This narrative review focused on research investigating the impact of loneliness on the prevalence of dementia and its relationship with other risk factors. A comprehensive and rigorous search was conducted using a variety of scientific databases with specific keywords to identify all prior studies that examined the correlation between dementia and loneliness. The inquiry was confined to articles published in English from January 2017 to March 2024. The narrative review identified a consensus regarding the role of loneliness in enhancing the risk of all‐cause dementia, with a particular emphasis on the subjective perception of loneliness. This phenomenon may be caused by the sensations of exclusion, discrimination, and alienation that are typically associated with low self‐esteem and low life satisfaction, which may contribute to cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms. This finding was obtained despite the absence of robust evidence regarding the involvement of loneliness in the pathogenesis of dementia. Existing research has not yet identified a correlation between hereditary factors that influence the development of dementia and feelings of loneliness. However, loneliness is strongly associated with depression, which is a potential risk factor for dementia. Previous studies have reported a moderate correlation between depression and loneliness, as individuals who are isolated and lack a sense of community exhibit higher levels of depression. Meditation, social cognitive training, and social support are three strategies that have been implemented to address loneliness and are reported to be the most effective interventions. A strong correlation exists between dementia and loneliness. Although such strategies are unlikely to impede the progression of the disease if cognitive deterioration is already underway, understanding these associations can assist in the development of strategies to alleviate the effects of loneliness on vulnerable individuals.
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Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) beams have gained attention due to their promising mechanical properties and potential for structural applications. Combining GFRP core and encasing materials creates a composite beam with superior mechanical properties. This paper describes the testing encased GFRP beams as composite Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams under low-velocity impact load. Theoretical analysis was used with practical results to simulate the tested beams' behavior and predict the generated energies during the impact loading. The impact response was investigated using repeated drops of 42.5 kg falling mass from various heights. An analysis was performed using accelerometer readings to calculate the generalized inertial load
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Rapid worldwide urbanization and drastic population growth have increased the demand for new road construction, which will cause a substantial amount of natural resources such as aggregates to be consumed. The use of recycled concrete aggregate could be one of the possible ways to offset the aggregate shortage problem and reduce environmental pollution. This paper reports an experimental study of unbound granular material using recycled concrete aggregate for pavement subbase construction. Five percentages of recycled concrete aggregate obtained from two different sources with an originally designed compressive strength of 20–30 MPa as well as 31–40 MPa at three particle size levels, i.e., coarse, fine, and extra fine, were test
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Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of in vitro long-term simulation of oral conditions on the bond strength of PEEK CAD/CAM lingual retainers.
Material and methods: The sample consisted of 12 PEEK CAD/CAM retainers each composed of 2 centrally perforated 3x4mm pads joined by a connector. They were treated by 98% sulfuric acid for 1 minute and then conditioned with Single Bond Universal and bonded to the lingual surface of premolar teeth by 3M Transbond TM System. Half of the retainers were artificially aged using a 30-day water storage and 5000 thermocycling protocol before bond strength testing to compare with the non-aged specimens.
Results: The artificially aged retainers showed a marginally
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