clínica do Hospital e Maternidade Celso Pierro (PUC-Campinas) com diagnóstico de DA leve, moderado e grave, segundo o Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) e 51 controles pareados por idade, gênero, escolaridade e nível socioeconômico, sem história de declínio cognitivo. Os procedimentos foram avaliação clínica, Mini-Exame do estado mental, memória do desenho simples, Fluência Verbal, desenho do relógio, capacidade funcional, Inventário Neuropsiquiátrico (INP), CDR, avaliação socioeconômica, atividade física (Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física – IPAQ versão curta) e sociais, Mini Avaliação Nutricional (MAN), Índice de Massa Corpórea (IMC), Circunferência da Cintura (CC), Circunferência do Braço (CB), Circunferência da Panturrilha (CP), Dobra Cutânea Tricipital (DCT), Dobra Cutânea Subescapular (DCSE), Circunferência Muscular do Braço (CMB), Área Muscular do Braço corrigida (AMBc), Músculo Adutor do Polegar (MAP), Força de Preensão Palmar (FPP) e Impedância Bioelétrica. Foi realizada a comparação entre Grupo Doença de Alzheimer (GDA) e Grupo Controle (GC) com aspectos sociodemográficos, estilo de vida, cognitivos, comportamentais, MAN, indicadores nutricionais e indicadores nutricionais por gênero. Foram feitas comparações entre GC e estágios da DA de acordo com CDR com as variáveis nutricionais, também foram realizadas correlações entre FPP com variáveis antropométricas no GDA e GC e entre variáveis cognitivas e antropométricas no GDA. Com testes estatísticos adequados a situação e nível de significância de 5% em todos os casos. Foi observado que o GDA desenvolve menos atividade social e tem rede de relacionamento menor, é fisicamente menos ativo e tem desempenho inferior nas Atividades de Vida Diária, principalmente nas atividades instrumentais. O GDA apresentou desnutrição com diminuição da ingestão alimentar total e maior ingestão diária de alguns alimentos, na MAN. Entre os gêneros, as mulheres apresentaram diferença em mais medidas antropométricas, com valores menores no GDA. Na comparação entre GC e fases do GDA, houve diferença em algumas medidas com valores menores no GDA grave e maior no GC. Na comparação entre GC e GDA, GC versus GDA leve e moderado e GDA leve e moderado versus GDA grave houve diferença para algumas medidas antropométricas. Não houve diferença entre os estágios leve e moderado. As medidas de composição de Massa Magra (MM) foram menores no GDA. CC e Reatância não apresentaram diferença em nenhuma comparação. Houve correlações entre FPP e variáveis antropométricas nos GDA e não houve entre variáveis nutricionais com aspectos socioeconômicos, comportamentais, INP, atividades sociais e físicas. Os achados da literatura sugerem uma associação significativa entre atividades sociais e de lazer durante a velhice e o menor risco de demência. Na MAN a menor pontuação indica maior deterioração do estado mental. Quanto a alimentação, foi observado que possivelmente o GDA se alimenta com menor quantidade e maior qualidade, sugerindo uma melhor seleção dos alimentos pelo cuidador. Os autores relatam diferença significativa entre IMC nas fases da DA, com redução no IMC no estágio grave comparado ao leve e moderado. No estudo houve maior presença de idosos em risco de desnutrição no grupo com DA quando comparados ao GC, sugerindo que a desnutrição é um fator de risco para a progressão da demência. As variáveis nutricionais foram progressivamente mais comprometidas com o avançar dos déficits cognitivos, pois houve uma tendência a redução de MM com a progressão da DA, sendo mais evidente na transição da fase moderada para o grave.

A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é atualmente a forma mais comum de demência. Os principais desafios enfrentados pela DA incluem a falta de biomarcadores confiáveis para o diagnóstico precoce, bem como a falta de estratégias e tratamentos preventivos eficazes. Assim, pesquisas que investigam estratégias para prevenir essa doença têm buscado o uso de ferramentas acessíveis com potencial para intervir nos diversos marcadores patológicos da DA, incluindo a neurotoxicidade amilóide. No presente estudo, utilizando ratos Wistar, mostramos que um treinamento multicomponente (MT) de longo prazo, incluindo exercícios físicos aeróbicos, anaeróbicos e cognitivos, é capaz de impedir déficits de memória de reconhecimento relacionados à neurotoxicidade amilóide. Além disso, o MT é capaz de evitar a peroxidação lipídica do hipocampo, restaurar a capacidade antioxidante do hipocampo e aumentar os níveis de glutationa no hipocampo.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue traducir y confirmar la estructura factorial de la Escala de Familismo a la versión del portugués brasileño. La muestra incluyó a 716 cuidadores brasileños que cuidaron de sus propios padres ancianos con enfermedad de Alzheimer. Las medidas incluyeron la Escala de Familismo, la Escala de Obligación Filial, la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida y el Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D). El cuestionario se rellenó en línea, de manera individual, utilizando la herramienta de software de encuestas en línea Qualtrics. El análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) se utilizó para examinar la estructura factorial. Un modelo modificado demostró un adecuado ajuste (RMSEA =.063, CFI =.912). Se sostuvieron las hipótesis que implican la convergencia y la divergencia de validez de las variables relevantes. Estos resultados respaldan el uso de la Escala de Familismo modificada de doce ítems y tres factores, que tiene propiedades psicométricas aceptables en una muestra de cuidadores brasileños de personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer.

The aim of this essay is to reflect about the place of difference in scientific research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which becomes a growing public health problem as the Brazilian population ages. In this scenario, our intention is to explore gender issues in relation to other social markers, to understand the heterogeneity of experiences and perceptions regarding the disease. To this do so, we carried out extensive bibliographic review and conducted brief online research on the PubMed platform. Although many studies indicate that Alzheimer’s has a higher incidence in women, issues such as race/ethnicity, social class, and other conditions have not been appropriated by researchers. Regarding prevention of the disease, differences are little or not considered.