Public Health Function Review

Public Health Function Review

Obesity in an ageing society implications for health, physical function and health service utilisation.

Key Findings • Based on body mass index (BMI) measurements, 36% of Irish over 50s are obese and a further 43% are overweight. • Based on waist circumference measurements, 52% of Irish over 50s are ‘centrally obese’, i.e., with a ‘substantially increased’ waist circumference, while a further 25% have an ‘increased’ waist circumference. • Using BMI as an indicator of obesity, a higher proportion of men (38%) are obese than women (33%); however, using waist circumference as an indicator of obesity, a higher proportion of women (56%) have a ‘substantially increased’ waist circumference than men (48%). • The prevalence of obesity in Irish men over 50 is comparable with US men over 50 (while English rates are much lower).     .This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Autonomic Function Is Impaired in Elderly Stroke Survivors

Impaired autonomic function is common in the acute poststroke phase but little is known about the longer term effects, particularly in older people. This study sought to determine if autonomic function is impaired after stroke recovery in older patients. This is a cross-sectional case-control study comparing autonomic function in 76 nondemented stroke patients with 70 community-living controls aged older than 75 years.

Physical activity and enhanced fitness to improve cognitive function in older people without known cognitive impairment

Physical activity is beneficial for healthy ageing. It may also help maintain good cognitive function in older age. Aerobic activity improves cardiovascular fitness, but it is not known whether this sort of fitness is necessary for improved cognitive function.��Eleven studies of aerobic physical activity programmes for healthy people over the age of 55 years have been included in this review. Eight of these 11 studies reported that aerobic exercise interventions resulted in increased fitness of the trained group and an improvement in at least one aspect of cognitive function. The largest effects were on cognitive speed, auditory and visual attention. However, the cognitive functions which improved were not the same in each study and the majority of comparisons yielded no significant results.��The data are insufficient to show that the improvements in cognitive function which can be attributed to physical exercise are due to improvements in cardiovascular fitness.

4th annual conference on Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease: Highlights

��In a sign that researchers are grappling with therapy development, the 4th annual conference on Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease was filled beyond its venue's capacity, drawing 522 researchers from around the globe. Held 3-5 November 2011 in San Diego, CTAD is the brainchild of Paul Aisen, Jacques Touchon, Bruno Vellas, and Michael Weiner. The conference posted no ringing trial successes. Instead, scientists worked on methodological aspects they hope will improve future trials' chances. They discussed Bayesian models, simulated placebos, and biomarker data standards. They presented alternative outcome measures to the ADAS-cog, ranging widely from composite scales that are sensitive early on to continuous measures that encompass a patients' day-to-day variability. They focused on EEG, and on a collective effort to develop patient-reported outcomes. Highlights include:Whence and Where To: History and Future of AD Therapy Trials��Webinar: Evolution of AD Trials��Nutrient Formulation Appears to Grease Memory Function��Door Slams on RAGE��Clinical Trials: Making "Protocols From Hell" Less Burdensome��EEG: Coming in From the Margins of Alzheimer's Research?��EEG: Old Method to Lend New Help in AD Drug Development?������