Suchergebnisse

Tämän artikkelin tavoite on tuottaa tietoa taide- ja luontotoimijoista osallisuudentukijoina. Haastattelimme 11 sosiaali-, terveys- ja kasvatusalojen toimijaa, jotka sovelsivat käytäntöön Parasta Etelä-Savoon -hankkeen yhteiskehittämispajoissakehittämiään taide- ja luontomenetelmiä. Haastatteluissa haimme vastausta siihen, miten nämä taide- ja luontotoimijat arvioivat käyttämiensä menetelmien lisänneen toimintoihin osallistuneiden osallisuutta. Lisäksi olimme kiinnostuneita siitä, miten he kuvasivat omaa työtään ja työtapaansa. Kaikilla toimijoilla näytti olevan samansuuntainen orientaatio organisoidessaan demokraattista, arvostavaa ja turvallista toimintaa. Heillä oli rohkeutta kokeilla uusia työtapoja. Löysimme orientaatioista myös tyypillisiä eroja, jotka koottiin viideksi taide- ja luontotoimijatyypiksi. Toimijatyyppien tarkastelun kautta voidaan pohtia sosiaali-, terveys- ja kasvatusalan työn kehittämistä sosiokulttuurisen innostamisen suuntaan. Tämä artikkeli tarjoaa yhden näkökulman siihen, kuinka taide- ja luontotoimintaa voidaan toteuttaa eri tavoin ja erilaisista lähtökohdista.

Probably the most robust sex difference in cognitive abilities is that on average males outperform females in tests of mental rotation. Using twin data we tested whether there are sex differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental effects on mental rotation test performance and whether the same or different genetic effects operate in females and males. The present study replicated the well-known male advantage in mental rotation ability. The relative proportion of variance explained by genetic effects did not differ between females and males, but interestingly, absolute additive genetic and unique environmental variances were greater in males reflecting significantly greater phenotypic variance in mental rotation test performance in males. Over half of the variance in mental rotation test performance was explained by genetic effects, which suggest that mental rotation ability is a good phenotype for studies finding genes underlying spatial abilities. Results indicate that females and males could be combined for such genetic studies, because the same genetic effects affected mental rotation test performance in females and males.

Abstract

Objectives
Older people reporting subjective memory complaints (SMCs) may have a greater risk of cognitive decline. Multidomain lifestyle interventions are a promising strategy for the prevention of cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of SMCs affects the efficacy of a 2-year multidomain lifestyle intervention on cognition.


Methods
This study is part of the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) project. Participants (a subsample of 568 individuals, baseline age 60-77 years) were randomized (1:1) to receive a 2-year multidomain lifestyle intervention group including dietary advice, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk management, or regular health advice control group. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and at 1- and 2-year visits, using a neuropsychological test battery, including tests assessing memory, executive functions, and processing speed. Participants rated the frequency of SMCs using the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire.


Results
Having more retrospective SMCs was linked to a less favorable cognitive trajectory over 2 years. The difference between the intervention and control groups in annual change in tested memory performance was 0.077 (95% CI, 0.008–0.146) among those reporting more retrospective SMCs and −0.011 (−0.074 to 0.053) among those with less SMCs; interaction effect p = .019. No other interactions between SMCs and intervention allocation were observed.


Discussion
A lifestyle intervention may be beneficial for older adults with and without SMCs. Persons having more retrospective SMCs may benefit more from the intervention regarding memory functioning.
Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT01041989