TOPIC

Geriatrics research

Everything we have read on geriatrics. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,154 PAPERS · PAGE 21 OF 24 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSystematic Review2025A systematic review of psychometric properties of questionnaires assessing activities of daily living among older adults with neurocognitive disorders.Australian occupational therapy journalThree informant-based questionnaires (Amsterdam IADLs, DAD, Bayer ADL) have the strongest evidence for assessing daily activities in older adults with dementia. The Amsterdam IADLs is best for early detection of complex task difficulties, while the DAD covers the full disease continuum.
• PTOTOther2025Interdisciplinary expert agreement on group and definitions for compensatory protective step strategies to prevent falls: A e-Delphi method study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyFourteen experts agreed on precise definitions for 14 compensatory step strategies used to recover balance. The group clarified ambiguous terms and distinguished between true strategies and unintended limb collisions, creating a standard language for fall prevention research and practice.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Item-Level Psychometrics for the Functional Gait Assessment in Persons With Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThe Functional Gait Assessment measures one thing in chronic stroke: walking balance. A new scoring sheet lets therapists see exactly which tasks a patient can handle and which are just out of reach, guiding treatment targets without needing to calculate complex statistics.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Assessment of older adults' decision-making capacity for independent living: Findings from a nominal group technique meeting in Ireland.Australian occupational therapy journalExperienced occupational therapists recommended assessing function, cognition and home environment, exploring will and preference through interview, and using communication supports when judging older adults' capacity for independent living. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Lived Experiences of Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain and Implications on Their Daily Life: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOlder adults with chronic low back pain often hide their struggles to avoid burdening family, leading to isolation and despair. They actively seek explanations for their pain to gain credibility with clinicians. Therapists should validate invisible pain and involve families in care plans.
• OTOther2025Preliminary Study of the Utility of the Menu Task in an Acute Care Setting.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationThe Menu Task flagged 79.8% of 104 acute inpatients as impaired, versus 64.4% on the Mini-Cog. Its scores rose as Mini-Cog scores rose, and it took a median 7 minutes, so it may catch functional cognition problems that screening misses.
• OTCohort2025Does telehealth delivery of an occupational therapy home visiting service provide a non-inferior alternative to in-person delivery of the same service? A matched cohort study.Australian occupational therapy journalTelehealth home visits took a median of 40 minutes compared to 160 minutes for in-person visits, with no significant difference in adverse events. However, telehealth patients attended fewer sessions and received fewer interventions. Use video rather than phone, and expect complex cases to need in-person care.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Safety and efficacy of belt-type electrical stimulation for preventing disuse syndrome in elderly hemodialysis patients: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesBelt-type electrical stimulation during dialysis was safe for frail elderly patients, with no injuries or medication changes. Five of eight completers showed improved mobility scores and increased thigh muscle mass on CT scans, though these are preliminary findings from a small pilot.
• PTOTCohort2025A longitudinal study of frailty reversibility through a multi-component dementia prevention program.Journal of physical therapy scienceProcessing speed improved significantly in older adults with prefrailty or frailty after a 3-month community program. No cognitive changes occurred in the robust group. Muscle mass decreased in the prefrailty group, while body fat increased in both groups.
• OTSurvey2025A global profile of occupational therapy and primary care: Results from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists survey.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMost countries report occupational therapy in primary care, but access is uneven. High-income nations provide more assistive technology and adolescent services. Funding relies heavily on government, yet shortages and lack of role recognition persist globally, limiting consistent service delivery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Detection of mild cognitive impairment using a virtual reality-based stroop task: a cross-sectional study of embodied behavioral markers.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationHand movement path length and hesitation time during a virtual reality sorting task distinguished people with mild cognitive impairment better than the MoCA. These digital markers showed high sensitivity and specificity in a large sample, offering a potential alternative to standard paper-based screening.
• PTOTOther2025Shoulder joint rotational range of motion characteristics among the elderly.Journal of physical therapy scienceElderly adults have significantly less total shoulder rotation than young adults in most arm positions. The pattern of which positions allow more movement stays the same with age, but the overall range shrinks. Therapists should measure multiple positions, not just one, to catch these changes.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025The relationships between metacognitive aspects of daily activity performance and participation patterns: Older adults' perspectives.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTCommunity-dwelling older adults reported the most difficulty with complex tasks and executive functions. These self-reported cognitive struggles correlated with participating in fewer activities, needing more assistance, and leaving the home less often, but not with how much they enjoyed those activities.
• OTQualitative2024Exploring the impact of early-stage dementia on everyday activities.The British journal of occupational therapyPeople with early-stage dementia struggle most with complex, unfamiliar tasks like managing medication or new technology, not just routine self-care. They also face social withdrawal and post-diagnosis mental health impacts, requiring tailored support beyond basic domestic safety checks.
• OTQualitative2024Assistive technology: Occupational therapy assessment and services for people with dementia.The British journal of occupational therapyOccupational therapists described dementia assistive technology becoming supply-led: alarms and location devices fitted to risk, not to what mattered to the person. Funding, referral splits, training gaps and caregiver reassurance narrowed options.
• PTOTOther2025Biomechanical of bilateral heel rise, and its association with balance, functional mobility, and walking speed in older adults.Archives of physiotherapyHow fast and high older adults rise on their toes predicts how quickly they walk and stand up, but does not predict how long they can balance on one leg. Assessing heel rise speed is useful for mobility screening, not for static balance.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Relationship Between Visual Functions and Independence in ADLs and IADLs Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationContrast sensitivity predicted independence in dressing, toileting, bathing, laundry, shopping, cooking, and medication management. Near vision predicted independence in eating and most other IADLs. Distance vision predicted independence only in shopping and money management. Screen contrast sensitivity, not just acuity.
• PTOTOther2025Lifestyle Composite and Resilience to Alzheimer's Disease Pathology in Down Syndrome.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDFor adults with Down syndrome and similar amyloid levels, higher physical activity was associated with fewer dementia symptoms and better cognitive scores. The combined lifestyle composite showed a similar protective effect, but physical activity alone had the strongest association.
• OTCohort2025Telehealth versus in-person delivery of an occupational therapy home visiting service: A cost analysis.Australian occupational therapy journalTelehealth home visits saved the health system $4 million overall, driven by fewer inpatient and emergency admissions. However, costs for pressure injuries were more than double in the telehealth group, likely due to delayed detection. Use caution with patients at risk of pressure injuries.
• OTPilot2025Occupational therapy-led environmental assessment and modification-A quantitative evaluation of a pilot implementation study in a regional/rural setting.Australian occupational therapy journalOccupational therapists in a rural service successfully embedded home fall hazard assessments using a validated tool. Penetration reached 80% during implementation and rose to 97% after, with staff sustaining the practice for five years. The intervention was delivered as planned, though strict screening criteria initially excluded some high-risk clients.
• OTOther2025Reliability and validity of the measurement of interdigital muscle thickness using a caliper gauge.Journal of physical therapy scienceA simple caliper measure of thumb web muscle thickness was consistent when the same examiner repeated it and related to ultrasound, but less consistent between examiners. It was tested in 41 healthy young adults, not older patients.
• OTQualitative2025Asian American Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Perspectives on Supporting the Mental Health of Asian American Caregivers for Older Adults.Occupational therapy internationalAsian American therapists reported that caregivers often hide mental health struggles due to cultural stigma and provider bias. They recommended using indirect questions about fatigue or worry, avoiding reliance on family members for translation, and actively identifying all involved caregivers rather than assuming family support is sufficient.
• PTOTCohort2025Ultrasonographic Measurement of Severe Sarcopenia in the Elderly Subject.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationUltrasound measurement of rectus femoris thickness significantly distinguished severe from non-severe sarcopenia in elderly patients. A thickness of 10.3 mm or less identified severe cases with 89% sensitivity, offering a rapid, accessible bedside tool for assessing functional decline.
• PTOTRCT2026Individualized task difficulty promotes balance training outcomes and self-efficacy in individuals with lower limb loss.Prosthetics and orthotics internationalAdjusting balance training difficulty to each person's ability led to greater improvement in time in balance and self-efficacy compared to standard training. This suggests one-size-fits-all protocols may be too challenging for individuals with lower limb loss.
• OTRCT2026A counterbalanced crossover pilot study of a personalized smartphone reminder application for older adults with cognitive impairment.Neuropsychological rehabilitationCare-partners reported significantly better task completion and lower burden when the person used the personalized SmartPrompt2 app. However, the app did not significantly improve the participant's own reported task completion compared to just tracking tasks on paper.
• PTOTCohort2025Clinical Characterization of Hip Subgroups in Geriatric Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with chronic low back pain and hip involvement reported worse pain quality and lower self-efficacy than those with no hip impairments. This subgroup also had less trunk flexibility and endurance. Screening for hip symptoms may help identify patients at higher risk for disability.
• PTOTCohort2026Association of Sleep Quality With Activity and Participation in Older Adults.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOlder adults with poor sleep quality reported lower physical function, greater disability, and less walking confidence than those with good sleep. They also walked slower and had lower performance scores. No association was found with figure-of-8 walking skill.
• PTOTCohort2026Prevalence and Characteristics of Prehabilitation Utilization Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries Undergoing Elective Inpatient Lower Extremity Joint Replacement.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOnly 9.53% of older Medicare patients undergoing elective hip or knee replacement received prehabilitation. Most received a single outpatient physical therapy visit. Pre-frail patients and those with more chronic conditions were less likely to receive these services.
• OTRCT2026Reducing burden and anxiety for caregivers of veterans with traumatic brain injury and dementia: Randomized controlled trial of the resources for enhancing all caregivers' health-Hope intervention.Rehabilitation psychologyREACH Hope lowered 3-month caregiver burden versus waitlist for caregivers with baseline Zarit burden scores of 21 or higher, with greater benefit at higher burden. Anxiety also improved when baseline GAD-7 scores were 13 or higher; depression, self-efficacy, and safety risks were not improved.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Utilizing Smart Televisions as Assistive Technology to Enhance Communication and Social Lives of Older Adults: Systematic Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOnly 30 small, varied studies examined smart TVs as familiar communication aids for older adults, mostly prototypes or usability tests; little long-term evidence of improved social well-being.
• PTOTSurvey2025Quality of life among lower limb prosthetic users in Jordan: a cross-sectional study using the Arabic SF-36.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesJordanian prosthetic users reported strong social functioning and emotional well-being but low physical functioning and general health. Older age and higher-level amputation were linked to worse physical scores, while women reported better emotional adjustment than men.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Overall outcome, functioning, and disability in older adults 3 to 14 years after traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationYears after TBI, many older adults kept the same overall outcome, while some improved and some worsened. Mild and moderate injury often meant better independence, but assistance, mobility aids, swallowing problems, and smell or taste change were still reported.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Usability of Videoconferencing for Physical Exercise Interventions in Older Adults: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesVideoconferencing is usable for remote exercise in older adults, with high adherence and satisfaction. However, technology issues and costs are common barriers. Standardized usability testing is rare, so evidence on specific device effectiveness remains limited.
• PTOTRCT2025Electrical vestibular stimulation to improve balance in older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRepeated low-level electrical stimulation behind the ears reduced head sway during difficult standing tasks in older adults. The effect persisted for six months in the hardest condition. This is a small pilot, so do not change practice yet.
• PTOTOther2026Validity of Scores From the 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale Among Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale accurately reflects walking ability in older adults with MS, not just younger ones. Scores tracked closely with timed walk tests and endurance measures across all ages, and cognitive decline did not distort the results.
• PTOTPilot2025Real-time biofeedback monitoring rehabilitation of distal radius fracture.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA wearable prototype used muscle signals to predict hand fracture healing in real time. It triggered vibration warnings when exercises risked slowing recovery. The system worked accurately on healthy volunteers, but has not yet been tested on patients with fractures.
• OTOther2025Disruption of low-frequency narrowband EEG microstate networks in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationLow-frequency brain-network patterns differed in people with Parkinson's and mild cognitive impairment, and these differences were associated with MoCA scores. The all-frequency EEG signal did not show the same microstate parameter differences.
• PTOTCohort2025Muscle strength and stiffness of elbow muscles: correlation with upper limb motor functions in people with chronic stroke.Journal of rehabilitation medicineElbow muscle strength, but not stiffness, correlated with upper limb motor function in people with chronic stroke. Strength explained variance in impairment and activity scores, while resting stiffness showed inconsistent or no significant links to functional outcomes.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Promoting community and social participation in chronic stroke: A pilot study of the ENGAGE intervention.Disability and health journalHalf the participants showed meaningful improvement in social participation, but the study lacked a control group. The intervention was feasible and safe, with no injuries reported. Therapists should view this as a promising tool for goal-setting, not proven efficacy.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Optimal exercise modalities for post-intervention motor function changes in stroke survivors: a pairwise and network meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationResistance training best preserved walking endurance, and robotic training best preserved walking speed after stroke rehab ended. However, no exercise modality significantly improved balance or limb motor control during follow-up, suggesting gains in these areas often fade without continued supervision.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025A novel multimodal pharmacologic approach using guanfacine, N-acetylcysteine, and donepezil in severe TBI: a case series.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTwo men with severe TBI showed large MoCA score improvements after taking guanfacine, NAC, and donepezil alongside rehab. This cannot prove the drugs caused the gains. Do not change practice based on these two cases.
• OTCohort2026ReacStick: Evaluating Executive Function Independent From Level of Education.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationReacStick accuracy scores were unaffected by education level, unlike Trail Making Test B. This suggests ReacStick may offer a less biased way to screen executive function in adults with lower literacy or fewer years of schooling.
• OTSurvey2026Depressive symptoms in people with late effects of polio and the association with sociodemographic and disability-related factors.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn 81 people with late effects of polio, 43% scored in the range where depression should be suspected. Being single, having more self-reported impairments, and lower perceived participation were associated with these high scores. Mobility alone was not.
• PTOTCohort2025Linking behavioral variability to daily function in stroke survivors: the mediating role of cognitive and motor mechanisms.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors showed more inconsistent performance on simple reaction and movement tasks than matched older adults. In stroke survivors, inconsistency was linked to poorer daily living tasks, and executive control, not muscle strength, helped account for that link. No treatment was tested.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Prioritizing quality of geriatric rehabilitation from the older adults' perspective: A nominal group technique study.Clinical rehabilitationOlder adults prioritized clear expectations, well-organized care, personal relationships with staff, respectful communication, and autonomy in decision-making. Basic needs like hygiene and nutrition were discussed but ranked lower. These priorities reflect what matters most to patients, not proven interventions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Cognitive Impairments Impact Functional Mobility in Stroke Survivors.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors with cognitive impairment showed worse balance, walking, and driving than cognitively normal survivors, despite similar motor strength. Driving performance was the most affected area. Cognitive deficits impact mobility independently of physical weakness, suggesting routine cognitive screening is vital for safe mobility planning.
• PTOTCase-Control2025Foot placement coordination is impaired in people with Parkinson's disease.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with Parkinson's disease place their feet less precisely than healthy adults, with errors of 3 to 4 mm. This loss of fine control occurs even when walking speed is normal, suggesting a specific deficit in how the body coordinates steps to maintain balance.
• PTOTPilot2025Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation and static balance in parkinson's disease: a multimodal resting‑state fMRI feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 41 patients with Parkinson's, one session of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation improved Berg Balance scores immediately and at one week. Functional reach and discomfort also improved, but Timed Up and Go did not change significantly at first. No sham group was used.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Cognitive Impairment Highly Prevalent and Associated With Reduced Physical Function in Older Veteran Clinical Exercise Program.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost veterans entering this exercise program scored in the mild cognitive impairment range despite no dementia diagnosis. Lower leg strength and walking endurance were significantly associated with lower cognitive scores, while balance and arm strength were not.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Age Is Not the Limit-Functional Outcomes and Discharge Predictors in a Neurorehabilitation Cohort of Mixed Ages.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAge alone did not predict home discharge or functional improvement in this neurorehabilitation cohort. Instead, outcomes depended on comorbidity burden, baseline function, and length of stay. Do not exclude older patients from inpatient rehabilitation based on age.