Normal aging is associated with progressive functional losses in perception, cognition, and memory. Although the root causes of age-related cognitive decline are incompletely understood, psychophysical and neuropsychological evidence suggests that a significant contribution stems from poorer signal-to-noise conditions and down-regulated neuromodulatory system function in older brains. Because the brain retains a lifelong capacity for plasticity and adaptive reorganization, dimensions of negative reorganization should be at least partially reversible through the use of an appropriately designed training program. We report here results from such a training program targeting age-related cognitive decline. Data from a randomized, controlled trial using standardized measures of neuropsychological function as outcomes are presented. Significant improvements in assessments directly related to the training tasks and significant generalization of improvements to nonrelated standardized neuropsychological measures of memory (effect size of 0.25) were documented in the group using the training program. Memory enhancement appeared to be sustained after a 3-month no-contact follow-up period. Matched active control and no-contact control groups showed no significant change in memory function after training or at the 3-month follow-up. This study demonstrates that intensive, plasticity-engaging training can result in an enhancement of cognitive function in normal mature adults.age-related cognitive decline ͉ cognitive aging ͉ cognitive rehabilitation ͉ computer-based training

Objective To determine the impact of post acute care site on stroke outcomes. Following a stroke, patients may receive post acute care in a number of different sites: inpatient rehabilitation (IRF), skilled nursing facility (SNF), and home health care/outpatient (HH/OP). We hypothesized that patients who received IRF would have better six-month functional outcomes than those who received care in other settings after controlling for patient characteristics. Design Prospective Cohort Study. Setting Four Northern California hospitals which are part of a single health maintenance organization. Participants 222 patients with stroke enrolled between February 2008 and July 2010. Intervention Not Applicable. Main Outcome Measure Baseline and 6 month assessments were performed using the Activity Measure for Post Acute Care (AM-PAC™), a test of self-reported function in three domains: Basic Mobility, Daily Activities, and Applied Cognition. Results Of the 222 patients analyzed, 36% went home with no treatment, 22% received HH/OP care, 30% included IRF in their care trajectory, and 13% included SNF (but not IRF) in their care trajectory. At six months, after controlling for important variables such as age, functional status at acute care discharge, and total hours of rehabilitation, patients who went to an IRF had functional scores that were at least 8 points higher (twice the minimally detectable change for the AM-PAC) than those who went to a SNF in all 3 domains and in two out of three functional domains compared to those who received HH/OP care. Conclusions Patients with stroke may make more functional gains if their post-acute care includes an IRF. This finding may have important implications as post-acute care delivery is reshaped through health care reform.

The presence of a pressure ulcer among the patients seen in United States IRFs had no impact on cognition functional gain but was associated with a minor lower motor gain, a longer IRF length of stay, and lower odds of being discharged to the community.

Background and Purpose Our objective was to examine the agreement between adult patients with stroke and family member or clinician proxies in Activity Measure for Post Acute Care (AM-PAC) summary scores for daily activity, basic mobility, and applied cognitive function. Methods This study involved 67 patients with stroke admitted to a hospital within the Kaiser Permanente of Northern California system and were participants in a parent study on stroke outcomes. Each participant and proxy respondent completed the AM-PAC by personal or telephone interview at the point of hospital discharge and/or during one or more transitions to different post-acute care settings. Results The results suggest that for patients with a stroke proxy AM-PAC data are robust for family or clinician proxy assessment of basic mobility function, clinician proxy assessment of daily activity function, but less robust for family proxy assessment of daily activity function and for all proxy groups’ assessment of applied cognitive function. The pattern of disagreement between patient and proxy was, on average, relatively small and random. There was little evidence of systematic bias between proxy and patient reports of their functional status. The degree of concordance between patient and proxy was similar for those with moderate to severe strokes compared with mild strokes. Conclusions Patient and proxy ratings on the AM-PAC achieved adequate agreement for use in stroke research where using proxy respondents could reduce sample selection bias. The AM-PAC data can be implemented across institutional as well as community care settings while achieving precision and reducing respondent burden.