Wolf Dieter Oswald

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wolf Dieter Oswald (born May 24, 1940 in Nuremberg ) is a German psychologist and psycho gerontologist .

His research focuses in particular on the development of test procedures for the early detection of aging processes and dementia , as well as on basic intelligence and memory changes in old age, the development of non-pharmacological preventive measures with the aim of avoiding the need for care and delaying Alzheimer's disease , as well as non-pharmacological forms of therapy Dementia. In addition, he deals with the consequences of demographic change , as well as with the topic of "Older people in road traffic".

Life and academic career

Wolf D. Oswald studied psychology and economics and social sciences at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg , where he received his doctorate in political science and economics in 1968. In 1976 he completed his habilitation at the University of Salzburg and was appointed to the University of Stuttgart . In 1979 he held the office of Dean of the Philosophical Faculty . A full professorship for psychology brought him back to Erlangen in 1981. There he set up the postgraduate course in psychogerontology in 1986 and founded the Institute for Psychogerontology in 1996, of which he was director until his retirement in the winter semester 2005. Since 2006 he has headed the research group Prevention & Dementia .

In addition to his scientific work in the field of gerontology , he was active in numerous scientific societies. In 2002 he was founding president of the umbrella association of Gerontological and Geriatric Societies in Germany DVGG, in 1988 founding spokesman for the Interdisciplinary Working Group for Applied Gerontology IAAG, in 2003 first spokesman for the board of the Interdisciplinary Center for Gerontology IZG at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and 1998-2002 President of the German Society for Gerontology Geriatrics DGGG and 2006 founder of the SimA Academy.

He founded in 1988 together with Siegfried Kanowski the first interdisciplinary German "Journal Gerontopsychology & psychiatry" and was in 1984 together with Werner Herrmann, Sigfried Kanowski, Ursula Lehr and Hans Thomae the manual "Gerontology" and in 1992 together with Werner Herrmann, Ursula Lehr, Siegfried Kanowski and Rudolf.-M. Protect the 16-volume paperback series “Applied Old Age Studies”. His scientific work includes more than 250 scientific articles and 31 books as an author or editor. Oswald headed the interdisciplinary long-term research project “ Conditions for maintaining independence in old age ” (SimA) , which ran from 1990 to 2016 . From 2001 to 2005 he was in charge of the “ Rehabilitation in Nursing Home” (SimA-P) project.

Selected research areas

The number connection test (ZVT)

The ZVT is an economically and easily manageable, language-free and milieu-independent rapid test for recording the cognitive performance speed ( information processing speed ), which, as a basic cognitive basic function, is highly correlated with intelligence . The ZVT can be used for various questions in schools, clinics and research and is suitable for test persons between 7 and 80 years of age. The test is also used for the early detection of changes in brain performance, such as B. in dementia, can be used. The ZVT-G is a version with shorter matrices designed for older people; it is part of the Nuremberg age inventory.

The Nuremberg Age Inventory (NAI)

The Nuremberg Age Inventory (NAI) is a test inventory specially designed for older people to record cognitive performance, well-being and the need for care . Theoretically guided, it aims to determine the individual degree of expression of age-dependent psychological functional areas. As a multidimensional inventory, it includes important cognitive performance areas and age-related self-assessments as well as the recording of everyday activities.

The instrument can be used for individual diagnosis, for follow-up examinations, for the assessment of therapeutically induced changes and for basic research .

The test inventory includes 4 performance or speed tests , 8 memory tests , 2 external assessment and 5 self-assessment scales and is available in German, English and some other European languages.

SimA

The SimA prevention program (SimA-50 +) is a scientifically based training program to promote motor and cognitive performance in old age. The underlying approach was scientifically evaluated within the framework of the intervention and longitudinal study “ Conditions for maintaining and promoting independence in old age - SimA ” at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, which was started in 1991 and funded by the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth . It was found that regularly performed exercise units in combination of cognitive and psychomotor content improved the memory performance, the health status and the independence of the participants or stabilized them over several years. At the same time, the participants in this intervention group were significantly less likely to develop dementia.

The SimA therapy program (SimA nursing home; SimA-P) is a scientifically sound activation program to promote and stabilize independence and quality of life in nursing home residents. Based on the findings of the SimA study (cf. SimA-50 +), the underlying approach was developed and tested as part of a research project " Rehabilitation in old people's homes " funded by the Federal Ministry for Health and Social Security of the Federal Republic of Germany at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and scientifically evaluated. It was found that regular activation units, consisting of a combination of cognitive or biography-oriented and psychomotor exercises, could significantly stabilize or even improve the cognitive performance of the participants. In addition, there was demonstrable improvement in well-being and an increase in strength and mobility while at the same time the number of falls among the study participants was halved . In addition, the program led to a significant reduction in the workload of the nursing staff and thus to greater job satisfaction for the nursing staff in the participating homes.

Honors

Publications

  • About connections between information processing speed, age and intelligence structure when sorting cards. In: Psychological Rundschau. 22 (3), 1971, pp. 197-202.
  • For the operationalization of "state fear", "trait fear" and "tension" with the help of individual anchor situations. In: Diagnostica. 26 (1), 1980, pp. 21-31.
  • Newer Approaches in Intelligence Research. In: Psychology in Education and Teaching. 30, 1983, pp. 90-97.
  • as publisher: The SIMA project: Memory training - A program for senior groups. 2nd, revised and expanded edition. Hogrefe, Göttingen 1998, ISBN 3-8017-1109-9 .
  • with UM Fleischmann: Nuremberg Age Inventory (NAI). Test inventory & NAI test manual and text volume. Hogrefe, Göttingen 1999.
  • with B. Hagen, R. Rupprecht and T. Gunzelmann: Conditions for maintaining and promoting independence in old age (SIMA) - Part XVII: Summary of the long-term training effects. In: Journal of Gerontopsychology and Psychiatry. 15 (1), 2002, pp. 13-31.
  • Cognitive and Physical Activity - A Way for Maintaining Independent Living and Delaying the Onset of Dementia? In: European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. 1, 2004, pp. 49-59.
  • T. Gunzelmann, WD Oswald: Gerontological diagnostics and assessment. (= Gerontology floor plan. Volume 15). Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-17-018144-0 .
  • SimA®-basic memory training and psychomotor skills. Mentally and physically fit between 50 and 100. Hogrefe, Göttingen 2005, ISBN 3-8017-1915-4 .
  • with Th. Gunzelmann, R. Rupprecht and B. Hagen: Differential effects of single versus combined cognitive and physical training with older adults: the SimA study in a 5-year perspective. In: European Journal of Aging. 3 (4), 2006, pp. 179-192.
  • with U. Lehr, C. Sieber and J. Kornhuber (eds.): Gerontology - medical, psychological and sociological basic concepts. 3rd, completely revised edition. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-17-018633-7 .
  • with T. Gunzelmann and A. Ackermann: Effects of a multimodal activation program (SimA-P) in residents of nursing homes. In: European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. 4, 2007, pp. 91-102.
  • with G. Gatterer and UM Fleischmann (Ed.): Gerontopsychologie. 2nd, completely revised edition. Springer, Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-211-75685-0 .
  • with A. Ackermann: Cognitive, biography-oriented and psychomotor activation with SimA®-P. Independent in old age. 3 volumes. Springer, Vienna 2009, ISBN 978-3-211-79932-1 .
  • Capacity of older people in traffic. Cognitive and physical performance and their compensation options. In: Journal of Traffic Law. (ZVR), 55 (5), 2010, pp. 152–155.
  • Early diagnosis of dementia. Normal versus Pathological Aging - A Chimera? In: neuro aktuell. 24 (8), 2010, pp. 25-28.
  • Training against Alzheimer's. Kreuz, Freiburg im Breisgau 2011, ISBN 978-3-451-61003-5 .
  • with R. Wilhelm: SimA®-basic PC memory training and psychomotor skills. An individual training program for all age groups. 2nd, revised edition. (CD-ROM). Hogrefe, Göttingen 2011, ISBN 978-3-8017-2321-7 .
  • Active against dementia. Fit and independent into old age with the SimA® memory and psychomotor training. 2nd, revised and expanded edition. Hogrefe, Göttingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-8017-2607-2 .
  • Number connection test ZVT. 3rd, revised and newly standardized edition. Hogrefe, Göttingen 2016.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Oswald, Wolf Dieter
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Oswald, wolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German psychologist and psychogerontologist
DATE OF BIRTH May 24, 1940
PLACE OF BIRTH Nuremberg