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Biomedical subjects

L C Perlmuter

Publications and source records attributed to L C Perlmuter.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
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Do you mind standing?: cognitive changes in orthostasis.

This initial study examines cognitive function in individuals with asymptomatic orthostatic hypotension. Cerebral hypoperfusion accompanying repeated episodes of orthostatic hypotension may eventually produce some cerebral structural deterioration which, depending on foci, could compromise cognitive function. Subjects (aged 55 to 74 years) were relatively healthy women and men, the majority of whom were being treated for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Blood pressure (BP) and pulse were measured under supine and upright posture. The difference between BP and pulse under supine and standing conditions indexed orthostatic hypotension. About 1 hr after evaluation of orthostatic hypotension, cognitive testing was performed with individuals comfortably seated. Results showed that, irrespective of possible confounders, including depression, decreased systolic BP in response to upright posture predicted slower reaction times and compromised serial list learning, although sparing immediate and working memory. Orthostatic hypotension, measurable in more than 4% of the elderly, is a hitherto unexplored source of cognitive decline.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of age and removable artificial dentition on taste.

Sodium chloride and sucrose gustatory recognition thresholds, suprathreshold taste intensity function, and sucrose suprathreshold taste preference in healthy adult males with removable artificial dentition were compared with persons having natural dentition. In addition, several inorganic salivary constituents were evaluated for their possible relationship with these modalities. The 75 participants studied were divided into two age and two dentition groups: less than 65 years versus 65 years and older; and natural dentition only versus either removable partial dentures or complete artificial dentition. Recognition threshold and suprathreshold psychophysical functions were assessed using aqueous solutions of sodium chloride and sucrose. Suprathreshold hedonic judgments were also determined for sucrose. Samples of stimulated parotid saliva were analyzed for sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate. As age increased, a statistically significant decrease was noted in the exponent of the psychophysical function for sodium chloride. A similar, but nonsignificant, trend was observed for sucrose, which was complicated by an interaction between age and dentition status. For sodium chloride, recognition thresholds tended to be higher for older persons with removable partial and complete dentures. However, no statistically significant effect was observed on the sucrose threshold or hedonic response as a result of dentition status. Analysis of several parotid saliva constituents showed no statistically significant effect caused by age or dentition status and correlations noted among the psychophysical measures appeared to be fortuitous.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Survival after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: the role of dementia.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) is a widely used technique for enteral feeding in nursing home patients. Several factors including malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia, older age, number of co-morbidities and cognitive impairment adversely affect survival. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the relative impact of age, serum albumin, number of co-morbid illnesses and dementia on survival in male nursing home patients who had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). DESIGN: In a retrospective study the hospital records of all North Chicago Veterans Affair (VA) male nursing home residents (n=88) who had PEG placed between 1990 through 2000 were reviewed. Of the 88 charts reviewed, 17 were eliminated from analysis due to incomplete data. Following data was examined: Age, serum albumin, number of co-morbid illnesses, presence of dementia, survival in years following PEG placement. RESULTS: Advancing age was associated with increasing probability of dementia and increased number of co-morbidities. Post PEG survival decreased with increasing age, with lower serum albumin, and increased number of co-morbidities. Age and serum albumin were strong predictors of survival in PEG recipients without the diagnosis of dementia. However, in PEG recipients with a diagnosis of dementia, age and serum albumin no longer predicted survival. Dementia appears to attenuate the effects of age and serum albumin on survival following PEG placement. CONCLUSION: In the presence of dementia, none of the usual predictors of survival in PEG recipients remain significant.

Age Factors↗