Forskningsartikler

Objective: It is unknown whether systolic blood pressure (SBP) drop is part of the normal aging process or due to the onset of dementia for some people. SBP drop is referring to the decrease in blood pressure often seen before death. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether SBP at time of diagnosis of dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective cognitive decline was associated with years prior to death, and whether these associations were modified by diagnoses, age, and sex.

Methods: Participants were 2,236 patients from the Norwegian Registry of Persons Assessed for Cognitive Symptoms (NorCog), who died during follow‐up (2009–2017) for whom we had valid blood pressure measurements. Mean age at diagnosis was 77.5 years (SD 8.3), and patients were followed for an average of 3.9 years (SD 2.2, maximum 10.5 years). The patients had subjective cognitive decline (95), mild cognitive impairment (573), dementia (1,401), or no diagnoses related to cognitive deficits (167). SBP as dependent variable was regressed against years prior to death.

Results: In men, SBP was 1.8 mmHg lower per year closer to death (p < .01), and this trend was linear without any acceleration. This association between years prior to death and SBP in men was not modified by age, year of diagnosis, or diagnosis. There was no such association in women.

Conclusion: SBP was significantly lower for those diagnosed close to death in men, but not in women. This association was not modified by either age or onset of diagnosis. Thus, the lowering of SBP is more related to closeness to death and sex than to dementia or age. The downward trend was linear all 10 years prior to death, with no acceleration closer to death.

Knut Asbjørn Hestad, Knut Engedal, Geir Selbæk, Bjørn Heine Strand

Alzheimers sykdom er den hyppigste årsaken til demens i verden. Forekomsten vil øke betydelig i årene som kommer, i takt med at andelen eldre øker. Det er foreløpig ingen sykdomsmodifiserende behandling tilgjengelig. Risikoforebyggende tiltak midt i livet kan potensielt forhindre eller utsette opptil 40 % av demenstilfellene på gruppenivå.

Anne-Brita Knapskog, Knut Engedal, Geir Selbæk, Anne-Rita Øksengård

Aim: Understanding whether increasing Life Expectancy (LE) translates to improved health and function among older adults is essential, but results are inconclusive. We aimed to estimate trends in Disability-Free Life Expectancy (DFLE) in the older Norwegian population by sex and education from 1995 to 2017.
Method: National life table data were combined with cross-sectional data on functional ability for 70+ year-olds from the population-based Trøndelag Health Surveys 2-4 (1995–1997, 2006–2008 and 2017–2019) (n=24,733). Self-reported functional ability was assessed on a graded scale by a combination of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) such as paying bills, going out or shopping (mild disability) and Personal Activities of Daily Living (PADL) such as washing, dressing or eating (severe disability). LE, DFLE, Mild-Disability LE and Severe-Disability LE at age 70 were estimated by the Sullivan method.
Results: From 1995 to 2017 DFLE at age 70 increased from 8.4 to 13.0 years in women, and from 8.0 to 12.1 years in men. DFLE increased in the basic and high educational groups, but more so in the high educational group among men. Educational inequalities in years spent with disability however, remained low.
Conclusions: From the mid-1990s and over the past three decades both LE and DFLE at 70 years increased in the older Norwegian population, for both men and women, and across basic and high educational levels. Educational inequalities in DFLE increased, especially in men, but years spent with disability were similar across the three decades.

Siri H Storeng, Simon Øverland, Vegard Skirbekk, Laila Arnesdatter Hopstock, Erik R Sund, Steinar Krokstad, Bjørn H Strand.

Abstract: Young onset dementia has become a growing challenge in national healthcare systems. Concerns about the situation have already been expressed; however, they mostly report the views of services end-users. Aimed at finding out useful further improvement, interviews documenting the working experiences of professionals addressing healthcare services to people with young onset dementia (YOD) were analysed qualitatively. The interviews resulted in four themes and twelve categories. The themes regarded services’ complexity and responsiveness, the levels of education and knowledge on YOD, the impact that serving people with YOD reflects on staff working experience and quality of life, and a series of proposals aimed at improving services by giving people with YOD and families the provision of care they deserve. Although some of the themes recapped the ones reported in the previous literature, the mixture of internally and externally driven instances represented in the themes depict the complexity of care delivery in the services. Findings are discussed in the light of a pragmatical framework capable of suggesting what changes services should implement to be timely responsive.

Giovanni Ottoboni, Vasileios Stamou, Ilaria Chirico, Laura De Riso, Luisa Allione, Aud Johannessen, Rabih Chattat

Introduction: The western world is seeking increased implementation of assistive technology (AT) to meet the challenges of an ageing population. The objective of this study is to explore perspectives on AT use among home-dwelling older adults with or without cognitive impairment.
Methods: This study combines findings from a cross-sectional study with a questionnaire package (n = 83) and from qualitative individual interviews (n = 7) and is part of a larger study, the Assisted Living Project. Combining methods promotes complementary inquiries into a phenomenon.
Results:  The participants already use ATs: TVs, social alarms, mobile phones, stove timers, electronic medical dispensers, PCs and tablet computers. They were both optimistic and skeptical of AT, and expressed different perspectives and expressed different perspectives on ATs in relation to usability, privacy and fear of losing personal face-to-face care.
Conclusions: This study reveals that older adults’ perspectives on AT are multifaceted and complex, and can partly be explained by the interacting factors in the HAAT model: person, technology, environment, and context. Further exploration in relation to older adults with health challenges, as well as ethical perspectives on AT implementation, is required for this group.

Liv Halvorsrud, Torhild Holthe, Dag Karterud, Erik Thorstensen, Anne Lund

Abstract:

Since muscles can influence bone growth and vice versa, we examined if level of physical activity and physical capability tests can predict areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Both high activity level and good test performance were associated with higher aBMD, especially in women.

Introduction: Muscle influences bone formation and vice versa. Tests of physical capability and level of physical activity reflect various muscle qualities. We assessed the associations between total hip aBMD and physical activity as well as a range of standardized physical capability tests in an adult general population.
Methods: A total of 3 533 women and men aged 40-84 years, participating in the population-based cross-sectional Tromsø study in Norway in 2015-2016, were included. Linear regression was used to assess associations between aBMD and physical activity and the physical capability tests grip strength, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and standing balance. Non-linear associations were examined in cubic spline models. Standardized regression coefficients were calculated to compare effect sizes across physical capability measures.

Results: In fully adjusted models, higher physical activity was positively associated with total hip aBMD in both sexes compared to a sedentary lifestyle. All tests of physical capability were associated with aBMD in women, SPPB showing the strongest association although effect sizes were too small to indicate clinically significant differences (1 point increase corresponded to an aBMD increase of 0.009 g/cm2, CI = 0.005 to 0.012). In men, SPPB and its subtests were associated with aBMD with chair rises showing the strongest association (1 s increase in execution time corresponded to an aBMD decrease of 0.005 g/cm2, CI = 0.008 to 0.002).

Conclusion: Physical activity was associated with aBMD, and tests of physical capability can account for some of the aBMD variations in adults aged 40 years and older, especially in women.

A.V. Hauger, K. Holvik, A. Bergland, A. Ståhle, N. Emaus, B. Morseth & B.H. Strand

Introduction: Person-centred care is a philosophy of care rather than a method ready for implementation and utilisation in daily work. Internationally, few methods for the implementation of person-centred care have been widely adopted in clinical and care practice. In Norway, the VIPS practice model is a commonly used model for person-centred care implementation.
Method: Qualitative manifest content analysis was used. Managers and leaders in the municipalities, care institutions and domestic nursing care services were eligible for inclusion if their workplace had implemented the VIPS practice model and conducted the consensus meeting regularly for a minimum of 12 months. Seventeen respondents were included. Individual interviews were conducted either via FaceTime, Skype or telephone.
Results: Three global categories emerged describing the implementation process: (1) factors that impact the decision made at municipal level to implement person-centred care; (2) requirements for a good start at unit level and (3) factors that help to support the new routines in the unit. The categories were entwined; the results of one affected the results of the others. The informants from both domestic nursing care and institutions described the same factors as important for the implementation of the VIPS practice model.
Conclusion: To implement person-centred care by use of the VIPS practice model, the frontline staff need sufficient information about the rationale for implementing the model. The management’s vision and ethos of person-centred care must be followed by time set aside for staff training and regularly scheduled VIPS practice model consensus meetings. Head nurses are key to getting the new routines established and maintained and should be supported by the management.

Janne Røsvik, Marit Mjørud

Objectives:  To examine prospectively the association between unmet needs for daytime activities and company and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Methods: We included 451 people with mild or moderate dementia, from eight European countries, who were assessed three times over 12 months. Unmet needs were measured with the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly. Three sub-syndromes of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire were regressed, one-by-one, against unmet needs for daytime activities and company, adjusting for demographic and clinical-functional covariates.
Results: Unmet needs for daytime activities were associated with more affective symptoms at baseline, six and twelve months, mean 0.74 (p < 0.001), 0.76 (p < 0.001) and 0.78 (p = 0.001) points higher score respectively, and with more psychotic symptoms at baseline (mean 0.39 points, p = 0.007) and at six months follow-up (mean 0.31 points, p = 0.006). Unmet needs for company were associated with more affective symptoms at baseline, six and twelve months, mean 0.44 (p = 0.033), 0.67 (p < 0.001) and 0.91 (p < 0.001) points higher score respectively, and with more psychotic symptoms at baseline (mean 0.40 points, p = 0.005) and at six months (mean 0.35 points, p = 0.002) follow-up.
Conclusion: Interventions to reduce unmet needs for daytime activities and company could reduce affective and psychotic symptoms in people with dementia.

Mona Michelet, Geir Selbæk, Bjørn Heine Strand, Anne Lund, Knut Engedal, Anja Bieber, Manuel Gonçalves-Pereira, Louise Hopper, Kate Irving, Hannah Jelley, Maria J Marques, Martin Orrell, Daniel M Portolani, Britt-Marie Sjölund, Anders Sköldunger, Astrid Stephan, Frans Verhey, Marjolein de Vugt, Claire Wolfs, Bob Woods, Orazio Zanetti, Sverre Bergh, Actifcare Consortium

Background: Despite the increased prevalence of dementia in India, there is reported to be little awareness of the disease. This could lead to a late diagnosis, a reduced number of choices regarding future care, and misinterpretation of the symptoms or neglect. Taking into consideration that most nurses caring for older people in the future will work with people with dementia, there is concern that they may not be able to meet the needs of this group of patients unless they have the necessary knowledge and a positive attitude.
Aim: To explore the knowledge about and attitude towards dementia among nursing staff working in residential care facilities for older people in India.
Method: An explorative and descriptive qualitative design was used. Two semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with nursing staff working in 6 nursing homes in India. Qualitative content analysis was used. Ethical approval was granted by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services.
Findings: The participants highlighted the following 3 dimensions in relation to their knowledge of and attitudes toward dementia in residential care facilities in India: (1) people with dementia – a walking mystery; (2) we need to go along with them, but it is challenging; and (3) if we know, we can care for them in a better way.
Conclusion: The findings revealed a wide range of differences in attitude towards and inadequate knowledge of dementia among nursing staff. However, their overall attitudes toward people with dementia was positive.

Benedicte Sørensen Strøm, Hilde Lausund, Anne Marie Mork Rokstad, Knut Engedal, Alka Goyal