Social support has a positive impact on quality of life (QoL) in neurotypical older adults and young autistic adults, but the association for older autistic adults is unclear. Autistic adults (n = ...388; mean age = 40–83 years) were recruited via Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) Research Match. Participants completed questionnaires online querying demographic information, depression, and anxiety symptomatology, QoL (physical, psychological, social, environmental, and autism-specific) and social support (instrumental, subjective, and social interactions). Regression analyses examined whether different aspects of social support contributed to models explaining each domain of QoL. Models explaining QoL were significant. Subjective social support significantly contributed to the models for all aspects of QoL; social interactions contributed to the models for Physical and Psychological QoL, whereas instrumental support contributed to models for social, environmental and autism-specific QoL. Social support is an important contributor to the QoL of middle-aged and older autistic adults, after accounting for demographic factors and depression. Further studies are required to understand whether age-related changes in social support and QoL are the same for autistic as non-autistic older adults in order to identify and implement appropriate support.
Lay abstract
Social support can take many forms, such as practical help, time spent socially with others, or the satisfaction with personal relationships. Social support is known to affect quality of life (QoL) in both non-autistic older and autistic young adults. QoL reflects how satisfied an individual is with their life either overall or in a certain area. We know little about middle-aged and older autistic adults’ experiences of social support or QoL. In this study, 388 adults aged 40–83 years old, completed online questionnaires asking about background such as age and sex, depression and anxiety symptoms, QoL (physical, psychological, social, environmental, and autism-specific), and different types of social support. Even after taking into account background, depression, and anxiety, social support was important for individuals’ QoL. To our knowledge this is the first paper to examine the relationship between social support and QoL in middle-aged and older autistic adults. Improving social support may have a significant impact on the QoL of older autistic adults. Future studies should examine whether age-related changes in social support (size, content, and arrangement of social networks) that are common in non-autistic aging, also occur among older autistic adults.
‘Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements’ are characterised as core features in the diagnosis of autism, yet many autistic adults (and the neurodiversity movement) have reclaimed them as ...‘stimming’. Supported by a growing body of scientific research, autistic adults argue that these behaviours may serve as useful coping mechanisms, yet little research has examined stimming from the perspective of autistic adults. Through interviews and focus groups, we asked 32 autistic adults to share their perceptions and experiences of stimming, including the reasons they stim, any value doing so may hold for them and their perceptions of others’ reactions to stimming. Using thematic analysis, we identified two themes: stimming as (1) a self-regulatory mechanism and (2) lacking in social acceptance, but can become accepted through understanding. Autistic adults highlighted the importance of stimming as an adaptive mechanism that helps them to soothe or communicate intense emotions or thoughts and thus objected to treatment that aims to eliminate the behaviour.
IntroductionVoluntary poisoning with neurotoxic products in order to achieve euphoria is common especially among young people. Neurological complications are quite likely and can be serious and ...irreversible.ObjectivesWe aim to describe the peripheral neuropathies secondary to N-Hexane intoxication in a Tunisian population.MethodsA retrospective descriptive study was carried out in our department of neurology in the NationalInstitute of Neurology of Tunis including patients diagnosed with N-Hexane neuropathy. All patientshad a history of a N-Hexane exposure. The diagnosis was confirmed after excluding other etiologiesthrough appropriate investigations. Clinical and para-clinical data as well as follow-up were assessed.ResultsWe selected 38 patients with a mean age of 22.7 years 14-36. Among them, 37 were glue-sniffer and 1 had a voluntary toxic exposure to paint. An associated cannabis consumption was found in 6 patients. All of them had a low socio-economic background and 17 were unemployed. Time to onset of neurological signs ranged from 5 months to 11 years. The clinical exam showed a quadriparesis (15,7%), a paraparesis (58%), sensory involvement (55,2%) amyotrophy (40%) and abolished tendon reflexes in lower limbs (81,5%). Swallowing disorder and optic neuritis were found in one case. The electroneuromyogram revealed an axono-demyelinating sensory-motor polyneuropathy (PN) in 16 cases and a demyelinating motor PN in 9 cases. Vitamin therapy, motor rehabilitation and psychotherapy sessions have been indicated. Only 6 patients showed slight clinical improvement after withdrawal. The rest of our patients did not quit; 84% of them became bedridden.ConclusionsGlue-sniffer related neuropathy is very common in our country especially in adolescents and young adults with low socio-economic background. The neurological outcome is serious and usually irreversible if exposure is persistent.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The presence of the Accessory Foramina of the Mandibular Ramus (AFMR) may be related to anaesthetic failures in the inferior alveolar nerve block and complications in the ramus surgeries. The purpose ...of the present investigation was to determine the occurrence of the AFMR in adults and, when present, measure its distance to the Mandibular Foramen (MF), to the Mandibular Lingula (ML) and to the posterior margin of the mandibular ramus (PM), comparing data obtained in both sides of the mandible. Thirty dry human mandibles were selected to the present study. The AFMR was considered as every foramina identified between the MF and the PM. When present, its distance to the MF, to the ML and to the PM was measured. The AFMR was identified in 15 of the 30 examined mandibles (50 %), presenting exclusively on the right side in four cases (13.33 %), exclusively on the left side in other four cases (13.33 %) and simultaneously on both mandibular antimeres in seven of the 30 inspected mandibles (23.33 %). The AFMR is a structure considered as anatomic vari4ation but it was present in one of each two mandibles investigated, with the same occurrence in both mandibular sides. For the cases of occurrence of the AFMR, the professional will be able to locate it in a central position between the MF and the PM, distant about seven millimeters to the MF and 10.50 mm to the ML in both sides of the mandible. KEY WORDS: Mandible; Mandibular landmarks; Accessory foramina; Anatomical variation. La presencia de foramenes accesorios de la rama mandibular (FARM) puede estar relacionada con fallas que ocurren en el bloqueo anestesico del nervio alveolar inferior y con complicaciones durante cirugias de la rama mandibular. El proposito del presente estudio fue determinar la presencia de FARM en adultos brasilenos y cuando estos estuvieren presentes, medir la distancia al foramen mandibular (FM), a la lingula de la mandibula (LM) y al margen posterior de la rama mandibular (MP), comparando estos datos en ambos lados de la mandibula. Para ello fueron seleccionadas 30 mandibulas humanas secas. El FARM fue considerado como cada foramen identificado entre el FM y MP. El FARM fue identificado en 15 de las 30 mandibulas examinadas (50 %), presentandose en el lado derecho en 4 casos (13,33 %), en el lado izquierdo en 4 (13,33 %) y en ambos lados en 7 (23,33 %). Los FARM son considerados como una variacion anatomica pero en este estudio estuvo presente en una de cada dos mandibulas, con la misma frecuencia en ambas mandibulas. En el caso de presencia del FARM, el profesional sera capaz de identificarlo en una posicion central entre el FM y el MP, distante 7 mm aproximadamente del FM y a 10,5 mm de la LM en ambos lados de la mandibula. PALABRAS CLAVE: Mandibula; Puntos de referencia mandibular; Foramenes accesorios; Variacion anatomica.
The presence of the Accessory Foramina of the Mandibular Ramus (AFMR) may be related to anaesthetic failures in the inferior alveolar nerve block and complications in the ramus surgeries. The purpose ...of the present investigation was to determine the occurrence of the AFMR in adults and, when present, measure its distance to the Mandibular Foramen (MF), to the Mandibular Lingula (ML) and to the posterior margin of the mandibular ramus (PM), comparing data obtained in both sides of the mandible. Thirty dry human mandibles were selected to the present study. The AFMR was considered as every foramina identified between the MF and the PM. When present, its distance to the MF, to the ML and to the PM was measured. The AFMR was identified in 15 of the 30 examined mandibles (50 %), presenting exclusively on the right side in four cases (13.33 %), exclusively on the left side in other four cases (13.33 %) and simultaneously on both mandibular antimeres in seven of the 30 inspected mandibles (23.33 %). The AFMR is a structure considered as anatomic vari4ation but it was present in one of each two mandibles investigated, with the same occurrence in both mandibular sides. For the cases of occurrence of the AFMR, the professional will be able to locate it in a central position between the MF and the PM, distant about seven millimeters to the MF and 10.50 mm to the ML in both sides of the mandible.
Background and aims
Solitary drinking in adolescents and young adults is associated with greater risk for alcohol problems, but it is unclear whether this association exists in older demographics. ...The current paper is the first meta‐analysis and systematic review, to our knowledge, to determine whether adult solitary drinking is associated with greater risk for alcohol problems.
Methods
PsychINFO, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched following a pre‐registered International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) protocol (CRD42019147075) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Following the methodology used in our recent systematic review and meta‐analysis on adolescent/young adult solitary drinking, we systematically reviewed solitary drinking measures/definitions, prevalence rates and associated demographic variables in adults. We then meta‐analyzed (using random‐effects models) associations between adult solitary drinking and alcohol use/problems, negative affect and negative/positive reinforcement‐related variables (e.g. drinking to cope or for enhancement).
Results
Solitary drinking was defined as drinking while physically alone in nearly all studies, but measures varied. Prevalence rates were generally in the 30–40% range, with some exceptions. In general, males were more likely than females to report drinking alone, and married individuals were less likely than unmarried individuals to report drinking alone; racial/ethnic differences were mixed. Meta‐analytical results showed significant effects for the associations between solitary drinking and the following factors: alcohol consumption, r = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.18, 0.33, k = 15, I2 = 97.41; drinking problems, r = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.21, k = 14, I2 = 92.70; and negative reinforcement, r = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.32, k = 11, I2 = 89.77; but not positive reinforcement, r = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.09, k = 8, I2 = 76.18; or negative affect, r = 0.03, 95% CI = −0.02, 0.08, k = 8, I2 = 52.06. Study quality moderated the association between solitary drinking and negative affect (β = −0.07, P < 0.01) such that lower‐quality studies were significantly associated with larger effect sizes. Study quality was generally low; the majority of studies were cross‐sectional.
Conclusions
Solitary drinking appears to have a small positive association with alcohol problems.
Abstract
Introduction
Sleep patterns have been linked to various heath disease. Evaluating population-level trend of sleep could provide a comprehensive population health-forecasting model that has ...the potential to inform targeted interventions. Therefore, we aimed to examine the cross-sectional differences in sleep characteristics among Korean adults during a 9-year period of 2009-2018.
Methods
The data in this study were derived from two nationwide survey regarding sleep and headache in the representative sample of Korean adult population, namely the Korean Sleep Headache Study phase I (2009) and II (2018). The survey was conducted through door-to-door visit and face-to-face interview by using structured questionnaires. Total of 2,836 participants from Phase I (47.9±16.4 years old; female, 50.2%) and 2,501 participants (47.9±16.4 years old; female, 50.3%) from Phase II gave informed consents and completed the survey. For this study, we excluded those who worked as shift workers and missing data. From the MCTQ, we collected participants’ sleep schedule during workdays and free days over the past four weeks. Average sleep duration was a weighted mean of sleep duration on workdays and free days. Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI >5. Excessive daytime sleepiness and Depression are performed with ESS and PHQ-9, respectively.
Results
During the 9 years, average sleep duration decreased by 21 minutes, especially more reduction on free days (workday: 7:17±1:58 vs. 7:06±1:06, p <0.001; free days 8:04±2:32 vs. 7:49±1:23, p <0.001). People go to sleep and wake up earlier on workday (workday 23:39±1:50 vs. 23:25±1:30, p <0.001; free days 23:51±2:11 vs. 23:25±2:11, p <0.001), whereas they go to bed earlier and wake up later on free days compared to past (workday 6:52±1:36 vs. 6:37±1:11, p <0.001; 7:42±2:04 vs. 7:49±1:42 p =0.023). Social jetlag was increased by 5 minutes (0:46±1:35 vs. 0:51±0:52, p =0.028). There was the difference of age on the habitual sleep-wake rhythm and sleep related symptoms. Also, short or long sleep duration was associated with a significant increase in each health outcomes.
Conclusion
Decreased sleep duration seems to be on the rise in the general adult population, which lead to a poor health status. Interventions to promote adequate sleep is urgently needed.
Support (if any):
Transition-age youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder have complex healthcare needs, yet the current healthcare system is not equipped to adequately meet the needs of this growing ...population. Primary care providers lack training and confidence in caring for youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. The current study developed and tested an adaptation of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes model to train and mentor primary care providers (n = 16) in best-practice care for transition-age youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Autism Transition program consisted of 12 weekly 1-h sessions connecting primary care providers to an interdisciplinary expert team via multipoint videoconferencing. Sessions included brief didactics, case-based learning, and guided practice. Measures of primary care provider self-efficacy, knowledge, and practice were administered pre- and post-training. Participants demonstrated significant improvements in self-efficacy regarding caring for youth/young adults with autism spectrum disorder and reported high satisfaction and changes in practice as a result of participation. By contrast, no significant improvements in knowledge or perceived barriers were observed. Overall, the results indicate that the model holds promise for improving primary care providers’ confidence and interest in working with transition-age youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. However, further refinements may be helpful for enhancing scope and impact on practice.
IntroductionDNA methylation is regarded as a well-defined epigenetic mechanism and involved in biological processes including ageing and cancer. The purpose of this study is to find whether DNA ...methylation is associated with lifestyle and environmental factors in healthy population residing in an industrialised zone in Korea.MethodsA total of 758 subjects (324 males and 434 females) were included in this study. Global DNA methylation level by lifestyle factors and environmental pollutants was measured in peripheral blood leukocyte.ResultsGlobal DNA methylation levels (expressed as PMR values) of men were varied with age, while no change was seen in women. No association between lifestyle and biochemical factors (smoking, homocysteine, leptin, albumin and BMI) with global DNA methylation was observed. The relationship between metal such as mercury, cadmium and arsenic and DNA methylation was analysed. Arsenic only had positive association with DNA methylation level in male group. Global DNA methylation pattern among family members was analysed to find familial aggregation. Significant associations of Mother with offspring, offspring with offspring were found. Correlation between sibling pairs was also increased in young age group, suggesting that DNA methylation patterns determined not only by genetic factors but environmental factors.ConclusionDNA methylation levels of men were varied with age, while those of women were consistent throughout the age group. Positive association was shown in urinary arsenic only in adult male. DNA methylation level can be regulated by environmental stressor, but the association between each environmental factor and global DNA methylation was not strong.
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