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Monday, September 08, 2008
 Latest
Dementia Medical and Health News Headlines
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Dementia Medical and Health News Headlines
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All Recent Dementia Medical Condition News Headlines |
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Antipsychotic drugs linked to increased stroke risk
A new study shows that the risk for stroke increases with use of antipsychotic drugs and might be even higher in patients taking atypical antipsychotics or in patients with dementia. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)...
POSTED 09/05/2008 at 04:00 PM --
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Physical activity programs for persons with dementia
The authors of this Cochrane review intended to find out whether physical activity programes maintain or improve cognition, function, behaviour, depression, and mortality compared to usual care in older persons with dementia. They conclude that there is insufficient evidence available to determine the effectiveness of this type of intervention. (Source: NLH Later Life Specialist Library Newsfeed)...
POSTED 09/05/2008 at 05:52 AM --
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Emea releases guidelines on development of medicines for alzheimer's disease and parkinson's disease
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has released two guidelines for companies developing medicines for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and for Parkinson's disease, in the light of recent scientific progress in the understanding of these diseases and conditions. Advances in clinical science, physiopathology and molecular biology have stimulated new interest in the development of more effective symptomatic or disease-modifying treatments, i.e. (Source: Alzheimer's / Dementia News From Medical News Today)...
POSTED 09/05/2008 at 04:00 AM --
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Neurological diseases may be caused by fatal protein interactions
In a collaborative study at the University of California, San Diego, investigators from neurosciences, chemistry and medicine, as well as the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) have investigated how proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease interact to form unique complexes. Their findings explain why Alzheimer's patients might develop Parkinson's, and vice versa. (Source: Alzheimer's / Dementia News From Medical News Today)...
POSTED 09/05/2008 at 03:00 AM --
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For the brain, remembering is like reliving
For the first time, scientists have recorded individual brain cells fetching a spontaneous memory. (Source: NYT > Health)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 11:52 PM --
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Journals watch - melanoma, stroke and dementia
Too busy to catch up on the latest research? Let Dr Bryan Palmer update you on recent papers. (Source: HealthcareRepublic Clinical Articles)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 07:00 PM --
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Exercise may improve cognition in adults with memory impairment
Results of a randomized trial in older adults with subjective memory impairment but without dementia show a "modest" improvement in cognitive function after a 6-month exercise program. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 01:42 PM --
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All global launches its palliative care panel
NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- All Global, a leading international healthcare data collection agency, announces the launch of its new Palliative Care Panel for marketing research. Palliative care is an emerging therapy area with specialists and healthcare professionals working in oncology, heart, lung and renal disease, HIV/AIDs, dementia and other neuro-degenerative diseases. The new panel provides unique access to more than 18,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists and healthcare professionals in 39 countries who specialize in palliative care. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 07:00 AM --
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Memory complaints in mild cognitive impairment, worried well, and semantic dementia patients.
Page: 227DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e31816bbd27Authors: Ahmed, Samrah BSc, PhD *; Mitchell, Joanna BSc +; Arnold, Robert BSc +; Dawson, Kate RGN +; Nestor, Peter J. MD, FRCP * +; Hodges, John R. MD, FRCP * ++ (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 05:06 AM --
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Factors associated with skilled nursing facility transfers in dementia-specific assisted living.
Page: 255DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e31816c92d5Authors: Kenny, Anne M. MD *; Bellantonio, Sandra MD +; Fortinsky, Richard H. PhD *; Dauser, Deborah MPH ++; Kleppinger, Alison MS *; Robison, Julie PhD *; Gruman, Cynthia PhD [S]; Trella, Patricia MS *; Walsh, Stephen J. ScD ++ (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 05:06 AM --
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Identifying the factors that facilitate or hinder advance planning by persons with dementia.
Page: 293DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e318169d669Authors: Hirschman, Karen B. PhD, MSW * + ++ [S]; Kapo, Jennifer M. MD ++ [S] [//] [P]; Karlawish, Jason H. T. , MD ++ [S] [//] [sharp] ** (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 05:06 AM --
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Alzheimer's society comment on new research demonstrating that exercise improves cognition in people with mild cognitive impairment, published in jama
Regular exercise is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia and can help slow progression of the condition. This study demonstrates that exercise improves cognition in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and that there is a lasting effect even after the exercise intervention stops. Mild Cognitive Impairment is a term used to describe someone who has mild memory problems that are not serious enough to interfere with every day life. (Source: Alzheimer's / Dementia News From Medical News Today)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 04:00 AM --
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Is there hope for the prevention of dementia?
Scientists reviewed the latest findings about the effect of antihypertensive treatment on cognitive function and dementia at a recent conference. As a risk factor for stroke, ischemic brain lesions and silent brain infarcts, general atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular morbidity, hypertension may also be a risk factor for dementia related to cerebrovascular disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)...
POSTED 09/04/2008 at 01:59 AM --
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Relationship between psychiatric symptoms and regional cerebral blood flow in patients with mild alzheimer's disease
Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are frequently observed in patients with dementia and often cause serious problems. However, the cause of BPSD has not yet been elucidated. Moreover, the precise evaluation of BPSD in mild dementia has not been studied in any great detail. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods: The present study included 47 patients (20 men and 27 women) who were diagnosed with mild AD. Mean patient age was 72.8 ± 8.2 years. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) was performed in all patients. The SPECT data were analyzed using a three-dimensional stereotactic region of interest template, which evaluated CBF in 24 segments. Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated in patients using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Each psychiatric symptom was designated as 'symptom present' in cases in which the BPRS item score was more than 3. We compared 10 segments of rCBF in symptom-present patients with those in symptom-absent patients.Results: Motor retardation was the most common psychiatric symptom (36.2%), followed by depression (19.1%), anxiety (17.0%), emotional withdrawal (17.0%), and somatic concern (14.9%). Alzheimer's disease patients with motor retardation exhibited a tendency towards lower rCBF in seven segments (left callosomarginal, bilateral parietal, bilateral angular, and bilateral temporal). However, no specific tendency was observed in depression, anxiety, and somatic concern.Conclusions: In the present study, we observed a tendency for decreased brain perfusion in patients with motor retardation. Further studies are necessary to confirm that this trend contributes to the appearance of psychiatric symptoms in patients with mild AD. (Source: Psychogeriatrics)...
POSTED 09/03/2008 at 11:00 PM --
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Post-marketing survey of donepezil hydrochloride in japanese patients with alzheimer's disease with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (bpsd)
Background: To investigate the efficacy and safety of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept®; Eisai Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan), we conducted a post-marketing survey in Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who also had behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), such as hallucinations/delusions, wandering, and aggression, which cause the greatest burden on caregivers.Methods: A prospective, centrally registered investigation was conducted through regular clinical settings with patients diagnosed as mild to moderate AD presenting with hallucinations/delusions, wandering, and/or aggression. The treatment period was 12 weeks and no restrictions were placed on concomitant medications.Results: The BPSD improvement rates at last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF) were 60.1% for hallucinations/delusions, 59.6% for wandering, and 65.6% for aggression. For all symptoms, improvement rates increased with the duration of the treatment period. The BPSD deterioration rates at LOCF were 1.3% for hallucinations/delusions, 3.4% for wandering, and 1.6% for aggression. Assessment of cognitive function with both the revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) indicated significant improvements after treatment. There were significant differences in the changes in HDS-R scores between patients whose hallucinations/delusions or wandering were improved and patients whose symptoms were not improved. Moreover, the data suggested a possible correlation between changes in hallucinations/delusions and HDS-R scores, changes in hallucinations/delusions and MMSE scores, and changes in wandering and MMSE scores. Patients in whom BPSD improved also demonstrated a greater improvement in cognitive function compared with patients in whom no improvement in BPSD was noted. Nursing burden on caregivers at LOCF showed 3.6% for 'No burden', 54.1% for 'Burden decreased', and 4.5% for 'Burden increased.' There was an increase in the combined ratio of 'No burden' and 'Burden decreased' in proportion with prolonged treatment period. Patients with improved BPSD had a significantly greater ratio (88.5[ndash]94.4%) of 'No burden' plus 'Burden decreased' than those patients in whom no improvement in BPSD was noted.Conclusions: These results suggest that donepezil not only improves the cognitive dysfunction of AD patients, but may also relieve BPSD in these patients. Treatment with donepezil was also found to alleviate the burden of caregivers for approximately 60% of patients. Moreover, the results indicate that donepezil is unlikely to trigger potential risks of excessive deterioration of BPSD, which would result in a heavier burden of nursing care. (Source: Psychogeriatrics)...
POSTED 09/03/2008 at 11:00 PM --
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Effects of short-term reminiscence therapy on elderly with dementia: a comparison with everyday conversation approaches
Background: Recent research has demonstrated the usefulness of reminiscence therapy as a psychosociological approach to the care of the demented elderly. However, to date neither the variables (e.g. evaluation methods and the optimal number of therapy sessions related to this technique) have been established, nor have the differences between reminiscence and other verbal interventions been clarified. In the field of clinical and nursing care in which reminiscence therapy is undertaken, in order to facilitate the participation of as large a number of elderly people as possible, both short- and long-term courses of sessions are needed. The present study conducted five therapy sessions using closed groups. Mainly, a verbal fluency task was used to assess the efficacy of therapy.Method: The results of the five sessions that were conducted with a reminiscence therapy group (reminiscence group; n = 8 ambulant elderly women with Alzheimer's-type dementia) were compared with those of an everyday conversation group (conversation group; n = 8 ambulant elderly women with Alzheimer's-type dementia).Results: In the reminiscence group, there was a significant increase in the number of words recalled at the end of the fifth session compared with that recalled at the end of the first session. In addition, the number of words recalled increased significantly compared with that recalled by the conversation group. Furthermore, the interchanges through non-verbal communication between others in the group improved and a positive change in participants' everyday life circumstances was observed. Moreover, the participants in the reminiscence group reported that they enjoyed the sessions.Conclusions: Reminiscence therapy performed over a short period of time in closed groups was shown to be more effective than everyday conversations in the treatment of elderly people with dementia. It is suggested that the effectiveness of group reminiscence therapy should be ascertained not only by the verbal fluency tasks, but also by changes in patients' interactions with others through non-verbal communication. (Source: Psychogeriatrics)...
POSTED 09/03/2008 at 11:00 PM --
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Kampo therapy as an alternative to pharmacotherapy using antipsychotic medicines for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (bpsd)
The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including aggression, agitation, screaming, wandering, hallucinations, and delusions, occur in 50[ndash]90% of patients with dementia, and have a negative impact on the activity of daily living (ADL) of patients, as well as caregivers. Patients with severe BPSD often require management with antipsychotic medicines. However, an increased mortality rate has been reported in patients with dementia taking antipsychotic medicine and, thus, there is an urgent need to develop safer treatments for BPSD. Kampo medicines are an alternative to antipsychotic medicines and several Kampo medicines have been reported to be effective in the treatment of BPSD. Oren-gedoku-to has been reported to be effective for the treatment of irritability and sullenness in patients with vascular dementia, as well as improving excitement, depression, anxiety, and restlessness of patients with cerebrovascular lesions. Choto-san has been reported to be effective in the treatment of delirium, insomnia, and hallucinations/delusions in patients with vascular dementia. Toki-syakuyaku-san has been reported to improve emotional lability, restlessness, and sleep disturbances in patients with dementia. Yokukan-san has been reported to be effective for hallucinations, agitation/aggression, irritability/lability, and aberrant motor activity, as well as being effective in the treatment of visual hallucinations in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). A multicenter randomized crossover study confirmed that Yokukan-san is effective in the treatment of BPSD and is well-tolerated. Kampo medicines do not induce extrapyramidal or anticholinergic symptoms and have no adverse effects on ADL or cognitive function. Thus, Kampo therapy is recommended for patients who cannot tolerate treatment with neuroleptics, patients who have extrapyramidal symptoms and gait disturbance, and patients with DLB. In future, to confirm the effectiveness of Kampo medicines in the treatment of BPSD, further studies, such as randomized control trials, are needed. In addition, basic studies are required to elucidate the processes by which Kampo medicines are metabolized, as well as any interactions between Western and Kampo medicines. (Source: Psychogeriatrics)...
POSTED 09/03/2008 at 11:00 PM --
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Role of the home visit medical service for patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (bpsd) living in the community
Background: It is important for patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in the community, who refuse to go to clinics, to be medically served by means of home visits. However, there are a few clinics in Japan that are specialized in home visits for BPSD.Methods: The home visit medical service provided to several patients with BPSD was reviewed and the strategy for the treatment of BPSD was analyzed.Results: It was found that the medical approach of home visits for patients with BPSD needed to be based on daily life information as well as medical information.Conclusions: The medical service alone is not enough to provide appropriate care for patients with BPSD who are living in the community. Using the case studies presented herein, we have demonstrated the importance of 'daily life information' for medical intervention. Issues relating to the exacerbation of BPSD and the cooperation of caregivers in the drug monitoring system at home are also considered. (Source: Psychogeriatrics)...
POSTED 09/03/2008 at 11:00 PM --
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How to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (bpsd): do not treat patients exhibiting symptoms like bpsd with neuroleptics from the beginning
The present report details the case of three patients who had symptoms like behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). In all three cases, other factors contributing to the disease were hidden behind the symptoms resembling BPSD. These cases exhibited symptoms like BPSD following acute or subacute onset. Before starting medication with antipsychotic drugs, the underlying causes of the symptoms, especially those with an acute or subacute onset, should be considered. (Source: Psychogeriatrics)...
POSTED 09/03/2008 at 11:00 PM --
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Attempts to differentiate the patterns of temporal movements in alzheimer's disease patients from vascular dementia patients by the integrated circuit tag monitoring system
(Source: Psychogeriatrics)...
POSTED 09/03/2008 at 11:00 PM --
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