Forskningsartikler

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between different cognitive domains and hand function in older people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
Methods: This study is cross-sectional, including 98 communityliving older people aged ≥65 years with MCI or dementia. Assessments of hand function included grip strength, the Finger Tapping Test, and the Grooved Pegboard. Cognitive assessments were the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Clock Drawing Test, and Trail Making Tests A and B, as well as a 10-word List Learning Test. Statistical analyses were based on descriptive statistics and univariable and multivariable analyses.
Results: Sixty participants were diagnosed with MCI and 38 were diagnosed with dementia. The mean age was 78.8 years (SD 7.4). Analyses of hand function, cognitive tests, and demographic factors showed an association between cognitive tests, in particular executive function (EF), and hand function.
Conclusions: The findings indicated an association between physical and cognitive function. Among the cognitive domains, declines in EF were most related to a reduced physical function.

Karin Hesseberg, Gro Gujord Tangen, Are Hugo Pripp, Astrid Bergland

Background: The employment rate for people with intellectual disabilities is low. This study aims to increase the knowledge about the association between age, gender, diagnosis, functional level, educational level, and daily activities for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Method: A multinomial logistic analysis was applied to registry data on 12,735 adults
with intellectual disabilities from the Norwegian Information System for the Nursing and Care Sector (IPLOS) and Statistics Norway (SSB).
Results: Higher likelihood of employment and day care participation were associated with younger age but differed between genders and diagnoses. High functional level and lack of a registered functional level decreased the likelihood for employment. Educational level was not associated with employment.
Conclusions: The systematic differences in employment and day care participation among people with intellectual disabilities indicate that actions are needed to prevent inequalities. Improved individual assessment of personal resources and wishes might promote participation in employment and day care.

Jeanette Engeland, Bjørn Heine Strand, Siw Tone Innstrand, Ellen Melbye Langballe

Introduction: The progression rate of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) varies and might be affected by the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM2) activity. We explored if cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble TREM2 (sTREM2), a proxy of microglial activity, is associated with clinical progression rate.
Methods: Patients with clinical AD (N = 231) were followed for up to 3 years after diagnosis. Cognitively healthy controls (N = 42) were followed for 5 years. CSF sTREM2 was analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Group‐based trajectory modeling revealed distinct clinical progression groups.
Results: Higher CSF sTREM2 was associated with slow clinical progression. The slow‐ and medium‐progressing groups had higher CSF sTREM2 than the cognitively healthy, who had a similar level to patients with rapid clinical progression.
Discussion: CSF sTREM2 levels were associated with clinical progression in AD, regardless of core biomarkers. This could be useful in assessing disease development in relation to patient care and clinical trial recruitment.

Trine Holt Edwin, Kristi Henjum, Lars N.G. Nilsson, Leiv Otto Watne, Karin Persson, Rannveig Sakshaug Eldholm, Ingvild Saltvedt, Nathalie Bodd Halaas, Geir Selbæk, Knut Engedal, Bjørn Heine Strand, Anne-Brita Knapskog.

Jelena Zugic Soares, Renate Pettersen, Jūratė Šaltytė Benth, Karin Persson, Carsten Strobel , Geir Selbæk, Nenad Bogdanovic.