فصلنامه سالمند
پیاپی 26 (پاییز 1391)

Several studies indicate that amyloid ß (Aß) peptide deposits and neurofibrillary tangles have key roles in pathogenesis and progression of the late-onset Alzhimer’s disease. Likewise it has been shown that inflammatory reactions play a significant role as well. Inflammatory mediators such as complement، chemokines and cytokines activators and inhibitors can release from activated microglia and astrocytes، causing neuronal dysfunction and death. One of the most important cytokines is tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α). This study was designed and carried out to determine the association between sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and the human TNF- α and APOE gene variations in Iranian population.

In this case – control study، the role of TNF-α gene polymorphism was determined in 167 sporadic AD patients and 163 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted using standard salting –out method from peripheral lymphocytes and TNF-α -850C/T promoter polymorphism was genotyped using PCR/RFLP technique. Comparing the genotype and allelic frequencies were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression tests by SPSS 11. 5.

The obtained results indicated that the frequency of TNF-α -850 heterozygote genotype (CT) was significantly higher in AD patients comparing healthy controls (p=0. 038). Although no significant difference were observed in TNF-α -850 homozygote genotype (TT) and T allele between the studied groups. No interaction was shown between TNF-α -850 and APOE gene polymorphisms as well.

These data suggests the role of TNF-α -850 TC genotype as a risk factor for AD in Iranian population. Although to show the effects of homozygote genotype (TT) and T allele، a study with a larger sample size maybe indicated.

Increased population of older people in recent decades has brought the health issues of them at forefront. Mental health and sleep problems are، both، common in elderly. This study intended to investigate on the relations between these two.

The present study is a cross-sectional، Descriptive- analytic one which has been implemented on retired elderly، presenting at the Retirement Organization and its agents in Tehran. 390 elderly entered the study through easy sampling and responded to a three part questionnaire including a demographic check list، General Health Questionnaire-15. And Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Gathered data analyzed by t- test، K Square، and ANOVA.

Of the participants 51% were male، 66. 8% were married، and 49% were in the age range of 60-64. 29% suffered from mild to severe daytime sleepiness and 46% had mental health problems. Mental health، as an independent factor، had a significant statistical relation with sleepiness (p < 0. 05).

Given to the study finding، further research with the aim of determining the predictive value of each factor is recommended.

Examine the effects of group reminiscence therapy on disability of nursing home residents in Mashhad (Iran). In this semi-experimental study, 56 residents of nursing homes in Mashhad (Iran) selected by convenience sampling. Subjects in each nursing home no randomly assigned to reminiscence group therapy (30) and control group (26). Thus six groups with 4-8 members were made. Reminiscence group therapy was done one hour weekly for eight weeks. Disability, depression, cognitive function, and pain were measured by World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II), 15-Item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) respectively. SPSS version 11.5 and parametric and non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. The result of ANOVA and Mann-Whitney tests showed there was no significant difference about total disability score (p=0.94) and its subscales: communication and understanding (p=0.20), getting around (p=0.20), self-care (p=0.92), dealing with other (p=0.72), and participation (p=0.88) between experimental and control group. One hour weekly group reminiscence therapy for eight weeks cant reduce disability and its subdivisions in nursing home residents. Therefore we advise further studies in this field.

Sarcopenia is the decline of muscle mass and strength with age. Evidence suggests that inflammation play important roles in age-related muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 3 months resistance training on skeletal muscle mass and C-reactive protein levels in elderly men. In this quasi – experimental study with pretest – posttest design، twenty-five middle-age men (age: 64. 10±3. 40 yr، body mass index: 28. 29±2. 38 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to resistance training (n= 13) and control (n= 12) groups. Resistance training program was performed 50-60 min/d، 3d/wk، for 3 months. Serum C-reactive protein levels and body composition (DEXA) were measured before and after the intervention. After resistance training، leg press (lower body strength index)، bench press (upper body strength index)، and skeletal muscle mass were significantly increased (P<0. 05)، whereas، body fat indices (e. g.، body mass index and fat mass) did not change in response to resistance training (P>0. 05). Concurrently، C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in training group (P<0. 05). Three months resistance training caused an improvement in muscle mass and strength in elderly men، and this improvement were accompanied by decreases in C-reactive protein serum levels.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gender on plasma Myostatin at rest and in response to acute resistance exercise in elderly men and women. 12 healthy older men (Age=69±1. 23 and BMI=23±0. 3 kg/m2) and 12 healthy older women (Age=68±2. 14 and BMI=23±0. 4 kg/m2) volunteered for participation in this study. 72hours after the determination of muscular maximal strength (by 1-RM test)، subjects participated in acute resistance exercises via 75% 1-RM. In this research، three blood samples were collected at before، immediately and 4hours after the exercise from Antecubital vein. Plasma Myostatin measured by ELISA methods. For statical analyses of research data SPPS (Ver. 16) was used. Significant levels was set at P≤0. 05. The results of this study showed that at the rest، the amount of plasma Myostatin was significantly higher in men compared to women (t(22) = -10. 90، P=0. 001). Also، the amount of plasma Myostatin، in two groups، significantly decreased at immediately and 4hours after the exercise (P≤0. 05). In two groups، compared to the immediately after the exercise، the amount of plasma Myostatin decreased at 4hours after the exercise، but this decrement was not significant. There was not any significant different between groups in the response of plasma Myostatin to the exercise. The results of this study showed that at the rest the amount of plasma Myostatin was significantly higher in the men compared to women. But in two groups، the amount of this protein decreased significantly (at immediately and 4hours after the exercise) in response to the resistance exercise. Also، this study reveled that gender has not a significant effect on the response of plasma Myostatin to resistance exercise in elderly men and women. According to the results of this study imposing a same training intervention causes same decrement in Myostatin and subsequently sarcopenia in elderly men and women.

The present study describes assessing mental health status (anxiety، depression، and psychological wellbeing) of old people in different age groups in Tehran metropolitan city. The outcomes of this study could help to health policy makers to develop of better health policy in gerontology field by determine of priorities of mental care in different age groups of old people. This was a cross sectional study in 2010. The participants were (N=402) aged 60 years old and over which have underrepresented from Shahid Beheshti university. The survey methods were via face-to-face interviews، and just in a few cases as telephone interviews. The instrument to data collection included demographic questionnaire، K6 and Yeild tools. Data analyzed by Stata and SPSS Ver. 15 through t-test، one-way ANOVA. Regression models applied as well. Based on results in the past 4 weeks،10. 9% of elderly had sever anxiety or depression symptoms and about half of them (46. 5%) had moderate psychological distress. The rate of psychological distress increased with age growing، specifically in 60- 79 years old; however، this rate declined from age of 80 years and over. Psychological distress levels among elderly women were more than old men in all age groups، except of 60-69 years old people. Regarding psychological wellbeing، feeling of tireless، lone less، and depression are the most common complain of house dowelling old people in Tehran metropolitan area. As the results show 43. 1% elderly participants were in moderate level and 17% of them were in the bad level of psychological wellbeing. Based on regression model، sex (P=0. 012)، housing (p=0. 004)، and retirement salary (p=0. 048) were significant variables that effect on psychological distress. The income rate was only important component that effect on psychological wellbeing of elderly participants. There was no significant different between aged groups 60-64 and 65-69 in psychological distress. All disorders or chronic disease in elderly had effect on anxiety and depression symptoms in old people; however، only muscoskeleta disease، pain، and tireless had significant impact on psychological wellbeing in elderly. The important components that effect on mental health of elderly related to fragile elderly from aspect of socio economic factors. Based on the results of this study old women، homeless elderly or old people that living in renting home or in other wise have not enough income to alive، low educated elderly and also alone old people had more psychosocial distress symptoms and less psychological wellbeing. Meanwhile، the rate of income had the most important role to have a happiness feeling among old people in participants