Jose M Aravena

• Master of Science
• PhD Student at Yale University

La demencia es un síndrome de alteración predominantemente cognitiva que de la mano con el progresivo envejecimiento poblacional ha experimentado un aumento en su frecuencia, con el consecuente impacto en costos en salud y por sobre todo, en las vidas de las personas mayores que la presentan, sus cuidadores y familia. La enfermedad de Alzheimer es...

Background Community‐based centers for people living with dementia (PLWD) have been implemented as part of the National Plan of dementia in Chile, delivering a multicomponent and multiprofessional intervention to support the PLWD and their families, integrating social and clinical aspects. We sought to examine the implementation and adaptation of t...

Background Community‐based centers for people living with dementia (PLWD) have been implemented as part of the National Plan of dementia in Chile, delivering a multicomponent intervention to support PLWD and their families. There is limited knowledge on their implementation, and we had previously informed with respect to the implementation outcomes...

Background Although ethnic and cultural aspects can influence health behaviors, no studies have compared views about dementia and brain health between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous people living in the same territory. Therefore, we contrasted beliefs and knowledge about dementia risk reduction between Indigenous (Mapuche) and non‐Indigenous older a...

Background Assessing knowledge of dementia prevention from both the individual (patients) and the structural level (health professionals) in the same settings is vital to implementing dementia risk reduction programs. However, most studies have only focused on one level. Thus, this was the aim of our study. Method A qualitative study was conducted...

Implementing a successful campaign to promote dementia-risk reduction requires an understanding of how both older persons and healthcare providers conceptualize dementia risk as well as culturally relevant barriers and facilitating factors related to achieving brain health. Thus, this study aimed to achieve this goal through a qualitative study usi...

Background Low healthcare quality has been found to predict the development of a number of illnesses in older adults. However, it has not been investigated as a determinant of dementia. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess whether experiencing low healthcare quality is associated with developing dementia in people aged 60 and older. Methods...

Background As part of the National Plan of dementia in Chile, community centers for people with dementia have been developed (1). This program delivers support to the person living dementia and their family, integrating social and clinical aspects through a multicomponent interprofessional intervention, and has been highlighted as an innovative app...

Objetivo: Identificar factores sociales, de salud, y hospitalarios asociados a la mortalidad y recuperación funcional en actividades de la vida diaria (AVD) en pacientes ingresados en UCI por COVID-19 que estuvieron en posición decúbito prono. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio observacional prospectivo entre junio 2021 y marzo 2022, en el Hospita...

Background Apolipoprotein-E (APOE) ε4 and ε2 are the most prevalent risk-increasing and risk-reducing genetic predictors of Alzheimer’s disease, respectively. However, the extent to which societal factors can reduce the harmful impact of APOE-ε4 and enhance the beneficial impact of APOE-ε2 on brain health has not yet been examined systematically....

Although there is a clear link between lifestyle and cognitive health, the dissonance between observational and intervention studies results reveals gaps in the knowledge of how to translate healthy lifestyles into better cognitive health for the population. This letter discusses gaps in interpreting observational studies linking healthy lifestyles...

The Tailored Activity Program (TAP) is a nonpharmacological approach shown to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms and other dementia‐related clinical symptoms in people living with dementia and family caregivers. TAP has been tested in 8 different randomized trials (stage 3 efficacy) in four different countries and is currently used in over 9 countrie...

Objective : Dementia prevalence in Latin America (LATAM) is rapidly increasing, contributing to significant family burden. As families are responsible for care, supportive interventions are critical. To understand the state-of-the-science, a scoping review was conducted of non-pharmacologic interventions for caregivers of people living with dementi...

In a scenario of increasing longevity and social inequalities, Latin-America is an important contributor to the worldwide dementia burden. Caregivers’ health is fundamental to maintain the person with dementia quality of life. However, caregiving is a culturally sensible role that requires tailored solutions. The aim is to synthesize the evidence a...

The US is the country with the greatest average spending for prescription drugs per person (US$ 1,200). 85.0% of older people consume prescription medications, with high rates of polypharmacy. The aim was to analyze the factors related to the recommendation of a less expensive prescription by a medical doctor in US older adults. A cross-sectional a...

Chile is currently implementing policies addressing dementia care with efforts to translate evidence-based programs towards culturally sensitive models of care. This study describes the cultural adaptation of the Tailored Activity Program (TAP). A complementary mixed-method design was performed following the 4-phase Dynamic Adaptation Process (DAP)...

Background The Tailored Activity Program (TAP) provides people with dementia with activities tailored to their capabilities and trains caregivers in their use. The TAP has been previously cross‐culturally adapted in different settings and countries. This study was aimed to develop a cultural adaptation of the TAP in Santiago, Chile. Method Complem...

Background: Mental health has become one of the fundamental priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Situations like physical distancing as well as being constantly tagged as the most vulnerable group could expose older adults to mental and psychosocial burdens. Nonetheless, there is little clarity about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or simil...

Aim: The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of screening-positive depression and to identify the frequency and factors related to self-reported depression diagnosis in people with screen-positive depression. Methods: Using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), 4,065 older Chileans were screened for depression. Social and healt...

El libro "Demencias: una mirada biopsicosocial " presenta una mirada integradora de los fundamentos y estrategias para el trabajo con personas con demencia y sus entornos de apoyo, y busca poner a disposición de los equipos de salud y ciencias sociales un conjunto de herramientas para favorecer la salud y calidad de vida de las personas con problem...

RESUMEN Los problemas de salud mental constituyen un conjunto de condiciones de alto impacto. Las personas de 60 y más años presentan vulnerabilidades particulares que aumentan el riesgo de experimentar problemas de salud mental y consecuencias terminales como el suicidio. En este grupo etario, los hombres constituyen un subgrupo poco considerado c...

Background and objective: Re-admission to hospital by the elderly is a frequent event that is associated with complications. The aim of this article is to describe a randomised clinical trial protocol which has the aim of describing and comparing the impact of a home-based intervention by Occupational Therapists (OT) in the likelihood of re-admissi...

Las intervenciones no farmacológicas son clasificadas como la primera línea de tratamiento para el abordaje de las personas con demencia y su entorno, por su efectividad e impacto positivo en la vida de las personas y sus familias. Dentro de las recomendaciones para su implementación debemos considerar intervenciones que: contemplan las necesidades...

Introducción: La depresión es la condición de salud que genera mayor carga de enfermedad, donde los adultos mayores manifiestan un gran impacto asociado a esta enfermedad. Este artículo busca describir el impacto que tienen los síntomas depresivos en la funcionalidad de la persona mayor y comprender la relación existente entre la pérdida funcional...

Dementia -Major Neurocognitive Disorder- features cognitive impairment and other behavioral and psychological symptoms that impact the person’s capacity to respond effectively to the environmental demands. The number of persons with dementia is consistently increasing in the world and therefore has become a public health priority that urges the dev...

To the Editor In their review article,¹ Drs Kok and Reynolds discussed the clinical challenge of treating late-life depression. They provided an exhaustive analysis of pharmacological treatments, including dosing, intensity, harmful effects, target populations, and clinical significance and offered useful clinical information and directions for fut...

The Kintun program is the first public health strategy specifically designed for dementia care in Chile. It was launched in 2013 in the city of Santiago with support from the National Service for the Elderly and the Municipality of Peñalolén. Using an interdisciplinary team, the program seeks to promote community integration and better support for...

Background: Chile is the first Latin-American country with a national plan for dementia care, but the research related to interventions in caregivers is very limited. This study pretends to know the implementation and benefits reported by caregivers of people with dementia who participated of a pilot Occupational therapy program. Methods: A qualita...

Quality of life (QoL) of persons with dementia (PwD) and family caregivers is a fundamental and usual treatment outcome. To learn about the difference in the perception of the PwD’s QoL as perceived by both the person and caregiver, a cross-sectional study was conducted in subjects with mild and moderate dementia and their caregivers, who assisted...

The Kintun Program is the first public center for the support of people with dementia and their carers in Chile. The program involves different components such as day care center, home visits and caregiver training. Engagement in daily activities and situations is one of the main outcomes of the program, therefore the design and implementation of a...

Chile has a particular social and geographical distribution that challenges the design and implementation of health interventions: poverty, rurality, low levels of education and other situations demand a balance between evidence-based practices and enough flexibility to be adapted and become actual solutions. The Kintun Program is the first public...

Well-being related to care for person with dementia (PwD) is an important health measure as it involves both negative and positive implications of caregiving. To learn about factors related to caregiver’s well-being perception, a cross-sectional study was conducted in family caregivers of older persons with mild and moderate dementia, who assisted...

In Chile most of care for persons with dementia is delivered by family relatives and research of interventions targeting caregivers of persons with dementia is very limited. This qualitative study explored perceived benefits of an education and training program for family caregivers of older persons with dementia. Setting was the Program Kintun for...

The Kintun Program is an innovating health intervention project launched in Chile in 2013. It aims to enhance participation of persons with dementia (PwD) in everyday activities, respite for the caregivers and improve home-based care. The program involves different components including day care center, home visits, training for caregivers, counseli...

La depresión en las personas mayores es uno de los síndromes geriátricos más prevalentes y que puede causar diversas complicaciones en esta población. Por las características de su manifestación e impacto en las actividades de la vida diaria de los sujetos, el tratamiento puede ser complejo requiriendo de aproximaciones multidisciplinares para su a...

Guía de uso del instrumento de evaluación Escala de cambio Percibido versión en español – Perceived Change Index Spanish Version (PCI-S).

Resumen Las personas con demencia leve pueden presentar diversas dificultades en la realización de sus actividades diarias, esto se debe a los síntomas clínicos que presentan, sin embargo la percepción que la persona tiene en relación a su propio desempeño también podría influir en la participación de sus actividades. Para conocer la percepción de...

Resumen La investigación científica es la base del conocimiento para las disciplinas de la salud. En Terapia ocupacional ha tenido un desarrollo creciente y prioritario, por lo que se hace necesario comenzar a conocer las percepciones de los propios terapeutas en relación a este tema. Para conocer cuál es la percepción que tienen los docentes y est...

Introducción: Cuidar a una persona con demencia implica con frecuencia consecuencias negativas que impactan en la calidad de vida del cuidador informal. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer y evaluar el impacto que tienen diferentes modalidades de intervención psicosocial en la calidad de vida de los cuidadores de personas con demencia. Material...

Las personas con demencia leve pueden presentar diversas di cultades en la realización de sus actividades diarias, esto se debe a los síntomas clínicos que presentan, sin embargo la percepción que la persona tiene en relación a su propio desempeño también podría in uir en la participación de sus actividades. Para conocer la percepción de las person...

La investigación cientí ca es la base del conocimiento para las disciplinas de la salud. En Terapia ocupacional ha tenido un desarrollo creciente y prioritario, por lo que se hace necesario comenzar a conocer las percepciones de los propios terapeutas en relación a este tema. Para conocer cuál es la percepción que tienen los docentes y estudiantes...

Background: Caring for a person with dementia has frequently negative consequences that impact on the informal caregivers' quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of different psychosocial interventions that address quality of life of caregivers of persons with dementia. Methods: Systematic review including randomized clini...

Background: Caring for a person with dementia has frequently negative consequences that impact on the informal caregivers' quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of different psychosocial interventions that address quality of life of caregivers of persons with dementia. Methods: Systematic review including randomized clini...

El Centro Kintun es una experiencia piloto en el apoyo a personas mayores con demencia en Chile, generada en el año 2012, con el patrocinio del Servicio Nacional del Adulto Mayor y la Municipalidad de Peñalolén, en Santiago de Chile. El dispositivo realiza una intervención multicomponente cuyo eje es la atención realizada en el Centro de Día, incor...

Occupational therapy is a profession concerned with the promotion of health and quality of life through occupation and engagement in activities. Dementia has an individual and social impact related to disability, dependency, need for daily support and exclusion from participation in situations and activities ofdaily living, matters ofinterest to oc...

Occupational therapy is a profession concerned with the promotion of health and quality of life through occupation and engagement in activities. Dementia has an individual and social impact related to disability, dependency, need for daily support and exclusion from participation in situations and activities of daily living, matters of interest to...

la siguiente evaluación busca identificar cuáles son las principales necesidades y problemáticas reportadas por los cuidadores de personas con demencia en su día a día, y reconocer que situaciones y problemáticas generan mayor angustia. Esta información puede ser útil para generar un plan de intervención con el cuidador y la persona con demencia.

Occupational therapy is a profession concerned with the promotion of health and quality of life through occupation and engagement in activities. Dementia has an individual and social impact related to disability, dependency, need for daily support and exclusion from participation in situations and activities of daily living, matters of interest to...

El uso de transporte es una actividad de vital importancia para las personas mayores como elemento promotor de autonomía y participación social. El transporte urbano con frecuencia no es planificado contemplando las necesidades particulares que este grupo social puede presentar, lo que puede favorecer dificultades en el desempeño durante el uso de...

Los procesos de intervención y de razonamiento clí- nico requieren de una renovación constante y de una mirada crítica de los procedimientos que se realizan. La práctica basada en la evidencia (EBP) surge como un método que busca integrar el conocimiento emergen- te de la evidencia científica, con el conocimiento que tiene el propio profesional, y...

La demencia es un síndrome de alteración predominantemente cognitiva que de la mano con el progresivo envejecimiento po- blacional ha experimentado un aumento en su frecuencia, con el consecuente impacto en costos en salud y por sobre todo, en las vidas de las personas mayores que la presentan, sus cuidadores y familia. La enfermedad de Alzheimer e...