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Pacing Rhythms of “Wanderers” with Dementia
Author(s) -
Hori Koji,
Inada Toshiya,
Tominaga Itaru,
Oda Tatsuro,
Teramoto Hiroshi,
Kashima Haruo
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
psychogeriatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1479-8301
pISSN - 1346-3500
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-8301.2001.tb00076.x
Subject(s) - dementia , rhythm , psychology , audiology , pedometer , degenerative disease , disease , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neuroscience , central nervous system disease , physical activity
Background : As wandering in the demented is difficult to define qualitatively, we tride to define it quantitatively. We investigated the relationship between wandering and rhythm abnormalities. Methods : In order to study the pacing rhythms of wanderers observed in a subgroup of demented inpatients (dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia), we assessed 115 inpatients in terms of steps during four parts of a day and total daily steps using a pedometer. As the mean+2 S.D. of total daily steps in the nondemented was 9,979, we defined 10,000 steps in a day as the cut off for defining demented wanderers versus nonwanderers. Then, the pacing rhythms (nadir part and amplitude) were compared among demented wanderers, demented nonwanderers and nondemented subjects. Results : That there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups. But wandering groups defined by pedometer exhibited many of the same characteristics in wanderers observed in other studies. Conclusion : The quantification of steps might provide a good hallmark of wandering behaviors in the demented, and these results might indicate hyperpacing rather than rhythm dysfunctions to be essential to wandering behavior.