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Dementia

Dementia to reach epidemic levels among oldest old in near future, researchers say

February 25, 2010

The rate of dementia among people 90 or older will reach epidemic proportions as the number of extremely elderly individuals continues to climb, according to the recently published results of "The 90+ Study."

Acute care hospitals more likely to use feeding tubes on dementia patients from nursing homes, study finds

February 11, 2010

Advanced dementia patients are more likely to receive feeding tubes if they are taken from nursing homes to acute care hospitals, according to a new report. This occurs despite mounting evidence that using feeding tubes on these patients is not beneficial.

Study: Two training methods help dementia patients relearn eating skills

January 29, 2010

An international team of researchers has developed two step-by-step training programs designed to improve the eating skills of patients with dementia, according to a new report.

Many elderly women with dementia receiving unnecessary mammograms, report finds

January 25, 2010

Thousands of elderly women with severe dementia are receiving mammograms, despite recommendations that this group should not be subject to this medical procedure, according to a recent study.

Physical brain changes may contribute to apathy among dementia patients, research finds

December 03, 2009

Certain changes in the brain's white matter may influence levels of apathy in dementia patients, according to a new study.

Surgery does not lead to dementia in older patients, new research finds

November 20, 2009

The link between surgery and cognitive decline in older patients may not be as strong as originally thought, new research suggests.

Dementia patients with flu have higher mortality rates

October 29, 2009

Dementia patients don't often get the flu. But when they do it tends to be more deadly than in patients without dementia, according to a new study.

Report: 10% jump in Alzheimer's in five years

September 22, 2009

Rapidly accelerating rates of dementia worldwide will result in a 10% increase in the number of dementia sufferers in the 2005 to 2010 time frame, according to a new report from Alzheimer's Disease International. The acceleration of cases will lead to an Alzheimer's that will double every 20 years, resulting in an estimated 115 million dementia patients by mid-century, researchers said.

Communication problems stress caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's

September 15, 2009

Working with dementia patients can take a great physical toll on caregivers, but a new study finds that communication causes more physical strain than any lifting or transfer challenges.

Middle-age smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes raise dementia risk

August 24, 2009

Those who smoke, or suffer from hypertension or diabetes during their middle-age years have a higher risk of developing dementia later, according to a new study.

Seniors who neglect themselves are six times more likely to die, researchers find

August 06, 2009

Self-neglect among the elderly has been linked to a sixfold increase in the likelihood of death, according to a recent report.

Geriatrics study: Drink your way to mental health... sort of

July 14, 2009

The largest study to date on the effects of alcohol intake among seniors has turned up mixed results: On one hand, moderate consumption significantly decreases the risk of developing dementia. However, if a person already has dementia, any alcohol consumption greatly accelerates cognitive decline.

Young adults with strong language skills at lower risk for Alzheimer's later, research suggests

July 13, 2009

A study from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore suggests that "20-somethings" with highly developed language skills are less likely to have Alzheimer's disease in old age, even if they develop the hallmark brain tangles that typically lead to dementia.

Brain imaging technique could help identify those who will develop Alzheimer's

June 17, 2009

Researchers have discovered a way to predict whether someone with cognitive decline will develop Alzheimer's disease: They measure the size of certain areas of that person's brain, according to a new report.

Report: Drug manufacturer knew Zyprexa was ineffective, deadly for seniors with Alzheimer's

June 15, 2009

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lily & Co. knew its product Zyprexa was ineffective for treating dementia when it pressured physicians to prescribe it to seniors from 1999 and 2003, according to a report citing recently unsealed company documents.

New dementia tool lets takers test their own memories

June 12, 2009

When it comes to detecting dementia, a successful new tool being developed by British researchers lets people test themselves.

Who needs sleep? Not seniors (at least not much), studies find

June 11, 2009

Two different studies presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggest the following: most seniors aren't sleeping well, and sleep deprivation doesn't affect cognitive performance.

Study: No racial disparity in life expectancy for dementia

June 10, 2009

Although previous studies have indicated that blacks with dementia tend to live longer than whites with the disease, a new study finds that the condition decreases life expectancy equally among the races.

Report: Watching videos of the end of life helps people make care choices

June 02, 2009

When making decisions about end-of-life care, it helps to actually "see" what that stage of life looks like, according to a new report.

New way to predict cognitive decline could benefit clinical trials

May 14, 2009

A new test could help to more accurately predict and measure the rate of cognitive decline among those with mild dementia, leading to more effective clinical trials, according to a new report.

Study: Word recall a complex problem among those with early-stage Alzheimer's

May 05, 2009

A new study finds that people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease have difficulty discerning between important and unimportant information--a revelation that could help improve memory-training efforts.

Think happy thoughts: views on aging tied to poor health later in life

March 04, 2009

Younger people who believe negative stereotypes about aging are more prone to suffer poor health when they themselves reach old age, new research suggests.

Dementia type helps determine rate of cognitive decline, study finds

February 13, 2009

The rate of dementia-associated cognitive decline varies depending on the type of dementia a person has, new research suggests.

Study: Sustained use of antipsychotics increases Alzheimer's death risk

January 12, 2009

Prolonged use of antipsychotic medications on Alzheimer's patients is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, according to a new British study.

Study: High blood pressure may contribute to temporary cognitive impairment

December 16, 2008

Having a "senior moment?" That may have more to do with high blood pressure than an aging brain, according to new research.

McKnight's to host webinar on brain fitness today

November 10, 2008

McKnight's will offer a free Web seminar this afternoon on brain fitness. Registration for the event is still available at www.mcknights.com.

Study: Internet stimulates the elderly brain

November 04, 2008

The Internet contains many important things--instantaneous communication, unlimited access to information and the often-honored McKnight's Web site (www.mcknights.com), among them. But researchers at UCLA have discovered there may be other bonuses for Web-savvy seniors: It also might stimulate brain function and improve cognitive ability.

Family perturbed after resident with dementia casts vote in election

October 30, 2008

One family is accusing an Ohio nursing home of allowing their father, who has severe dementia, to vote in the upcoming election without their permission.

House passes "Silver Alert" legislation to help locate missing seniors

September 19, 2008

The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed legislation that would set up a nationwide "silver alert" system to help coordinate local law enforcement officials in the event of a missing senior.