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Peter Passmore

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Passmore.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

BRAIN-Diabetes: Acceptability of an adapted FINGER multidomain intervention among adults living with type 2 diabetes in rural border regions across the island of Ireland.

BackgroundIndividuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) face increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Multidomain lifestyle interventions offer a non-pharmacological strategy to support brain health in this high-risk group.ObjectiveThis study examined the acceptability of a culturally adapted FINGER-based intervention among adults living with T2DM in rural border regions of Ireland (BRAIN-Diabetes Trial).MethodsA 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. The intervention group received a multidomain program targeting diet, physical activity, and computerized cognitive training (CCT). The control group received standard care. Acceptability was assessed using questionnaires (all participants) and semi-structured interviews (intervention participants). Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and qualitative data using template analysis, guided by four a-priori themes: trial participation and engagement, dietary behavior change, exercise behavior change, and CCT behavior change.ResultsQuestionnaire data (intervention: n = 28; control: n = 36) indicated high overall acceptability. Dietary and exercise components were rated most positively, while CCT component was less well received. Interviews (n = 25) highlighted facilitators to trial engagement, including perceived health improvements, and social connection, with time constraints and limited personalization as barriers. Dietary change was supported by tailored guidance but hindered by cost and availability. Facilitators for exercise included accessible resources and perceived benefits, with barriers including competing priorities. CCT engagement was mixed, with challenges including digital access and repetitiveness.ConclusionsThe Brain-Diabetes intervention was acceptable and feasible among adults with T2DM. Personalized support and accessible resources were key to engagement. Future work should refine delivery to enhance scalability and long-term adherence among high-risk groups.

Humans↗
PubMed2007

Analysis of the 5HT-2A T102C receptor polymorphism and psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

Although the aetiology of psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is multi-factorial, alterations in serotonergic neurotransmission are often implicated. Polymorphisms of the serotonin receptor 5HT-2A are associated with hallucinatory symptoms and delusions in demented and non-demented cohorts. This study examined the role of the 5HT-2A T102C polymorphism in influencing psychotic symptoms in a large Northern Ireland AD population (n = 406, mean MMSE 13/30). Forty-eight percent of patients experienced delusional symptoms and 28% experienced hallucinations during the course of their dementia. No significant association was found either in frequency of genotype or allelic variation for either set of symptoms. Furthermore, the mean delusional and hallucinatory severity scores did not differ significantly among the three genotype groups. The lack of influence of the T102C polymorphism of the 5HT-2A receptor on the emergence of psychotic symptoms in AD contrasts with previous reports in other cohorts involving smaller numbers of subjects.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

A single nucleotide polymorphism in CHAT influences response to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegeneration with a characteristic deficit in cholinergic neurotransmission. Treatment with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors aims to reverse this deficit and does ameliorate the decline in cognition in some AD patients, although response is variable. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether sequence variation in the gene encoding choline acetyltransferase (CHAT), which encodes the major catalytic enzyme of the cholinergic pathway, predicts response to AChE inhibitors. METHODS: Alzheimer's disease patients (121) were treated with cholinesterase inhibitors and the effect of treatment on cognition was measured using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Six polymorphisms in CHAT were analysed for association with change in MMSE score. RESULTS: After correction for multiple testing, we found one SNP, rs733722, in a promoter region of CHAT, is associated with response of AD patients to cholinesterase inhibitors (P = 0.03) and accounts for 6% of the variance in response to AChE inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Rs733722 represents a putative marker of response to AChE inhibitors in AD patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

A multinational, randomised, 12-week study comparing the effects of donepezil and galantamine in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To compare directly, in the same patient cohort, the ease of use and tolerability of donepezil and galantamine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and investigate the effects of both treatments on cognition and activities of daily living (ADL). METHODS: Patients with mild to moderate AD from 14 European centres were randomised to receive open-label donepezil (up to 10 mg once daily) or galantamine (up to 12 mg twice daily) for 12 weeks, according to the approved product labelling. Physicians and caregivers completed questionnaires rating satisfaction with treatment/ease of use in daily practice. Secondary assessments were the ADAS-cog, the MMSE, and the DAD scale to assess ADL. Tolerability was evaluated by reporting adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Both physicians and caregivers reported significantly greater overall satisfaction/ease of use for donepezil (n = 64) compared with galantamine (n = 56) at weeks 4, 12, and endpoint (week 12 LOCF; all p-values <0.05). Significantly greater improvements in cognition were also observed for donepezil versus galantamine on the ADAS-cog at Week 12 and endpoint (p-values <0.05). ADL improved significantly in the donepezil group compared with the galantamine group at weeks 4, 12, and endpoint (p-values <0.05). Most AEs were mild to moderate, however, 46% galantamine-treated patients reported gastrointestinal AEs vs 25% donepezil patients. CONCLUSIONS: Physician and caregiver ease of use/satisfaction scores, and assessments of cognition and ADL, showed significant benefits for donepezil compared with galantamine in this direct comparative trial. Both treatments were well tolerated, with more gastrointestinal AEs reported for galantamine vs donepezil.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

The importance of validating the diagnosis of coronary heart disease when measuring secondary prevention: a cross-sectional study in general practice.

PURPOSE: To compare levels of recorded risk factors and drug treatment between patients with validated and non-validated diagnoses of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Northern Ireland. METHODS: Patients with a nitrate prescription in the previous year or a CHD Read code were identified from computer records of 25 practices, stratified by partnership size and area board. Computer and paper records of a random sample of 10% of these were searched for specified criteria to validate the diagnosis of CHD. The diagnosis was considered valid if the patient was found to have one or more positive investigations for CHD. Records of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index and drugs prescribed were taken into account. RESULTS: The combined practice population was 151,071; 7338 (4.86%) were identified by the computer search as meeting the defined entry criteria for CHD. Among the 10% random sample the diagnosis of CHD could not be validated for 36.5% (265/727). Significantly more patients with a validated than non-validated diagnosis had recorded cholesterol levels below 5.0 mmol/l (55.8 vs. 34.5%, p < 0.001) and were prescribed aspirin (75.3 vs. 40.8%, p < 0.001), beta-blockers (51.5 vs. 28.3%, p < 0.001), angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (29.2 vs. 15.5%, p < 0.001) and lipid-lowering drugs (50.9 vs. 23.0%, p < 0.001). A recent nitrate prescription had a higher predictive value for validated CHD than a Read code for CHD alone (71.2 vs. 53.1%, p < 0.001). No other significant differences were found between the two groups regarding the extent or levels of recorded risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a validated diagnosis of CHD appear to be better managed than those whose diagnosis has not been confirmed. Validation of diagnosis has important implications for assessing the provision of secondary prevention and for clinical governance.

Adolescent↗