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K Yaffe

Publications and source records attributed to K Yaffe.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Apolipoprotein E phenotype and cognitive decline in a prospective study of elderly community women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether apolipoprotein E (Apo E) phenotype is associated with cognitive decline in community-dwelling nondemented elderly women. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A university-affiliated clinic near Pittsburgh, Pa. PATIENTS: A total of 1750 nondemented community-dwelling women, aged 65 years and older, who were enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The women completed a baseline interview and performed 3 cognitive tests: the modified Mini-Mental State Examination, Trials B, and Digit Symbol. Serum samples were obtained for Apo E typing. Baseline cognitive scores and repeated scores approximately 6 years after study enrollment were compared in women with and without Apo E epsilon 4. Cognitive decline, defined as the worst 10th percentile change scores, was assessed for each test and by phenotype group. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, education, presence of severe tremor, and depression, baseline scores did not differ by Apo E epsilon 4 status except for lower scores on Trails B in the homozygous epsilon 4 group (mean score, 159.7 compared with 127.7 for the heterozygous epsilon 4 group and 125.4 for the no epsilon 4 group; P = .01). However, repeated test performance on follow-up examination was worse on all tests in those women with 1 or more epsilon 4. Reduction on the modified Mini-Mental State Examination was 0% for no epsilon 4 allele, 1.9% for 1 epsilon 4 allele, and 3.7% for 2 epsilon 4 alleles (P < .001); reduction on Digit Symbol was 6.2% for no epsilon 4 allele, 9.0% for 1 epsilon 4 allele, and 17.5% for 2 epsilon 4 alleles (P = .04); and reduction on Trials B was 5.9% for no epsilon 4 allele, 25.0% for 1 epsilon 4 allele, and 10.9% for 2 epsilon 4 alleles (P = .002). Women with at least 1 epsilon 4 had an odds ratio of 1.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.3) of having cognitive decline during the study period. CONCLUSION: Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 is associated with cognitive decline in community-dwelling nondemented women.

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Reversible MRI abnormalities following seizures.

We describe eight patients with reversible MRI changes following seizures. The patients were mostly young with a serious underlying medical problem; MRI abnormalities were localized primarily in the posterior vascular boundary zones. A likely mechanism for these lesions is edema secondary to disruption in the blood-brain barrier. Recognition of the transient radiologic changes may aid in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of seizures.

Adolescent↗

Positioning and securement of riders and their mobility aids in transit vehicles: an analytical review.

Individuals are transported daily in transit vehicles while seated on their mobility aids. Although federal standards exist to regulate this practice, controversy exists over whether the regulations are effective or practical. This article describes an objective and analytical review of information available in several areas relevant to positioning and securing riders and their mobility aids in transit vehicles. The objective of the study was to present the current status of knowledge and to identify gaps in knowledge and related problems. As a result, recommendations are provided on future research needs and options for improvement of policy.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Prognostic factors of pentobarbital therapy for refractory generalized status epilepticus.

Pentobarbital coma (PBC) is a treatment for patients with refractory status epilepticus, but there are currently few guidelines for choosing when to initiate or continue this therapy. To identify potential prognostic factors in this setting, we reviewed the course of 17 adult patients treated with a standardized protocol of PBC for refractory status epilepticus over the past 6 years. PBC was extremely effective in aborting seizures in 16 of 17 patients, but 11 of the patients developed severe hypotension that required therapy with vasopressors. Six of the patients had full recoveries or developed only minimal residual deficits following PBC, two developed severe neurologic deficits, and nine died. Survival was associated with a history of epilepsy, absence of multiorgan failure before or during PBC, age < 40 years, and absence of hypotension requiring vasopressors during PBC. Long-term follow-up in seven of eight survivors (mean, 2.9 years; range, 1 to 5 years) showed that patients' conditions remained stable after discharge from the hospital. Thus, although PBC is effective in controlling ongoing seizures, the therapy frequently leads to significant hypotension. This side effect may be especially troublesome in patients with the negative prognostic indicators identified in this study. These findings highlight the need for alternative approaches in the management of these patients.

Adult↗

Women's acceptance of a preterm birth prevention program.

A major modification in French national perinatal policy was proposed in 1970. Its primary aim was to reduce preterm births, and a specific program has been progressively applied to all pregnant women in France since 1971. Because the policy was introduced at a national level, it was possible to use a district hospital in Haguenau (northeastern France) as an observation site for measuring the effects of the change. A longitudinal study was begun in 1971 and continued for 12 years, during which time a total of 16,004 singleton pregnancies were followed. This article focuses on acceptance by the pregnant women in Haguenau in response to the new prenatal care proposals. A major reduction in preterm births is demonstrated, and the relationship between acceptance and observed changes in preterm birth is discussed. Certain time-related patterns were observed: it took time for the policy modification to be measurable; while the outcomes showed general improvement, results were closely related to the patient's social status; there were significant time-lag differences between social class groups with regard to acceptance of specific interventions.

Birth Weight↗

Glycosylated hemoglobin level and development of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in older women.

BACKGROUND: Biological mechanisms linking diabetes and cognition continue to grow, yet the association remains controversial in elders. Whether glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) level, a marker of glucose control, is predictive of the development of cognitive impairment or dementia is unknown. We determined the association between HbA1C level and risk of developing cognitive impairment in older women, mostly without diabetes. METHODS: We studied 1983 postmenopausal women (mean age, 67.2 years) with osteoporosis who had HbA1C level measured at baseline. Development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia over 4 years was determined as part of a dementia ancillary study. We analyzed risk of MCI or dementia for every 1% of HbA1C as well as risk associated with HbA1C >or= 7%. RESULTS: The mean level of HbA1C was 5.8% (range 3.0% to 12.1%) and 86 (4.3%) women developed MCI or dementia. For every 1% increase in HbA1C, women had a greater age-adjusted likelihood of developing MCI (OR= 1.50; 95% CI 1.14-1.97) and of developing MCI or dementia (OR=1.40; 95% CI 1.08 - 1.83). For those with HbA1C level >or= 7% (n=49), the age-adjusted risk for developing MCI was increased nearly 4-fold (OR= 3.70; 95% CI 1.51-9.09) and was increased nearly 3-fold for developing MCI or dementia (OR=2.86; 95% CI 1.17-6.98). When we excluded women with diagnosed diabetes (n=53), the association between HbA1C and MCI lessened somewhat but remained elevated (unadjusted OR=1.59; 95% CI 1.01-2.50; age-adjusted OR=1.42; 95% CI 0.89-2.28). Multivariate analyses adjusted for age, education, race, depression, alcohol use and treatment with raloxifene yielded similar results. INTERPRETATION: We found an association between HbA1C level and risk of developing MCI or dementia in postmenopausal osteoporotic women primarily without diabetes. Our findings support the hypothesis that glucose dysregulation is a predictor for cognitive impairment.

Aged↗

Glycemia and cognitive function in older adults using glucose-lowering drugs.

OBJECTIVES: In experimental studies, both high and low levels of plasma glucose are associated with cognitive impairment. In populations, less is known about the relationship between glycemia and cognitive function, especially in persons using glucose-lowering drugs. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 378 high-functioning black and white men and women aged 70 to 79 participating in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (Health ABC) who used glucose-lowering medications. Glycemic measures included fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Cognitive function was assessed using the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSS) at the same examination visit in which the glycemic measures were determined. SETTING: Memphis, Tennessee and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. RESULTS: We observed an "inverted-U" relationship (p =.0025 for 3MS, p=.0277 for DSS) between FPG (range 47 - 366 mg/dl) and performance on these two tests. The fasting plasma glucose levels associated with the highest score on the 3MS was 180 mg/dl and 135 mg/dl for the DSS. There was a monotonic inverse relationship between HbA1c and performance on 3MS and DSS without evidence of a threshold effect. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that older adults who are treated for diabetes may experience a small degree of cognitive impairment within the recommended fasting glucose levels, yet measures of long-term glycemic control support tight glycemic control. Given the high prevalence of diabetes and the common use of glucose-lowering drugs in older adults, further studies are needed to elucidate these relationships.

Aged↗