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Biomedical subjects

Bo Hagberg

Publications and source records attributed to Bo Hagberg.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Determinant factors contributing to variations in memory performance in centenarians.

The role of environmental markers in memory performance among centenarians was examined in a study comparing non-cognitive factors to various aspects of memory performance. The centenarian group participating in the study consisted of 100 individuals (82 females and 18 males). Selected as non-cognitive factors were Quality of Life, Life-Habits, Health, Personality, and Autonomy. These factors were later compared to memory performance in short-term memory, semantic memory, and episodic memory. Using a structural equation model, results showed that performance in short-term memory was best predicted by life-habits and personality, while performance in semantic and episodic memory were best predicted by autonomy and life-habits. Implementation of the result from a life-span perspective includes a closer monitoring of environmental markers in the future. In effect, this could preserve memory function and optimum health through old age, thus making interventions easier to realize.

Aged↗

A longitudinal study integrating population, care and social services data. The Swedish National study on Aging and Care (SNAC).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A large, national, long-term, longitudinal, multi-purpose study has been launched in Sweden--the Swedish National study on Aging and Care (SNAC). The study involves four research centers collecting data in four different areas of Sweden. METHODS: The study consists of two parts: the population part and the care and services part. In the population part, a large, representative panel of elders in different age cohorts is followed over time to record and describe the aging process from different aspects. In the care and services part, a systematic, longitudinal, individually-based collection of data is performed concerning provision of care and services together with functional ability, specific health care problems, and living conditions of the recipients living in the area. RESULTS: The data collection in the population part of the SNAC is not yet completed. In the present article, some preliminary results are reported from the care and services part. These pertain to comparisons between the participating areas with respect to the prevalence of disability among those receiving care and social services in their ordinary homes and those receiving care in special accommodation. A comparison is also presented with regard to the amount of home help provided to subjects with a given disability. CONCLUSIONS: This project has several advantages. It is expected to generate a rich data base relevant for future research on aging and care and to have a direct impact on the future Swedish system of care and services for the elderly.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Right temporal lobe activation when listening to emotionally significant music.

The cerebral activation when normal elderly participants (6 women, 6 men, M age = 70 years) listened to self-selected emotionally significant music was investigated. Musical memories and preferences were discussed in an interview, and a piece of music with great emotional significance to the participant was selected and later played during measurement of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Measurements were made during silence, individually selected emotional music, and standard neutral music. The right temporal lobe showed a significant (p < .01) increase in rCBF when the emotional music was compared to silence. A temporal lobe asymmetry (right > left) during emotional music was also significant (p < .01). A decrease in the left prefrontal areas reached significance (p < .05) when standard music was compared to silence. For the emotional music, the right prefrontal area showed a decrease (p < .05). Emotional music thus activates right temporal and deactivates prefrontal regions in the right hemisphere.

Aged↗

Adaptive behavior in stressful situations in relation to postinfarction mortality results from prospective cohort study "Men Born in 1914" in Malmo, Sweden.

The serial Color Word Test, which is a semi-experimental way to differentiate adaptive behavior in stressful situations, was administered at baseline to men participating in the prospective cohort study "Men born in 1914". During follow-up, from 1982-1983 until December 31, 1996, 133 men experienced a myocardial infarction. Four patterns of adaptive behavior in 2 separate dimensions, the Variability and the Regression, can be discerned during testing. These patterns were compared regarding outcome following the myocardial infarction. The Cumulative-dissociative pattern of the Regression dimension was univariately associated with mortality within 28 days (OR 5.75, CI 1.85-17.88, p = .003). Dissociative (OR 3.87, CI 1.21-12.42, p = .023) and Cumulative-dissociative (OR 5.46, CI 1.66-17.96, p = .005) patterns, of the same dimension, were independently associated with mortality within one year. Specific difficulties in adaptation to stressful situations were associated with increased risk of death following a myocardial infarction. In this male sample, these difficulties could be identified with the serial Color Word Test.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Informal and formal support from a multi-disciplinary perspective: a Swedish follow-up between 80 and 82 years of age.

This longitudinal study used a multi-disciplinary approach and examined the relationship between psychosocial and health characteristics and the pattern of informal and formal support for non-institutionalized very old people. The data were derived from a single cohort of 80-year-old people living in Lund, Sweden who were followed over a 3-year period. In order to account for potential sample bias, an analysis at 80 years measured the differences between the participants who were measured at both test periods, the drop-outs who discontinued from the study prior to 82 years, and the deceased who died prior to 82 years (n = 212). Results revealed that the groups differed significantly according to reported number of children and health measures: the participants were most likely to have children and exhibited the best health. Bivariate analyses examined social, psychological and health variables for survivors (n = 93) at both 80 and 82 years in relationship to independent, informal, and formal support type. Loneliness was significantly and consistently associated with support type at both 80 and 82 years: both frequency and strength of loneliness were most often reported in the formal support group. Depression was significantly related to support type at age 80 only. Looking at change in the psychosocial and health measures and change in support over the 3-year period, no significant relationships were found. Our study concludes that for the very old, in addition to requiring increased support over a 3-year period, loneliness is a significant characteristic that may accompany the receipt of support. Professionals who plan and implement social support programmes for elderly persons should also consider emotional and psychological needs.

Journal Article↗