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by AP 2 Sep 2010 at 3:01am Allergan Inc., the maker of wrinkle-smoothing Botox, has agreed to pay $600 million to settle a yearslong federal investigation into its marketing of the top-selling, botulin-based drug. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 6:20am A study funded by Abbott Laboratories offered more detailed evidence that its weight-loss drug Meridia increases heart risks, prompting renewed calls by consumer advocates and others to pull the drug from the market. by HealthDay 2 Sep 2010 at 8:03am THURSDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans have skewed perceptions when it comes to their weight, often believing they are lighter than they actually are, even when the scales are shouting otherwise, a new poll finds. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 6:19am While staying mentally active in old age has been linked to a delayed onset of dementia, seniors who engage in such brain "exercise" may actually have a faster rate of decline once Alzheimer's is diagnosed, researchers reported Wedne... by AFP 2 Sep 2010 at 4:27am The chief of the UNAIDS agency said Thursday that global contributions to fighting the disease are dropping off for the first time in 15 years amid tough economic times. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 11:21am Companies are cutting healthcare costs further amid a continuing sour economy, scaling back benefits and shifting a greater share of the expense to employees. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 10:35am The estrogen-like compounds found in soy could help postmenopausal women get a better night's sleep, according to a small study. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 12:19pm Women who start menstruating early may be at increased risk of asthma and poor lung function, new research shows. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 2:33pm A cell phone text message -- and the buzz or beep that signals its arrival -- may not help a woman remember to pop her birth control pill, a new study suggests. by AFP 2 Sep 2010 at 1:05pm Researchers have discovered a promising new malaria drug with the potential to treat resistant strains of the deadly disease in a single dose, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 2:38pm Pakistan's displaced flood victims say a lack of clean water and high temperatures are causing illnesses sweeping through relief camps with children most at risk. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 1:54pm An experimental Novartis drug can clear malaria infection in mice with a single dose and scientists say it shows promise as a possible future treatment for one of the world's major killer diseases. by AFP 2 Sep 2010 at 2:16pm A groundbreaking new test can accurately diagnose drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in as little as two hours, researchers wrote in a study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 1:46pm When it comes to changing health behaviors, it takes more than a far-flung network of friends on Facebook egging you on. It takes a jostling herd, U.S. researchers said on Thursday. by Reuters 2 Sep 2010 at 2:30pm A study funded by Abbott Laboratories offered more detailed evidence that its weight-loss drug Meridia increases heart risks, prompting renewed calls by consumer advocates and others to pull the drug from the market. |
by Renegade Neurologist - A Blog by David Perlmutter, MD, FACN 24 Aug 2010 at 5:04am Warning: preg_match_all() [function.preg-match-all]: Compilation failed: unrecognized character after (? or (?- at offset 2 in /home/perlren/public_html/wp-content/plugins/abd-clickable-links.php on line 30 Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/perlren/public_html/wp-content/plugins/abd-clickable-links.php on line 50 From DNAindia.com: Eating certain fruit and vegetables could boost the memory, particularly broccoli, according to British research. The study conducted by Kingâs College London,provides scientific backing to the theory and has major implications for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said. Extracts found in five fruits and vegetables âbroccoli, potatoes, oranges, apples and radishes â were fou... by Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers 20 Aug 2010 at 1:56pm This seems to be such a common question and issue. Everyone wants to know the answer. I have blogged about this in the past, but the question still comes up all the time. If it is not a mental illness does that make it better? If it is a mental illness, well does that somehow make it worse? Does it make AD less real if it is a mental illness.When my mother developed AD, it was so shocking, so furious, so heart-breaking, I don't remember ever really pondering that question, because I was so overwhelmed, so bewildered, my head was spinning. Being seventeen at the time, it felt like I had a million things on my mind already. The whole process was like a waking dream.My book "When Can I Go Home?" speaks to that waking dream. It also speaks to the process of me becoming a doctor and a psychiatr... by WSJ.com: Health Blog 17 Aug 2010 at 2:42pm Why is it so difficult to develop drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease? (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) by Better Health 13 Aug 2010 at 6:00am EDITOR’S NOTE: Following Gary Schwitzer’s HealthNewsReview.org August 11th blog post below entitled “American Cancer Society: ‘Only’ A Fundraising Ad, Right?”, the American Cancer Society pulled its “Screening Is Seeing” ad the next day. See Schwitzer’s follow-up post “Screening Is Seeing” Ad By American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network (ACS-CAN) Is Pulled” and a related article by Mary Carmichael of Newsweek: ”The American Cancer Society’s Misleading New Ads.” Also see “Common Themes In The Alzheimer’s Test Stories And The Cancer Society Screening Ad” by Schwitzer. (ORIGINAL POST) American Cancer Society: “Only” A Fundraising Ad, Right? A well-intentioned ad campaig... by Inside Surgery 11 Aug 2010 at 12:14am A study out in the Annals of Surgery is suggesting that a spinal tap or lumbar puncture can predict the future development of clinical Alzheimer’s disease if a certain pattern of abnormal proteins is present. (Source: Inside Surgery) by WSJ.com: Health Blog 10 Aug 2010 at 6:47am Also: former head of WellPoint unit speaks out; cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease; diagnosing Alzheimer's early. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) by WSJ.com: Health Blog 5 Aug 2010 at 6:30am Also: Other cities may mimic San Francisco's cellphone law; Merck reports positive results for hepatitis C drug; Alzheimer's criteria developers defend their proposal. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) by Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers 1 Aug 2010 at 12:03pm Here is a review I posted on Amazon for Elder Rage, Jacqueline Marcell's book about her struggle with her father's Alzheimer's:-"As a Physician and a Caregiver for my mother diagnosed with Alzheimer's when I was a teen, I recommend this book to caregivers. Not only do I advise this book to be read by caregivers but by the general public at large. Alzheimer's is something we don't want to know about or hear about till it touches our own family. It's time we open our eyes. The book is thorough, gripping, and filled with insights that offer utility to caregivers of AD victims. No matter what age you are when a parent or loved one is affected, AD is a coming of age process. It makes people grow up, and dig down inside ones' spirit to find the courage to persevere. Jacqueline did something with... by neuropathology blog 30 Jul 2010 at 3:25pm Chris Zarow, PhD (pictured in center), a neuropathology researcher at the University of Southern California, recently completed a 140-mile bike ride which was part of a cross-country ride where participants collected signatures to urge Congress to authorize more funding for Alzheimer research."Let's put ourselves out of a job, so to speak," Zarow said. Read more here. (Source: neuropathology blog) by SharpBrains 28 Jul 2010 at 7:11am Here you have the July edition of our monthly eNewslet ter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remem ber that you can subscribe to receive this free Brain Fitness eNewsletter by email, using the box in the right column. Technology to upgrade brain care: In this extensive interview, Dr. John Docherty helps connect the dots on why new frameworks and tools are a must to put recent brain research to good use. A must read for all professionals in the field. Research Findings from NIH Expert Panel: The American Society on Aging asked Alvaro Fernandez to comment on the findings from a major cognitive health research review by the National Institutes of Health. Lifestyle still matters, and protective factors against cognitive decline are led by cognitive training, physical... by Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers 25 Jul 2010 at 12:22pm So it appears the thrust of research at the recent consortium is to take all the research that has gone on at various facilities and share and combine and put something together meaningful. The criteria for diagnosing and staging Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment is being reevaluated for the first time in years. When you think about it, this is crucial. There has been a certain way of diagnosing the disease definitely by looking at microscopic tissue under a microscope. That has not changed and we still can't do that on live human beings. However if there was a way to predict or even diagnose the disease much earlier, even before it starts to clinically show itself and manifest, this may have clinical implications for treatment, as well as prevention. Seemingly the earlier you can ... by WSJ.com: Health Blog 23 Jul 2010 at 6:39am Also: the mental toll of war on soldiers; five NYC hospitals trying "health courts"; minor league baseball players will be tested for HGH. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) by Better Health 20 Jul 2010 at 6:00am Did you know that physical activity can reduce your risk for memory loss and dementia? I had the chance to speak to ABC’s Let’s Talk Live team about important lifestyle choices that can keep the mind healthy and active. The good news is that you really can teach an old dog new tricks, and those new tricks can stimulate growth of new brain cells. Watch the video and check out the Alzheimer’s Association website for more information about dementia prevention: (Source: Better Health) by Straightfromthedoc 18 Jul 2010 at 2:00am © mcohen.chromisteA recent study found that there is a direct relationship between excess weight in older women and diminished memory. The study, headed by Dr. Diana Kerwin from the geriatrics division of the Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, used 8745 women who had no signs of dementia or other brain abnormalities, aged between 65 and 79 years old as subjects. Data showed that every point increase in the woman's body mass index (BMI) had a corresponding decrease in her score in ... (Source: Straightfromthedoc) by Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers 17 Jul 2010 at 4:41pm Well the Alzheimer's Association held its international conference this past week in Hawaii. A beautiful place for a conference I might add. Some from the NIA was there and if you were a member of ISTAART you got a savings off the price of the conference. If you went and actually had to pay for yourself the conference alone would have cost about $800 dollars. I'm not sure about everyone else but if you had to pay for your own flight, that for example would set me back about another $900. Throw in another $800 or so for room at the Official housing of either the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beech Resort and Spa or the Sheraton Waikiki. well you get the picture if you paid for yourself to go $2500-$3000. Hopefully if you went your institution, public or private paid for you. There are also ... |
23 Aug 2010 at 4:44pm Scientists say a protein produced in people who have rheumatoid arthritis may help protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease. 18 Aug 2010 at 1:13pm A clinical trial into the experimental Alzheimer's medication semagacestat ended this week when the drug was found to increase symptoms of memory loss, rather than decrease them. 18 Aug 2010 at 1:11pm Stress during middle age can increase a woman's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. 11 Aug 2010 at 11:50am Scientists have found a link between the health of the heart and the size and health of the brain. 4 Aug 2010 at 2:45pm Alzheimer's patients may have a decreased ability to experience emotional highs and lows--even if they're not depressed. 4 Aug 2010 at 2:26pm Data on more than 600 caregivers found that those racial and ethnic differences remained true even after accounting for caregiver-patient relationships, caregiver health, and socioeconomic factors. 4 Aug 2010 at 1:04pm Experts say there are more than 100 clinical trials currently underway, and dozens of medications are nearing the point of testing, but many do not sign up for clinical trials. 7 Jul 2010 at 11:59am A combination of an imaging test with memory recall test appears to be the best predictor of Alzheimer's disease. 7 Jul 2010 at 11:41am Experts say the people most susceptible to heat include very young children, seniors, the mentally ill, people who take blood pressure meds and diuretics, and those with chronic diseases. 6 Jul 2010 at 11:22am Depressed patients in a recent study had almost twice the risk of dementia than the general population, researchers say. 25 Jun 2010 at 12:05pm Elderly people who wear slippers or go barefoot are at an increased risk of falls--and possibly fractures--researchers at Harvard say. 23 Jun 2010 at 8:22am An analysis by an independent government panel has found that there is not enough research to back the claim that games, puzzles, or eating a Mediterranean-style diet is enough to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease. 23 Jun 2010 at 8:08am A ten-year study of 261 kids with and without ADHD has found that stimulant medications do not impact kids' growth long term. 17 Jun 2010 at 9:23am California researchers have found that older veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are almost twice as likely to develop dementia as vets who do not have the anxiety disorder. 16 Jun 2010 at 3:09pm Adult women of aging parents are more likely to suffer from depression and other caregiver stress than adult sons, a new study has found. by Dorian Martin 27 Aug 2010 at 1:28pm Can we just talk? That would seem to be the critical lesson behind what may be the biggest breakthrough in awhile in Alzheimer’s research. The New York Times recently reported that scientists and executive from nonprofit groups, universities, drug and medical-imaging industries, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health actually have collaborated in an unprecedented way... by Dorian Martin 17 Aug 2010 at 1:15pm “Only in your dreams” can take on an ominous tone in relation to Alzheimer’s disease if your dreams become violent and you find that you’re acting them out. Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a rare sleep disorder that results in violent dreams has been identified as a potential early sign of dementia and other brain disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease. This study was published in the July... by Dorian Martin 12 Aug 2010 at 1:36pm One question that I’ve seen members of this Alzheimer’s community often ask involves feeding a loved one with Alzheimer’s. As dementia takes over a loved one’s mind, it also can – and probably will – take over the person’s ability to swallow, causing families to face the gut-wrenching decision about whether to insert a feeding tube. Our family... by Dorian Martin 30 Jul 2010 at 2:39pm Caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s really puts a lot of stress on you. In my case, I experienced many gray days when I felt like I was in a fog and everything seemed to be just off. And as Mom’s confusion increased and her health deteriorated, it was harder and harder to find any joy and happiness. I must admit I tried. I’d go regularly to exercise. I’d meet friends for lunch or a movie. I snuggled with my dog. I... by Dorian Martin 29 Jul 2010 at 11:23am If you’re like me, you find that you’re always waiting for announcements about new Alzheimer’s medications that are becoming available. But unfortunately, those announcements are few and far between. Why is that? In an article entitled “Desperately Seeking Cures,” Newsweek writers Sharon Begley and Mary Carmichael describe the disjointed process currently in place in trying... by Dorian Martin 26 Jul 2010 at 4:02pm Getting a realistic picture of the extent of Alzhiemer’s disease is important, and it’s one that we don’t have at this point. Sure, a large number of people are diagnosed with the disease, but now that researchers believe that the disease can begin to attack the brain at least 10 years before signs of its progression have shown up. Having a better understanding of the numbers of people who are in the... by Dorian Martin 19 Jul 2010 at 3:37pm First you hear that exercise and diet may help prevent Alzheimer’s, then you hear that nothing makes the difference. So what’s the latest in this “yes it does, no it doesn’t” argument? The Alzheimer’s Association is reporting that several long-term studies with large study populations have found a possible association between physical activity and dietary elements and the maintenance of... by Dorian Martin 2 Jul 2010 at 12:39pm Honest. Heartbreaking. Thought-provoking. The tale that CBS correspondent Barry Petersen in his new book, “Jan’s Story: Love Lost to the Long Goodbye of Alzheimer’s,” tells about the life that he shared with his wife, Jan Carlton, gives... by Dorian Martin 1 Jul 2010 at 11:27am Perhaps the saddest part of Alzheimer’s disease is that you watch almost all of the personality and characteristics of the person who is afflicted slowly disappear before your eyes. As many say, it’s a slow, painful disappearance that may not be fully understood until much later. In the July/August issue of More magazine, Roxana Robinson shares how her mother, described as “the loving one” of her parents,... by Dorian Martin 23 Jun 2010 at 12:36pm Dad and I happened to tune into the Tony Awards. Amid watching the wonderful musical performances and hearing heart-felt speeches, there was one especially moving moment. David Hyde Pierce, the actor who is best known for his portrayal of Dr. Niles Crane on the TV show “Frasier”, was recognized as the Isabelle Stevenson Award recipient by his former co-star, Kelsey Grammar. You could see both men getting a... by Jacqueline Marcell 2 Feb 2009 at 4:08pm When I began caring for my elderly parents (both with early Alzheimer’s not properly diagnosed), I was shocked to read that family caregivers are often more depressed than those they care for. And caregivers who have a chronic illness have a 63% higher death rate than their peers of the same age. A year later, without a day off with my “challenging” elderly father—I was surprised the statistic was that... by Jacqueline Marcell 23 Dec 2008 at 9:56am Ohhhh, I had this exact situation while I was caring for my parents, so I know how exasperating it is! Actually I went through 40 caregivers that first year—most applicants only there for about ten minutes as my father would be so nasty they’d run out--or he’d just throw them out of the house. Here’s what I unfortunately had to learn the hard way! Keep in mind that any kind of change is often frightening... by Jacqueline Marcell 1 Dec 2008 at 4:23pm At one of my recent seminars, an “at-her-wit’s-end” adult daughter, Sally, rushed up afterward pleading for my advice on how to get her elderly parents to move to Assisted Living before their health deteriorated any further. She lived cross-country and was terrified about them being alone as there had already been a few close calls—like the time her father left the gas stove on without it lighting, filling the house... by Jacqueline Marcell 6 Nov 2008 at 3:07pm My challenging elderly father always said he was feeling a bit chilly, but he’d refuse to put on a sweater or more clothes at home, nor would he wear a jacket over his thin summer clothes whenever he went outside, which of course he also wore in the winter. A wonderful caregiver (Ariana) and I constantly offered warm soups and warm liquids, but he’d refuse, only wanting to eat corn flakes with cold milk. We also constantly... by Jacqueline Marcell 15 Oct 2008 at 5:45am Recently I was so dismayed to see a sweet little elderly lady (obviously suffering from dementia) and her devoted adult daughter, being delayed and searched at an airport checkpoint. The daughter was a bit heavy and apparently her underwire bra kept setting off the alarm, which finally embarrassed her to tears. The mom, seeing her daughter getting so upset, got so frightened and confused that soon she was in a frenzied panic. I... by Jacqueline Marcell 3 Oct 2008 at 2:23pm When my mother had a heart attack and was in a coma for months, the doctor told us that she was without oxygen for far too long and that we should “pull the plug” because if she ever came to, “she’d just be a vegetable.” My father and I were so stunned and furious to be told such a thing and flatly refused. We decided to try an around-the-clock vigil talking, lightly massaging and grooming her. I remember the doctor... by Jacqueline Marcell 22 Sep 2008 at 2:10pm I have spent eight years promoting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of dementia and am certain that misinformation, denial, and untrained GP’s are still the biggest factors preventing families from getting elderly loved ones properly evaluated. The mild and intermittently odd behaviors that gradually increase year after year continue to get chalked up to advancing age and nothing more. And even when it becomes very... by Jacqueline Marcell 30 Jul 2008 at 9:29am When people hear about what I went through during the year of caring for my elderly parents, they often ask what I would do differently if I had to relive the experience with the knowledge I have now. I sigh and say, "Ohhh, if only I could! I'd know exactly what to do to help my parents much sooner and I would be able to save so much time, money, and a fortune in Kleenex!" If you are heading into the eldercare years, please learn from my... by Jacqueline Marcell 15 Jul 2008 at 9:12am Alzheimer's Disease makes up 65% of all dementias, but there are many other diseases that cause dementia which can mistakenly be diagnosed as Alzheimer's. Therefore, a thorough evaluation by a dementia specialist is important to assure an accurate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Here are the most common diseases that have been misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's: 1. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): A rare, fatal brain disease caused by... by Jacqueline Marcell 3 Jul 2008 at 11:38pm Are you one of millions experiencing those pesky senior moments, which seem to occur more frequently with each advancing year? We whisper to our friends with a gallows laugh about the silly thing we have done now, secretly worrying we may be starting to get Alzheimer's or something. Then there's that anxious moment waiting for our friends to validate our experience by sharing their own senior moment, which makes us feel so much better that we... |
by Lippa, C. F. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm by Napoles, A. M., Chadiha, L., Eversley, R., Moreno-John, G. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm Despite evidence of ethnic differences in family caregivers’ experiences, the extent to which caregiver interventions are culturally tailored to address these differences is unknown. A systematic review of literature published from 1980 to 2009 identified: differences in caregiving experiences of African American, Latino, and Chinese American caregivers; psychosocial support interventions in these groups; and cultural tailoring of interventions. Ethnic differences in caregiving occurred at multiple levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental) and in multiple domains (psychosocial health, life satisfaction, caregiving appraisals, spirituality, coping, self-efficacy, physical functioning, social support, filial responsibility, familism, views toward elders, use of formal services and health care). Only 18 of 47 intervention articles reported outcomes by caregiver ethnicity. Only 11 reported cultural tailoring; 8 were from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health (REACH) initiative. Cultural tailoring addressed familism, language, literacy, protecting elders, and logistical barriers. Results suggest that more caregiver intervention studies evaluating systematically the benefits of cultural tailoring are needed. by Schmitt, F. A., Aarsland, D., Bronnick, K. S., Xiangyi Meng, , Tekin, S., Olin, J. T. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm Rivastigmine has been shown to improve cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD). To further explore the impact of anticholinesterase therapy on PDD, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) items were assessed in a retrospective analysis of a 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of rivastigmine. Mean changes from baseline at week 24 were calculated for ADAS-cog item scores and for 3 cognitive domain scores. A total of 362 patients were randomized to 3 to 12 mg/d rivastigmine capsules and 179 to placebo. Patients with PDD receiving rivastigmine improved versus placebo on items: word recall, following commands, ideational praxis, remembering test instructions, and comprehension of spoken language (P < .05), with standardized mean differences ranging from 0.04 to 0.30. Rivastigmine also showed significant effects versus placebo on all domains: memory, language, and praxis. The ADAS-cog is sensitive to broad cognitive changes in PDD. Overall, rivastigmine was associated with improvements on individual cognitive items and general cognitive domains. by Aderinwale, O. G., Ernst, H. W., Mousa, S. A. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that currently affects millions of Americans. There is no cure at present and no real long-term hope for patients with AD. While partially effective in improving symptoms, currently available treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not halt progression of AD, or address the underlying mechanism of the disease, in part because the etiology of AD is still an active area of investigation. Identification of risk factors and the pathogenic mechanism of AD hold the promise of bringing forth novel treatments and perhaps even a cure. In this review, we will summarize some of the risk factors for AD, AD diagnosis, and current treatments. Novel therapeutic strategies such as inhibition of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), tau-mediated pathogenesis, and receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), as well as neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory approaches and the impact of cholesterol-lowering, botanical, and nutritional agents are also reviewed. by Hebert, L. E., Bienias, J. L., McCann, J. J., Scherr, P. A., Wilson, R. S., Evans, D. A. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm This report examines the relation of upper and lower extremity motor performance to functional impairment among 371 persons with probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cognitive and motor performance tests were administered at 6-month intervals for up to 4 years. Motor performance was assessed using 3 lower extremity tests and 2 upper extremity tests. Functional impairment was measured at 3-month intervals using caregiver ratings of impairments in activities of daily living, mobility, and range of motion. Both lower and upper extremity performance were inversely related to functional impairments on all 3 scales (all Ps < .001), after controlling for age, sex, and level of cognitive impairment. This suggests that motor performance contributes to functional impairments in AD, independent of cognitive impairment. It is important to preserve motor performance in individuals with AD because it influences physical function throughout the course of the disease. by Hughes, T. F., Chang, C.-C. H., Vander Bilt, J., Ganguli, M. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm Objective: To examine whether there is an association between engagement in reading and hobbies and dementia risk in late life. Methods: A total of 942 members of a population-based, prospective cohort study were followed biennially to identify incident dementia cases. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of dementia in relation to baseline total number of activities and time commitment to reading and hobbies. Results: A lower risk for dementia was found for a greater number of activities and for a high (about 1 hour each day) compared with low (less than 30 minutes each day) weekly time commitment to hobbies, independent of covariates. Only the protective effect of hobbies remained after methods were used to minimize bias due to potential preclinical dementia. Conclusion: Engaging in hobbies for 1 or more hours every day might be protective against dementia in late life. by Hicks, K. L., Rabins, P. V., Black, B. S. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm This analysis uses data from the Care of Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia (CareAD) study to investigate which factors increase the risk of death in patients who are in the advanced stages of dementia. The hypothesis of this analysis was that specific illnesses with known high mortality would be associated with increased risk of death in the population of nursing home residents with advanced dementia, after controlling for demographic variables and disease-stage variables. Baseline data on 123 end-stage dementia nursing home residents were analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards regression. Of the comorbidities studied, pneumonia was the only illness significantly associated with shortened survival. This information can help health care professionals assist surrogate decision makers in making medical decisions regarding the treatment of comorbid medical illness in persons with advanced dementia. by Marziali, E., McCleary, L., Streiner, D. L. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine a battery of questionnaires for assessing the personal resources and vulnerabilities of family caregivers of persons with dementia (Alzheimer or other). Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to obtain dementia caregiver responses to questionnaires that targeted caregiver stress response, physical/mental health status, self-efficacy, personality, and social support. Results: A personality factor (neuroticism) explained over 20% of the variance in caregiver mental health status and depression. With caregiver distress as the dependent variable, personality and self-efficacy accounted for 15% to 17% of the explained variance. Conclusions: The results suggest that measures of personality factors, self-efficacy, mental health status, and distress response could be used for assessing caregiver vulnerabilities and health service needs. This individualized approach could ensure allocation of multicomponent intervention programs that have been shown to be more effective in sustaining caregiver role functions. by Petrova, M., Raycheva, M., Zhelev, Y., Traykov, L. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm Recent studies suggest that onset of dementia in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is preceded by a phase known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Different clinical subtypes of MCI in PD were found. The objective of this study was to investigate whether patients with PD diagnosed with amnestic MCI (aPD-MCI) have also subtle deficits in other cognitive domains and especially in attention/executive functions and, therefore to clarify whether all subcomponents of executive control are equally affected in aPD-MCI. We investigated 23 patients with aPD-MCI (modified Petersen’s criteria) and 25 normal controls. Relative to controls, the aPD-MCI group showed significant deficits with reference to tasks that encompass various aspects of attention/executive functions, including Trail Making Test, Stroop test, Modified Card Sorting Test, and digit span backward, as well as phonemic and semantic verbal fluency. This suggests that executive dysfunction is consistently presented in PD with MCI, even in ‘‘amnestic’’ PD-MCI due to cortical—subcortical dysfunction. 26 Jul 2010 at 1:54pm |
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