ΕΠΙΚΑΙΡΑ ΘΕΜΑΤΑ ΨΥΧΟΣΩΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΥΓΕΙΑΣ Γης ΗΛΙΚΙΑΣ

9^th Panhellenic Interdisciplinary Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and 1^st Mediterranean on Neurodegenerative Diseases. 

ILION MUNICIPALITY COMMUNITY STUDY

A multi-axial approach based on the Cognitive Reserve Theory

by Dr. Nikolaos E. Degleris, M.D.Psy

Neuro –Psychiatrist, HELLENIC PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
  Psycho-Geriatrics Branch, President ,email: nikosdegleris52@gmail.com

Abstract

Key words: dementia, depression, prevalence , prospective study.

The theory of Cognitive Reserve (Nick SCARMEAS et Yaakov STERN (2003): Cognitive Reserve and life-style, J.Cl.Exp.Neuropsychology, 25, 625-633) inspired our group (A. Solias, D. Politis, N. Degleris ) to organize and train a 12-member group of volunteers (psychologists and social workers) in order to implement a primary prospective study of 580 people aged 55-85+years ,who live independently in the community of ILION, Athens -GREECE . The objective was the primary detection of memory and cognition disorders ,anxiety and depression. The processing of epidemiological and sociodemographic data led a) to validate of the MMSE scale under the influence of age and education level (Psychiatry 25 (4) 2014), b)to investigate the association between memory disorders/cognitive functions and depression and vice versa (forthcoming publication) and c) to estimate the prevalence of dementia and depression in urban population and the emergence of risk factors.

Follow- up over four years with regular neuro-psychiatric monitoring of clinical patients in tandem with a) cognitive empowerment groups (brain stimulation program) of people with dementia and b) psychosocial support groups (CBT) in depressed patients and caregivers.

The neuropsychiatric evaluation included the following tools: MMSE, 3MS, CDT, Visual Perception test, MoCA test, Test Text, Scale GDSsf, Scale BAI.

The novelty of the study lies in 1) original prospective study and 2) experimental implementation of a new short screening test for cognitive and memory disorders.

Affiliated Services and Research Areas:

1) ILION Municipality Social Service (Solias A.), 2) Psycho-Geriatrics Unit of Piraeus (Degleris N.), 3) Department of Psychiatry, University of Ioannina (Skapinakis P.), 4) A’ Psychiatric Clinic -Aigineitio Hospital. (Politis A.), 5) Bayview Medical Center -JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICAL SCHOOL, Baltimore, USA ( Lyketsos C.,).

Special thanks to my fellow volunteers who applied themselves during many years of research, going on (2008-present).

Volunteers Names: Karamberi M.(in –chief), Daliana N., Lentidaki F., Foka K., Pantelidi F., Theodoulidou Ch., Dimitriou H., Kotsampasoglou M., Kiventidi M., Marini K., Chandrinos