PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Inoue receives funding for group digital gaming: Experiences of older adults living with dementia in an activity for cognitive impairment

2023-08-14
(Press-News.org)

Megumi Inoue, Associate Professor, Social Work, received funding for: "Group Digital Gaming: Experiences of Older Adults Living with Dementia in an Activity for Cognitive Impairment." 

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a group digital gaming intervention on cognitive function, mood, and behaviors in people with early to moderate levels of dementia. A group digital gaming company, called Obie Technology, was developed to facilitate cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, and group interactions simultaneously. Various types of interactive games are projected on floors, tables, and walls to encourage movement, stimulate cognition, and increase social interactions among people living with dementia (e.g., colorful balloons float through the air as clients try to hit as many as they can). 

Through the implementation of the study, researchers will: 

collect data on participants’ cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, agitation, and depression statuses;   conduct systematic observations on  both the process of the activity and observable participant responses to the activity; and  conduct brief semi-structured interviews with participants and hold focus groups with their family members to gain insights into their perspectives on the digital gaming activity.    

The importance of this study lies in its investigation of an innovative technology designed for the older population. Employing a mixed methods approach, the study collects data not only from caregivers but also directly from individuals living with dementia. Through an examination of its effects on cognitive function, behavior, and mood among those in early and moderate stages of dementia, the research team aims to learn if this activity holds the potential to enhance cognitive stimulation and overall well-being.   

The research team also includes Michelle Hand, Assistant Professor, Social Work, and Naoru Koizumi, Associate Dean of Research and Grants, Schar School of Policy and Government, Professor.

Inoue received $44,828 from Virginia Commonwealth University for this project. Funding began in Aug. 2023 and will end in late June 2024. 

###

About George Mason University

George Mason University is Virginia's largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 38,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

 

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

IIR researchers receive funding for conference focused on refugee resettlement and STEM education

2023-08-14
James C. Witte, Professor, Sociology, Director, Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), and Michelle S. Dromgold-Sermen, Assistant Director, IIR, received funding for: "Refugee Resettlement and STEM Education." This conference will focus on how STEM-oriented educational opportunities through high schools, registered apprenticeships, community college, and four-year institutions can all play a significant role in addressing urgent humanitarian needs, while also expanding the nation’s STEM workforce.  Participants will learn about the current refugee situation, how the Welcome Corps is a valuable addition to U.S. refugee ...

New study charts exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada throughout the pandemic

2023-08-14
Most people in Canada now have hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 through a mix of infection and vaccination, new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) shows. VIEW EMBARGOED ARTICLE Using pan-Canadian blood sample data from a subset of studies backed by the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), researchers from the CITF, in collaboration with those from supported studies, estimated changing levels of seroprevalence — from infection or vaccination, or both — over 3 time periods: prevaccination (March to November 2020), vaccine roll-out (December 2020 to November 2021) and the Omicron waves (December 2021 to March 2023). In the first 2 phases, seroprevalence from ...

Source of hidden consciousness in ‘comatose’ brain injury patients found

Source of hidden consciousness in ‘comatose’ brain injury patients found
2023-08-14
NEW YORK, NY (Aug. 14, 2023)--Columbia researchers have identified brain injuries that may underlie hidden consciousness, a puzzling phenomenon in which brain-injured patients are unable to respond to simple commands, making them appear unconscious despite having some level of awareness.  “Our study suggests that patients with hidden consciousness can hear and comprehend verbal commands, but they cannot carry out those commands because of injuries in brain circuits that relay instructions from the brain to the muscles,” says study leader Jan Claassen, MD, associate professor of neurology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians ...

Publicly fund nonsurgical procedures for transgender, gender diverse people

2023-08-14
Publicly fund nonsurgical procedures for transgender, gender diverse people To support transgender and gender-diverse people, governments should consider publicly funding hair removal and other minimally invasive procedures, authors argue in a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). VIEW EMBARGOED ARTICLE “Minimally invasive procedures such as hair removal and facial injectables may support the process of transition in a timely fashion; evidence supports their therapeutic benefits in the field of gender-affirming care,” write Drs. Katie Ross and Sarah Fraser, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ...

Chromium replaces rare and expensive noble metals

Chromium replaces rare and expensive noble metals
2023-08-14
Expensive noble metals often play a vital role in illuminating screens or converting solar energy into fuels. Now, chemists at the University of Basel have succeeded in replacing these rare elements with a significantly cheaper metal. In terms of their properties, the new materials are very similar to those used in the past. We’re familiar with chromium from everyday applications such as chromium steel in the kitchen or chrome-plated motorcycles. Soon, however, the element may also be found in the screens of ubiquitous mobile phones or used to convert solar energy. Researchers led ...

No longer ships passing in the night: these electromagnetic waves had head-on collisions

No longer ships passing in the night: these electromagnetic waves had head-on collisions
2023-08-14
NEW YORK, August 14, 2023 — A research team at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) has shown that it is possible to manipulate photons so that they can collide, interacting in new ways as they cross paths. The discovery, detailed in Nature Physics, will allow scientists who develop technologies rooted in electromagnetic wave propagation to make significant advances in telecommunications, optical computing and energy applications. The breakthrough took place in the lab of Andrea Alù, Distinguished ...

Comparison of particulate air pollution from different emission sources and incident dementia

2023-08-14
About The Study: In this nationally representative study, higher residential levels of fine particulate matter were associated with greater rates of incident dementia, especially for fine particulate matter generated by agriculture and wildfires. These findings also indicate that intervening on key emission sources might have value, although more research is needed to confirm these findings.  Authors: Boya Zhang, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, is the corresponding ...

Socioeconomic adversity and weight gain during the pandemic

2023-08-14
About The Study: In a large, demographically diverse sample of U.S. youth researchers found significantly greater increases in body mass index over time in 10- to 12-year-old youth assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with pre-pandemic controls. The effects of the pandemic on weight gain were most pronounced in low-income youth, suggesting that the pandemic exacerbated preexisting social inequalities.  Authors: Elizabeth Sowell, Ph.D., of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.2823) Editor’s ...

Lifestyle factors in the association of shift work and depression and anxiety

2023-08-14
About The Study: In this study of 175,000 participants, shift work was significantly associated with a higher risk of depression and anxiety, and lifestyle factors partially mediated the associations. These findings not only support that shift work should be considered an occupational hazard, but also provide evidence for the urgent need for the development of public health interventions that promote healthy lifestyles aimed at improving the mental health of shift workers.  Authors: Yanhong Gong, Ph.D., of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, ...

Association of intensive lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes with labor market outcomes

2023-08-14
About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that an intensive lifestyle intervention to prevent the progression and complications of type 2 diabetes was associated with higher levels of employment. Labor market productivity should be considered when evaluating interventions to manage chronic diseases.  Authors: Peter Huckfeldt, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.3283) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Jeonbuk National University researchers explore the impact of different seasonings on the flavor perception of Doenjang soup

Two Keck Medicine of USC Hospitals named Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals

World-first discovery uncovers how glioblastoma tumours dodge chemotherapy, potentially opening the door to new treatments

A fatal mix-up: How certain gut bacteria drive multiple sclerosis

New AI tool identifies not just genetic mutations, but the diseases they may cause

Deep-learning model predicts how fruit flies form, cell by cell

Combination pills for high blood pressure may simplify treatment, improve long-term health

Immune system keeps mucosal fungi in check

Neurons within the brain use simple rules to localize genetic messages

Electrodes created using light

Second-hand gift-giving is a well-deliberated decision

How human interaction drove evolution to make bears less aggressive

National Poll: Few parents offer teens guidance on healthy eating during holiday season

Cannabis derivatives could provide new ovarian cancer treatments

Raising strong yeast as a petroleum substitute

Clues to the origin of hot Jupiters hidden in their orbits

Canada’s reduced pledge to Global Fund will impact domestic health

1 in 4 children with major traumatic injuries not cared for in pediatric trauma centres

Duke and Duke-NUS’ joint cross-population research to uncover "East-West" differences in disease and care

Scientists to ‘spy’ on cancer- immune cell interactions using quantum technology breakthrough

Tech savvy users have most digital concerns

Making lighter work of calculating fluid and heat flow

Normalizing blood sugar can halve heart attack risk

Lowering blood sugar cuts heart attack risk in people with prediabetes

Study links genetic variants to risk of blinding eye disease in premature infants

Non-opioid ‘pain sponge’ therapy halts cartilage degeneration and relieves chronic pain

AI can pick up cultural values by mimicking how kids learn

China’s ecological redlines offer fast track to 30 x 30 global conservation goal

Invisible indoor threats: emerging household contaminants and their growing risks to human health

Adding antibody treatment to chemo boosts outcomes for children with rare cancer

[Press-News.org] Inoue receives funding for group digital gaming: Experiences of older adults living with dementia in an activity for cognitive impairment