Introduction As dementia prevalence increases, more individuals are becoming caregivers for family members with dementia. This role can negatively impact the caregiver's quality of life (QoL), even...Show moreIntroduction As dementia prevalence increases, more individuals are becoming caregivers for family members with dementia. This role can negatively impact the caregiver's quality of life (QoL), even when the person with dementia resides in a nursing home. This study aimed to identify factors influencing caregivers' well-being. We investigated whether the type and stage of dementia, the QoL of the person with dementia, and their interactions could predict the family caregiver's QoL. Methods This study included 205 elderly participants with dementia from 19 nursing homes and their family caregivers. It measured the type of dementia by using a physician’s diagnosis, stage of dementia using the Bedford Alzheimer Nursing Severity-Scale (BANS-S) ( M = 14.92, SD = 4.58), QoL of the person with dementia using the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) scale (M = 22.88, SD = 7.96 ), and caregiver QoL using a scale question from the TOPICS-MDS questionnaire (M = 7.36 , SD = 1.18). A general linear model was employed to analyze the data. Results Neither the type of dementia (F(3, 189) = 0.62, p = 0.6030), stage of dementia (F(1, 189) = 0.871, p = 0.352), nor the QoL of the person with dementia (F(1, 189) = 0.225, p = 0.636) predicted the QoL of the family caregiver. Additionally, no interactions between these factors were significant predictors of the family caregiver’s QoL (Type x Stage; F(3, 189) = .264, p = .851) (Type x QoL); F(3, 189) =.548 , p =.650) (Stage x QoL; F(1, 189) = .388, p = .534) (Type x Stage x QoL; F(3, 189) =.149, p = .930). Discussion None of the characteristics nor their interactions were able to predict the caregiver's quality of life. These results contradict earlier research. Possible explanations are the violations of certain assumptions within the GLM, the methods that were used to measure the variables and the difference in care setting between this study and previous studies. Further investigation is needed to clarify these discrepancies and refine our understanding of factors affecting family caregivers' QoL.Show less
Background: the vascular hypothesis of apathy suggests a link between vascular factors like cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and apathy symptoms, through lesions in the brain’s reward network....Show moreBackground: the vascular hypothesis of apathy suggests a link between vascular factors like cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and apathy symptoms, through lesions in the brain’s reward network. Previous studies found a cross-sectional association between lower blood pressure (BP) and symptoms of apathy in older persons with more CSVD, potentially through reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, longitudinal research on these associations is lacking. This thesis investigated whether structural and dynamic vascular factors are associated with apathy symptoms over time in older persons. Methods: this longitudinal cohort study used participants of the Discontinuation of ANtihypertensive Treatment in the Elderly (DANTE)-Leiden, community-dwelling older persons on antihypertensive treatment with mild cognitive deficits. BP was measured at baseline and apathy was assessed with the Apathy Scale at baseline and after four years of follow-up (n=178). Additionally, a baseline MRI sub-study (n=109) was conducted to measure CSVD and CBF. Results: the mean age of the sample was 80 years (SD 4) and 63% was female. No significant association was found between the summary CSVD scores (β(95% CI)=0.018(-1.089-1.125), p=.975) or its separate features; WMH (β(95%CI)=0.012(-0.011-0.035), p=.318), CMB (β(95%CI)=-0.017(-0.605-0.572), p=.956), lacunar infarctions (β(95% CI)=-0.413(-1.266-0.440), p=.339), and a change in Apathy Scale score. Additionally, no significant association was found between the dynamic vascular factors; CBF (β(95% CI)=-0.029(-0.152-0.094), p=.640), systolic BP (β(95% CI)=-0.019(-0.056-0.018), p=.310) and diastolic BP (β(95%CI) =-0.029(-0.099-0.042), p=.425), and change in Apathy Scale score. The multiple linear regression model, incorporating all the structural and dynamic vascular parameters, was not significant (F(7,90)=1.32 , p=.250, R2=.093). Conclusions: in older persons with mild cognitive deficits, structural and dynamic vascular factors were not associated with apathy symptoms over time, in contrast to previous cross-sectional studies. Our findings did not support the vascular apathy hypothesis. Other factors, such as lifestyle, might confound the cross-sectional association between vascular factors and apathy. This study highlights the importance of further research into vascular factors and apathy, which acknowledge our limitations, or into other possible mechanisms for apathy.Show less
Voorgaande onderzoeken tonen dat heteroseksuele mannen beter presteren op navigatietaken dan heteroseksuele vrouwen, homoseksuele vrouwen en homoseksuele mannen. Het huidige onderzoek bekijkt het...Show moreVoorgaande onderzoeken tonen dat heteroseksuele mannen beter presteren op navigatietaken dan heteroseksuele vrouwen, homoseksuele vrouwen en homoseksuele mannen. Het huidige onderzoek bekijkt het effect van seksuele oriëntatie, gender en geslacht op de prestatie op een navigatietaak. Het onderzoek verspreidde een online vragenlijst met navigatietaak onder 216 deelnemers met een gemiddelde leeftijd van 27 jaar oud. 65 van de deelnemers waren van het mannelijke geslacht en 151 van het vrouwelijke geslacht. Hiervan waren 151 deelnemers heteroseksueel en 65 niet-heteroseksueel. Uit de resultaten van het onderzoek bleek dat seksuele oriëntatie, gender en geslacht geen effect hebben op de prestatie van mensen op een navigatietaak. Dit kan komen door de kleine individuele groepen binnen de niet-heteroseksuelen, waardoor er geen goede conclusie over de aparte groepen getrokken kan worden. Toekomstige onderzoeken zouden meer LHBTQIA+ organisaties kunnen betrekken bij het werven van deelnemers.Show less
Bestaande literatuur suggereert dat emotieherkenningsvaardigheden afnemen naarmate de leeftijd stijgt. Ook blijken vrouwen over het algemeen beter te presteren dan mannen. Over het verloop van de...Show moreBestaande literatuur suggereert dat emotieherkenningsvaardigheden afnemen naarmate de leeftijd stijgt. Ook blijken vrouwen over het algemeen beter te presteren dan mannen. Over het verloop van de emotieherkenning gedurende het hele volwassen leven, en het verschil in verloop tussen mannen en vrouwen is nog relatief weinig bekend. Deze studie onderzocht de invloed van leeftijd en geslacht op de herkenning van gezichtsuitdrukkingen. Nieuw was de mogelijke invloed van het geslachtsstereotype op de emotieherkenning. 217 gezonde deelnemers van 18-84 jaar vulden een online vragenlijst met dynamische emotieherkenningstaak in. Volwassenen lieten een leeftijdsgerelateerde afname zien voor de herkenning van woede en blijdschap. Geslachtsverschillen waren zichtbaar voor de totaalscore, angst, droefheid en walging, met hogere scores voor vrouwen dan mannen. De ontwikkeling van de emotieherkenning piekte voor woede, verrassing en blijdschap bij vrouwen eerder dan bij mannen. Tot slot had het stereotype geen invloed op de emotieherkenning. Het huidige onderzoek biedt nieuwe inzichten die kunnen bijdragen aan de differentiatie van meetinstrumenten die worden gebruikt voor diagnostisch onderzoek naar ASS, door rekening te houden met de geslachts- en leeftijdsverschillen.Show less
This study aims to identify the relationship between processing speed and social functioning in patients with a psychotic disorder and examine whether Theory of Mind mediates this relationship. The...Show moreThis study aims to identify the relationship between processing speed and social functioning in patients with a psychotic disorder and examine whether Theory of Mind mediates this relationship. The sample consisted of 323 participants, diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. Social functioning was assessed with The World Health Organization’s Disability Assessment Scale II (WHO-DAS II). The outcome measure used for measuring processing speed is symbol coding. Theory of Mind was assessed using the hinting task. The sample had a relatively low symptom severity (M = 1.97, SD = 0.8). The average score for social functioning was 28.4 (SD = 9.6). A linear regression analysis showed a non-significant relationship between processing speed and social functioning (β = .019, p = .774). The mediation analysis showed that the total effect of processing speed on Theory of Mind was significant (β = .196, p =.004). The indirect effect of Theory of Mind on social functioning was not significant (β = .057, p =.335). The direct effect of processing speed on social functioning (c’) was not significant (β = .008, p =.906). Our findings suggest that slower processing speed is not associated with worse social functioning. There was no mediation effect found by Theory of Mind. However, slower processing speed was found to be associated with a worse Theory of Mind. Future research should consider other cognitive processes that impact social functioning.Show less
