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Abstract Introduction When we memorize simultaneous items, we not only store information about specific items and/or their locations but also how items are related to each other. Such relational information can be parsed into spatial (spatial configuration) and identity (object configuration) components. Both these configurations are found to support performance during a visual short‐term memory (VSTM) task in young adults. How the VSTM performance of older adults is influenced by object/spatial configuration is less understood, which this study investigated. Methods Twenty‐nine young adults, 29 normally aging older adults, and 20 older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) completed two yes–no memory‐recognition experiments for four simultaneously presented items (2.5 s). Test display items were presented either at the same locations as the memory items (Experiment 1) or were globally shifted (Experiment 2). One of the test display items (target) was highlighted with a square box; participants indicated whether this item was shown in the preceding memory display. Both experiments comprised four conditions where nontarget items changed as follows: (i) nontarget items remained the same; (ii) nontarget items were replaced by new items; (iii) nontarget items switched locations; (iv) nontarget items were replaced by square boxes. Results Performance (% correct) in both older groups was significantly reduced than young adults in both experiments and each condition. For the MCI adults, significantly reduced performance (vs. normal older adults) was found only for Experiment 1. Conclusion VSTM for simultaneous items declines significantly in normal aging; the decline is not influenced differently by spatial/object configuration change. The ability of VSTM to differentiate MCI from normal cognitive aging is apparent only where the spatial configuration of stimuli is retained at original locations. Findings are discussed in terms of the reduced ability to inhibit irrelevant items and location priming (by repetition) deficits.

PurposeTo examine the effectiveness of a culturally and linguistically appropriate, patient-centered, target-driven lifestyle intervention with video education training in improving clinical outcomes, health literacy, and diabetic self-care practices in newly diagnosed patients in Nepal.MethodsA total of 110 participants with newly and consequently diagnosed Type 2 were randomly allocated into intervention (mean age = 45 ± 9.7 years) and control (mean age = 47 ± 12.5 years) groups. Intervention group participants were trained on a culturally and linguistically appropriate diabetic video education program and were given a customized dietary and physical activity plan with specific targets to practice at home. Participants’ compliance was monitored weekly via telephone calls. Both groups received the usual treatment from their doctor and were followed up after three months. Outcome measures included changes in: i. diabetic health literacy, diet, and physical activity measured using self-reported questionnaires; and ii. blood glucose (glycated hemoglobin, HbA1c), cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, and visual acuity. Clinical outcome measures were blinded from randomization and intervention allocation.ResultsAfter three months, HbA1c decreased to 6.1% from the baseline value of 7.2% in the intervention group compared to 6.6% in the control group from the baseline value of 7.1% (p

Abstract Background/Aim People with diabetes are at a greater risk of serious complications from Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Self-management of diabetes is therefore of paramount importance. The purpose of this study is to compare self-management of diabetes pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods 679 participants with diabetes completed an online structured questionnaire survey. Various exposure variables (demographics, duration, treatment and complications of diabetes, self-isolation, etc.) were analysed to examine associations with the following outcome variables: (i) fluctuation of blood glucose levels, (ii) access to diabetes medicine, (iii) access to healthy diet, (iv) physical activity. Adjusted multiple regression analysis ascertained significant associations for each outcome variable against exposure variables. Results Multiple regression analysis showed that self-isolation was significantly associated with greater fluctuation in blood glucose levels (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2–2.6, p = 0.005), reduced access to diabetes medicine (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1–3.1, p = 0.02) and reduced access to healthy diet (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 2.0–4.6, p

Background: Early cognitive changes in people at risk of developing dementia may be detected using behavioral tests that examine the performance of typically affected brain areas, such as the hippocampi. An important cognitive function supported by the hippocampi is memory binding, in which object features are associated to create a unified percept. Aim: To compare visual short-term memory (VSTM) binding performance for object names, locations, and identities between a participant group known to be at higher risk of developing dementia (mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) and healthily aging controls. Methods: Ten MCI and 10 control participants completed five VSTM tests that differed in their requirement of remembering bound or unbound object names, locations, and identities, along with a standard neuropsychological test (Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination [ACE]-III). Results: The performance of the MCI participants was selectively and significantly lower than that of the healthily aging controls for memory tasks that required object-location or name-location binding. Conclusion: Tasks that measure unimodal (object-location) and crossmodal (name-location) binding performance appear to be particularly effective for the detection of early cognitive changes in those at higher risk of developing dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.