Muhammadiyah Journal of Geriatric

Moringa oleifera as the potential herb medicine for neurodegenerative diseases: a narrative review

Yulia Ratna Dewi — 2024-05-04

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, significantly burden the global older adult population. These diseases are characterized by the degeneration of nerve cells and subsequent damage, leading to the gradual loss of neurological function and subsequently affecting the quality of life of older adult people. This study explores the potential role of Moringa oleifera (MO) on neurological diseases. MO, a plant rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins, and tannins, has been proven to possess potent antioxidant effects. Oxidative stress is a primary contributor to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and MO can protect nerve cell damage by enhancing antioxidant activity. In the context of Parkinson's disease, MO has demonstrated the ability to reduce cataleptic symptoms and protect dopaminergic neurons, which are crucial in preventing a decline in dopamine production in the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, MO can improve memory function, reduce oxidative stress, and inhibit the activity of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes involved in neurotransmitter dysfunction. While further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of MO's mechanisms and more specific therapeutic potential, the existing evidence suggests that its constituents and effects hold significant promise as a natural solution for combating the effects of neurodegenerative diseases. As the number of individuals affected by these diseases continues to rise worldwide, further investigation into MO as a neuroprotective agent could pave the way for developing more effective therapies for these conditions.

Characteristic Overview of Drug-Sensitive Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Comorbidity in Elderly That Visited RSUD R Syamsudin SH Kota Sukabumi from January 2022 to October 2023

Muhammad Widad Ramadhan — 2025-01-16

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health issue, with over 10 million cases worldwide, and Indonesia ranks as the second-highest country with TB cases. The comorbidity of diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of TB, especially in elderly patients. TB patients with DM are challenging to treat, have low cure rates, and increase the risk of multi-drug resistance TB. Purpose: To understand the characteristic overview of elderly patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis along with type 2 diabetes. Method: This descriptive research utilized surveys with primary data from interviews with elderly patients at RSUD R Syamsudin SH and secondary data from the hospital, covering January 2022 to October 2023. Results: Out of 33 respondents, 20 were male and 13 female. Most (81.8%) had education up to high school, and 72.7% were unemployed. According to BMI, 36.4% had normal weight. Regarding drug adherence, 75.8% supervised it. All respondents had positive chest X-rays for TB, and 87.9% tested positive in molecular rapid tests. Random blood sugar levels showed 12 patients below 200 mg/dl. Among those tested for HbA1c, 78.8% did not undergo the exam, and 6.1% had levels <8%. Conclusion: TB DM predominantly affects elderly males. Most respondents were high school graduates, unemployed, and had normal BMI. They often took on the role of supervising drug adherence. In the Glucose Ad Random, more individuals had levels above 200, and among those tested for HbA1c, many exceeded 7%. All patients showed TB-consistent chest X-rays, with most testing positive in rapid molecular tests.

Reducing the Risk of Decubitus in the Elderly with Back Massage Therapy using VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil)

Winda Agnia — 2025-01-16

Background: Elderly people experience a natural decline in body function (aging process) over a long period of time. One of the problems that can occur in the elderly is pressure sores. The worldwide incidence of decubitus ulcers ranges from 1 to 56, with 60 to 90% occurring in people over 65 years of age. Skin care to prevent pressure sores is a back massage using VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) as a moisturizer. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) back massage therapy on the risk of pressure sores in the elderly at the Welas Asih Home, Tasikmalaya Regency. Method: The research design used was a quasi-experimental one-group pretest and posttest using quantitative methods. This study used the Braden Scale to measure the risk of pressure ulcers in respondents. The sample for this study consisted of 18 elderly people from Panti Welas Asih who met the inclusion criteria. This test was carried out twice a day for four consecutive days, from 3 May to 8 May 2023. An analysis was performed to determine the impact of this research using a paired sample t-test. Results: obtained p-value = 0.000 < α. α value = 0.05. Conclusion: Back massage therapy with VCO is effective in preventing the risk of pressure ulcers in the elderly at Panti Welas Asih.

Sexual Activities of Pre-Elderly and Elderly Women Who Visit the General and Elderly Examination Ward of the UPTD Mengwi II Public Health Center

Ni Putu Nuadi Adnyani — 2025-02-01

Background: The pre-elderly and elderly endure several changes in the function of their body systems as they get older. Changes can have an impact on parts of pre-elderly and elderly people's lives, including sexual activity. Purposes: The purpose of this study was to determine the description of the sexual activity of pre-elderly and elderly women who visit the General and Elderly Examination Ward of the UPTD Mengwi II Public Health Center. Methods: This study is a quantitative descriptive study involving 88 samples selected through the Purposive Sampling technique. Data were collected using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Result: The results of the study showed that the sexual activity of pre-elderly women had an average value of 56.33 which was considered not to have sexual dysfunction, while the sexual activity of elderly women had an average value of 53.79 which was considered to have sexual dysfunction (cut off point of 55). Age (p=0.020), education (p=0.003), disease history (p=0.000), menopause (p=0.000), and perception (p=0.000) are all associated with pre-elderly women's sexual engagement. Age (p=0.020), education (p=0.001), disease history (p=0.000), menopause (p=0.000), and perception (p=0.000) are all associated with senior women's sexual activity. Conclusion: Based on the research results, it was found that most of the low values in this study that led to sexual dysfunction were influenced by factors of medical history, the elderly who had mostly experienced menopause, and the understanding that engaging in sexual activity at an advanced age was considered taboo by the respondents.

Elderly People's Joint Pain at Posyandu Pelangi Nusantara Surabaya

Anastasia Putu Martha — 2025-02-01

Background: The context of this study is that older adults face a wide range of health issues, of which pain is a common and serious one that is frequently linked to functional impairment. People 65 years of age and older have joint discomfort twice as frequently as young adults. Finding out how much joint discomfort the elderly at Posyandu Pelangi Nusantara endured was the study's main goal. Purposes: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of joint pain based on anatomical location among the elderly at Posyandu Pelangi Nusantara. With an average age of 65, the 66 senior respondents in this descriptive study were found in Posyandu Pelangi Nusantara, Darmo District, Surabaya. Methods: It was conducted using the simple random sampling method. The NRS (Numerical Rating Scale) is the tool used in this study. The NRS, a widely used instrument for pain assessment, has demonstrated high inter-rater reliability (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.9) and validity in previous studies. Result: According to the study's findings, 64% of participants reported experiencing pain, 41% reported having knee discomfort, 38% lower back pain, 15% shoulder pain, and 6% neck pain. This is in line with other studies showing that the majority of elderly respondents experience joint pain at a moderate level. This may occur due to several chronic conditions experienced by the elderly, such as high uric acid levels or excessive physical activity, which can increase the intensity of joint pain. To enhance the quality of life for the elderly, more study may be done to determine the causes of pain and develop strategies to lessen these concerns. Conclusion: Most of the research participants, who were the elderly residents of Posyandu Pelangi Nusantara, complained of joint pain. Knee joint pain is the most common complaint. Suggestions for future research include recommending community-based health intervention programs and conducting further studies to explore the factors causing pain.