Elderly Adults

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB or sleep apnea) is very common among elderly Veterans and leads to increased morbidity and mortality in this population. The proposal aims to identity whether oxygen, finasteride and acetazolamide can be effective in reducing unstable breathing and eliminating sleep apnea in the elderly via different mechanisms. This proposal will enhance the investigators' understanding of the pathways that contribute to the development of sleep apnea in the elderly. The investigators expect that the results obtained from this study will positively impact the health of Veterans by identifying new treatment modalities for sleep apnea. A cumulative effect of the investigators' research will fulfill the long-term goal of improving the quality of life of elderly Veterans suffering from sleep apnea and its potential life-threatening complications.

Mild cognitive impairment is characterized by cognitive dysfunction without impairment in instrumental activities of daily living, with aging being the primary risk factor. Cognitive interventions employ stimulation and training techniques to address this impairment. Objective: To determine the effect of a cognitive intervention on mild cognitive impairment in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial involving 102 patients, who will be assigned to either a control group or an intervention group. Data collection will utilize a sociodemographic profile questionnaire and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The cognitive intervention will be implemented over an average period of two months per subgroup, consisting of eight weekly, 60-minute sessions. Analysis will be conducted using descriptive statistics, and a linear mixed-effects model for repeated measures will be applied to evaluate the intervention's effect.