Petit A J, Jonker C, Spijker J
Adviesgroep Stimuleringsprogramma Gezondheidsonderzoek, Den Haag.
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1997 Aug 23;141(34):1662-6.
In the programme section 'Psychogeriatrics' of the SGO Health Research Promotion Programme a longitudinal study was carried out in Amsterdam from 1989 until 1994, concerning the course of mild cognitive decline in elderly people (the AMSTEL project). The scientific aims were the development of diagnostical instruments for the early diagnosis of dementia, the development of criteria which predict the course of mild cognitive impairment and the expansion of knowledge on the relationship between somatic and psychiatric pathology and dementia. The programme also had aims regarding medical education and patient care. The results include the following: in order to diagnose dementia in general practice questions regarding orientation and short-term memory are helpful. Risk factors for cognitive deterioration in elderly people include hippocampal atrophy on the MRI scan, a low level of education and subjective complaints regarding memory. Subjective complaints regarding memory are not primarily caused by a depressive mood, as is often thought, but are important as correct self-observations of cognitive deterioration, and go with an increased risk of developing dementia. Besides the AMSTEL project a feasibility study was carried out concerning a psychogeriatric case register in Amsterdam.
在SGO健康研究促进计划的“老年精神病学”项目板块中，1989年至1994年在阿姆斯特丹开展了一项关于老年人轻度认知衰退病程的纵向研究（AMSTEL项目）。其科学目标包括开发用于痴呆早期诊断的诊断工具、制定预测轻度认知障碍病程的标准，以及拓展关于躯体和精神病理学与痴呆之间关系的知识。该项目在医学教育和患者护理方面也有目标。研究结果如下：在全科医疗中，询问定向和短期记忆方面的问题有助于诊断痴呆。老年人认知衰退的风险因素包括MRI扫描显示的海马萎缩、低教育水平以及关于记忆的主观主诉。关于记忆的主观主诉并非如人们通常认为的那样主要由抑郁情绪引起，而是作为认知衰退的正确自我观察很重要，并且与患痴呆风险增加相关。除了AMSTEL项目，还针对阿姆斯特丹的老年精神病病例登记开展了一项可行性研究。
