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dementia

Is Cholesterol a Memory Thief?

Is Cholesterol a Memory Thief?

Teaser: 


D. Larry Sparks, PhD, Senior Scientist and Head, Roberts Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, USA.

The primary care physician is often pressed with first-line treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A number of FDA-approved therapies are available. Emerging data indicate that circulating cholesterol levels may influence progression of the dementing disorder. A recent pilot, proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled clinical trial suggests that the cholesterol-lowering medication atorva-statin provides benefit in treating mild-to-moderate AD. Although not approved for the treatment of AD, statin therapy might be considered in the setting of elevated cholesterol levels--even when LDL/HDL ratios are acceptable.
Key words: Alzheimer’s disease, cholesterol, statins, dementia, atorvastatin.

Improving Detection Rates and Management of Dementia in Primary Care through Educational Interventions

Improving Detection Rates and Management of Dementia in Primary Care through Educational Interventions

Teaser: 


Kristin Casady, Editorial Director, Geriatrics & Aging.

A recent study examined the effectiveness of educational interventions in improving detection and management of dementia in the primary care setting (BMJ 2006;332:692-6). Achieving improved detection rates and advances in the provision of ongoing care for demented individuals is facilitated by the integration of decision support systems and practice-based workshops, the study’s authors concluded.

Introduction

Primary care practitioners play a role of fundamental importance in diagnosing dementia as they are the point of patients’ first medical contact. Practitioners must deliver prompt intervention and provide ongoing care for their patients receiving the diagnosis, yet inadequate detection and management have been widely documented. Further, it is observed that clinicians often face profound obstacles in executing this role. There may be difficulty in assessing the presence of dementia (for a recent discussion of the diagnosis and treatment of the older adult with cognitive complaints, see Myronuk L. Pitfalls in the diagnosis of dementia. Geriatrics Aging 2006;9:12-9). Challenges are reported to include such barriers as a lack of resources and insufficient cooperation among the general practitioner’s team, involved specialists, and community services.

Assessing Effective Diagnosis and Management: Study of U.K. Practices
Thirty-six general practices in the United Kingdom (central Scotland and London) were recruited as settings for an unblinded, cluster randomized, before-and-after controlled study organized around the provision of three educational interventions: one, a CD-ROM tutorial; two, decision-support software built into the practices’ electronic medical records; and three, practice-based workshops for the general practitioners (the curriculum used is available for download from the U.K.’s Alzheimer’s Society website, www.alzheimers.org.uk). Eight practices were randomly assigned to the electronic tutorial; eight to decision-support software; 10 to practice-based workshops; and 10 to control. Results were obtained from 450 valid and usable records. The design of the interventions was modeled to reflect different approaches to adult learning: the electronic tutorial for self-directed learning; decision-support software for real-time investigations of actual cases; and workshops to facilitate peer communication about the cases under consideration.

Based on searches of the record system for the terms dementia, confusion, memory loss, and cognitive impairment, all practices identified registered patients aged 75 and over who were diagnosed as having dementia or had been assessed as having probable dementia by a general practitioner or specialist.
Investigators audited detection rates prior to and approximately nine months after the intervention. Analysis was conducted of differences in baseline concordance scores with best-practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of dementia, repeating the analysis for postintervention scores. The ten-item diagnosis concordance score gathered data on items that included whether clinicians took measures such as requesting blood tests at index consultation, took full histories, undertook cognitive testing, and completed scans, both at index consultation and then secondarily after index consultation (before diagnosis). Management concordance scores tracked items such as concerns of caregivers, behaviour problems, depression screening/treatment, referrals to social services, and initiation of pharmacological treatment regiments.

Outcome: Improved Rates of Detection

Regarding changes in rates of detection, diagnosis, and management, the study’s authors noted improved rates of detected dementia with decision-support software and practice-based workshops compared with control: individuals identified as having dementia after the interventions represented 31% of all cases diagnosed in the practice-based workshops arm, 20% in the electronic tutorial arm, 30% in the decision support software arm, and 11% in the control arm. Authors reported the positive effect of the decision-support software as particularly encouraging, with practitioners describing software as simple and practical to implement. However, no difference in concordance with guidelines regarding the management of dementia was noted. This outcome was ascribed to the modest number of cases identified after the intervention and the relatively few cases in the control arm. The result was also described as traceable to the investigators relying on the medical record for evidence of practice; they postulated that practitioners may have improved their practice but not noted it. The authors highlighted the value of focussed educational interventions directed at improving clinical record-keeping.

Conclusion
Successful management of dementing illnesses depends first on effective detection. This study affirms that interventions such as decision-support software and practice-based workshops can improve those rates. The authors highlight that future interventions aimed at improving concordance with recommended diagnosis or management may be furthered by the effect of combining locality initiatives with practice-based interventions, such as ones that incorporate local opinion leaders as well as encourage the direct involvement of patients and caregivers.

Dental Considerations for Persons with Dementia

Dental Considerations for Persons with Dementia

Teaser: 

Michael J. Sigal DDS, MSc, Dip Ped, FRCD(C), Professor and Head, Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto; Director of Dental Services, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; Dentist-in-Chief and Director, Dental Program for Persons with Disabilities; Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON.

Due to the increase in the older population, the management of individuals with dementia in long-term care settings will continue to present a challenge to the health care team. Many individuals with dementia will have some or all of their teeth upon admission due to improved dental care throughout their lives. Oral hygiene and oral care for individuals with dementia is generally poor in long-term care; however, the continuance of good oral health is essential both to maintain the demented individual’s quality of life and to prevent infections that may affect his/her general health. The maintenance of good oral health has the potential to reduce the incidence of long-term care-acquired pneumonia. This article presents an overview of the relationship between oral and general health in the demented patient and then provides an overview regarding oral assessment, treatment, and prevention of dental disease.
Key words: dementia, dental caries, dental plaque, aspiration pneumonia, oral hygiene.

Assessing Pain Intensity in Older Adults

Assessing Pain Intensity in Older Adults

Teaser: 

Sophie Pautex, MD, Pain and Palliative Care Consultation, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University Hospital Geneva, Collonge-Bellerive, Switzerland.
Gabriel Gold, MD, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University Hospital Geneva, Switzerland.

Persistent pain is common in older adults, and its consequences are often severe. Self-assessment scales have been validated in older populations and remain the gold standard for the evaluation of pain intensity in this age group. Most patients with dementia demonstrate appropriate use of self-assessment scales. Observational scales correlate moderately with self-assessment and tend to underestimate pain intensity; thus, their use should be reserved for patients who have demonstrated their inability to use self-assessment tools reliably.
Key words: pain, dementia, self-assessment, pain scale, cognitive impairment.

An Office Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment

An Office Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Teaser: 


Andrew R. Frank, MD, Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
Ronald C. Petersen, MD, PhD, Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) describes a state of abnormal cognitive functioning that is insufficient to warrant a diagnosis of dementia. While dementia requires that activities of daily functioning be compromised due to cognitive symptomology, the diagnosis of MCI can be made earlier, in the absence of such functional impairment. In MCI, the patient must present with cognitive complaints (or someone who knows the patient well must present them on the patient's behalf), and these complaints must be corroborated by abnormalities on standardized cognitive testing. The diagnosis of MCI alerts the clinician to a higher risk of future development of dementia and provides an ideal target population that may benefit the most from “disease-modifying” cognitive therapies currently in development.
Key words: mild cognitive impairment, MCI, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, early diagnosis, treatment.

Atypical Presentations of Depression

Atypical Presentations of Depression

Teaser: 


James L. Silvius, MD, FRCPC, Calgary Health Region, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine; Head and Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.

Depression is common in older adults. This condition is often under-recognized and undertreated in this patient segment as it may present differently than in younger individuals. A number of risk factors for depression have been identified and may help increase recognition. Altered presentations include generalized anxiety/worry, somatisation, presence of a disability gap, subjective but not objective memory complaints, pseudodementia, hopelessness, change in adherence to medical regimens or change in function not otherwise explained. For individuals with dementia syndromes, excess disability may indicate depression. A high index of suspicion, recognition of risk factors, and asking about specific aspects of depression may increase diagnosis.
Key words: depression presentation, risk factors, function, dementia.

Hormone Replacement Therapy in the Older Adult

Hormone Replacement Therapy in the Older Adult

Teaser: 


Karin H. Humphries, MBA, DSC, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
Janet McElhaney, MD, Department of Geriatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

The growth in information about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) over the past few years has been impressive. This review summarizes the latest information on HRT and cardiovascular disease, osteoporotic fractures, and cognitive function. The risks of HRT (e.g., stroke, breast cancer, and venous thromboembolism) clearly outweigh the benefits (e.g., reduction in osteoporotic fractures). The use of HRT for primary or secondary prevention of coronary heart disease or to decrease the risk of cognitive dysfunction is also not supported. While the evidence in older adults is substantial, there is some controversy regarding the effectiveness of HRT initiated in women at the start of menopause.
Key words: hormone replacement therapy, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cognitive function, dementia.

Highlights from the Third Canadian Colloquium on Dementia

Highlights from the Third Canadian Colloquium on Dementia

Teaser: 


Ron Keren, MD, FRCPC, Third CCD Chair Clinical Director, University Health Network and Whitby Mental Health Centre Memory Clinics; Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

The Third Canadian Colloquium on Dementia (CCD) was held at the Ottawa Westin, October 27-29, 2005. Over 500 registrants gathered from across Canada and from around the world to participate in this two-and-a-half day event that featured presentations from key international and national experts on dementia. An audience comprised primarily of specialists involved in the diagnosis and management of individuals with dementing disorders was exposed to a broad range of topics delivered in plenary sessions, debates, workshops, and clinicopathological vignettes. The CCD has grown from 150 to 500 registrants over the span of four years, confirming the importance of a national conference on dementia geared primarily towards physicians in this field.
The composition of the third CCD’s organizing committee reflected a broad representation of specialists and their national organizations, including the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry (CAGP), the Canadian Geriatrics Society (CGS), the Canadian Neurological Society (CNS), and the Consortium of Canadian Centres for Clinical Cognitive Research (C5R), as well as representatives from neuropsychology and family medicine. The program of the third CCD was tailored to the guidelines of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons for accredited group learning. The content of the program was driven by a needs assessment completed at the second CCD.

Program Highlights
The third CCD was opened with a colourful presentation by Dr. Jock Murray from Dalhousie University titled “When the National Leader Becomes Forgetful.” Dr. Murray was the only non-American invited to participate in the Working Group on Disability in US Presidents formed by President Clinton. Dr. Murray gave a historical account of international leaders whose medical conditions affected their abilities to lead. Dr. Murray explained that, historically, when leaders became seriously ill they were dealt with by the “Captive King Syndrome”; they remained in office and their illness was kept hidden while those around the leader took charge. Under these circumstances the judgements of their physicians were political rather than medical. Dr. Murray pointed out that physicians have often been part of the problem by feeling a duty towards the leader as opposed to society. “They believe that their leader sick is better than the competition well.”

Dr. Murray’s presentation was followed by Dr. Peter St. George-Hyslop from the University of Toronto. Dr. St. George-Hyslop, a regular speaker at the CCD, gave an update on research pertaining to Ab-directed therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) based on evidence from the amyloid cascade theory of AD. Dr. St. George-Hyslop explained that A‚ is formed through the misprocessing of the amyloid precursor protein. This pathological pathway involves both beta and gamma secretases. Subsequently, attempts are being made to inhibit these two enzymes in the hopes of diminishing the accumulation of Ab. While appearing to be very hopeful strategies, Dr. St-George Hyslop pointed out that a number of serious obstacles related to the development of these therapies have been observed in transgenic mice. He also discussed the potential clearance of Ab through the Ab vaccines and reviewed the follow-up studies on the phase 2a vaccine trial that was abruptly discontinued due to the occurrence of encephalitis in a number of the subjects receiving the vaccine. Unfortunately, results of the cognitive outcome measures in patients who developed an immune response in the study were not statistically significant. However, as Dr. St. George-Hyslop pointed out, due to the early discontinuation of the study the subjects did not receive the full complement of A‚ injections. Despite these discouraging results, Dr. St. George-Hyslop believes that the A‚ vaccine still holds promise as a therapeutic agent for AD, through active immunization with a modified A‚ protein or passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies. Lastly, Dr. St. George-Hyslop discussed another A‚-directed therapy that would inhibit the development of neurotoxic A‚ protofibrils. While addressing the importance of A‚ in the development of AD, Dr. St.-George Hyslop pointed out that the clinical symptoms of AD are more highly correlated with tau pathology than with beta amyloid: “You can be chock full of amyloid and not have dementia.” Nevertheless, A‚ is still considered to be the likely cause of a cascade of events leading to the development of the tangles and neuronal death that are present in AD.

Presentations by Dr. Serge Gauthier (McGill University) and Dr. Kenneth Rockwood (Dalhousie University) as well as a workshop lead by Dr. Gary Naglie (University of Toronto) highlighted current therapies for AD and how their benefits are measured in clinical drug trials. Both Drs. Rockwood and Naglie discussed the recent literature critiquing the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), pointing out that despite numerous successful RCTs these treatments have not been fully embraced. While the buzz in the audience suggested that this might be explained in part by ageism, both Drs. Rockwood and Naglie believe that the choice of outcome measures may be a factor. Dr. Rockwood reviewed some of his recent research on the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) and Dr. Naglie reviewed the importance of Quality of Life scales as well as milestone scales, such as the time to placement in long-term care.

Dr. Donald Stuss (University of Toronto) and Dr. Ron Peterson (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine) gave presentations on the predementia stages, normal aging, and mild cognitive impairment. Dr. Stuss discussed factors that affect our memory, such as the time of day. He discussed “morningness-eveningness” distributions, reporting on evidence that shows that college students are mostly evening types with very few morning types whereas older adults are morning types with very few evening types. Dr. Stuss also reported that difficulties with retrieval appear to be a common manifestation of aging. In closing, Dr. Stuss pointed out that wisdom does not deteriorate with aging and that cognitive rehabilitation can be used to overcome some of the observed deficits associated with aging.

Two presentations on depression were delivered by Dr. Ira Katz (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Lilian Thorpe (University of Saskatchewan). Dr. Katz reviewed his work on depression in long-term care (LTC). He showed that the ratings of depression with residents and staff were totally uncorrelated. Dr. Katz concluded that screening and recognition for depression should be based on hearing the resident’s voice whenever possible. In discussing the treatment of depression in LTC, Dr. Katz pointed out that over the years there has been a dramatic increase in the use of antidepressants (from 12.6-24.9% of cases); however, there has been no improvement in getting treatment to work. He concluded by suggesting that minor depression in LTC should be treated with watchful waiting and by activating the facility resources such as care strategies, routines, preferences, activities, and family involvement. Dr. Thorpe’s presentation focused on depression in dementia. She discussed the heterogenic and overlapping etiologies of depression in dementia as well as the diagnostic challenges in differentiating between the overlapping symptoms of depression and dementia. For example, Dr. Thorpe mentioned that the core depressive symptoms of guilt and worthlessness are significantly less common in dementia. In closing, Dr. Thorpe gave an excellent review of the evidence for the pharmacological treatment of depression in dementia.

Dr. Mary Mittelman, New York University School of Medicine, presented her research on caregiver interventions in dementia through the NYU Caregiver Intervention Study. Dr. Mittelman’s research has shown that psychosocial interventions can lead to a decline in caregiver symptoms of depression, an improvement in the caregiver’s reaction to problem behaviours, and a delay of almost one year to LTC placement.

Drs. Anthony Lang (University of Toronto) and Clive Ballard (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) reviewed the latest literature on Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Both speakers emphasized that these two conditions have been arbitrarily differentiated from each other based on the “one-year clause,” while in all likelihood they are different clinical manifestations of the same disease. Dr. Lang described a new face to Parkinson’s disease. PD is not a single disease as has been previously conceived. The new face of PD recognizes that the pathology of PD extends beyond the substantia nigra. Once the motor features of the disease are eliminated, the patient is left with clinical features such as apathy, dementia, and postural instability. Dr. Lang concluded that major advances and improvement in current responses to symptomatic therapies are less likely to come from a focus on dopamine deficiency in the substantia nigra than they are from attention to the nondopaminergic features. Dr. Ballard gave an excellent update on DLB, discussing the difficulties in making a clinical diagnosis with the current diagnostic criteria having high specificity but low sensitivity. The high prevalence of tau pathology in DLB substantially contributes to the variability in its clinical presentation. As Dr. Ballard put it, “the more tau present, the less likely the patient will be diagnosed with DLB.” Dr. Ballard also discussed antiproteosomal treatments as a future direction for the treatment of DLB.

Dr. Morris Freedman (University of Toronto) provided the audience with a video-packed presentation on frontotemporal dementia and Dr. Sandra Black (University of Toronto) reviewed the state of the art pertaining to neuroimaging in Alzheimer’s disease. Michelle Tremblay (University of Ottawa) helped the audience conceptualize issues around capacity, emphasizing the importance of the two key components: “understanding and appreciating.” Dr. Malcolm Man-Son-Hing, also from the University of Ottawa, reviewed the sensitive issue of driving and dementia. According to Dr. Man-Son-Hing, decision making about driving involves balancing safety and quality of life.

Dr. Gustavo Roman (University of Texas) delivered a presentation on “The Shifting Limits between Vascular Dementia (CVD) and Alzheimer’s Disease.” Dr. Roman described the importance of CVD in the expression of dementia in patients with AD pathology. He stressed the importance of treating vascular risk factors in the possible prevention of dementia onset and its progression.

The audience of the third CCD was treated to very stimulating debates on two hot clinical topics. Drs. Nathan Herrmann (University of Toronto) and Dr. Ira Katz debated in favour of the resolution “Treatment of Behaviour in Dementia with Atypical Neuroleptics: Benefits Outweigh Risks” while Drs. Jiska Cohen-Mansfield (George Washington University) and Clive Ballard debated against the resolution. Despite excellent arguments on the efficacy and relative safety of these agents from Drs. Herrmann and Katz, it was Drs. Cohen-Mansfield and Ballard who seemed to change most of the opinions in the audience through their claims that behavioural interventions have not been sufficiently utilized and the concerns they raised about the safety of atypical neuroleptics in older adults. However, both sides agreed that there are cases where safety is of a major concern, and a role for atypical neuroleptics cannot be disputed.

Dr. Howard Chertkow (McGill University), who was in favour, and Dr. Ron Petersen (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine), who was opposed, debated the resolution: “Cholinesterase Inhibitors Should Be Used to Treat Mild Cognitive Impairment.” Through a number of case presentations, Dr. Chertkow managed to change many of the opinions in the audience, suggesting that evidence-based medicine and clinical medicine are not always one and the same.

The third CCD wrapped up with an opportunity for the audience to demonstrate the knowledge they gained from the conference through clinicopathological vignettes presented by Drs. Howard Feldman and Ian MacKenzie from the University of British Columbia.

While still savouring the success of the third CCD, the organizing committee is already working hard on the program for the fourth CCD, to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia from October 18-20, 2007. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Third CCD gratefully acknowledges unrestricted educational grants from Janssen-Otho Inc., Lundbeck Canada, Novartis Canada, and Pfizer Canada.

No competing financial interests declared.

Dementia: Making the Right Diagnosis

Dementia: Making the Right Diagnosis

Teaser: 

Those of you who are regular readers of this journal, and my column, know that I am especially interested in the cognitive changes that occur with aging, particularly the various neurodegenerative disorders. While cardiovascular disorders and cancer are the top two killers in old age, neither robs its victims so completely of their identity. To see loved ones die with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementing disorder is like seeing them die twice; once when their personality and memory are so impaired that they are but a shadow of their former selves, and a second time when their heart stops beating. Sometimes only after the physical death has occurred can the relatives and friends allow themselves to remember their loved ones as they were, rather than what they became.

We have just entered the era when medical care for patients with dementia can make a difference. This means that accurate diagnosis of dementia, including the type of dementia, will become ever more important in clinical practice. Gone are the days when we could simply call the patient “senile.” Unfortunately, the diagnosis is not always easy to make, and Dr. Lonn Myronuk addresses this problem in his article “Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Dementia.” As well, Dr. Ging-Yuek Robin Hsiung reviews the “Current Pharmacological Management of Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia.” Dr. Ron Keren, the chair of the 3rd Canadian Colloquium on Dementia (CCD), keeps us up to date with the newest information on dementia by reviewing the highlights from the Colloquium, which was held in October 2005 in Ottawa. This conference, held every other year, has become the leading conference on dementia for Canadian clinicians and clinician researchers, and has a global impact. The 4th CCD, scheduled for the fall of 2007, will be held in Vancouver. The innovative format of the meeting ensures that everybody can benefit, whether specialist, researcher, or primary care physician.

Many of our regular columns this month also touch on the topic of dementia. Dr. John Wherrett’s Biology of Aging column, “Morphological and Cellular Aspects of the Aging Brain,” provides important baseline information for those of us who try to understand the clinical pathological changes of the various dementias. Keeping with the theme, our Caregiving column this month is on “Reporting on Quality of Long-Term Care Homes in Ontario” by Jennifer Gold, Tamara Shulman, and Dr. Paula Rochon. The topic of our Dementia column this month is “Nonpharmaceutical Management of Hypokinetic Dysarthria in Parkinson’s Disease” by Drs A. M. Johnson and S.G. Adams. Even our book review this month touches on dementia. Hazel Sebastian, a renowned geriatric social worker, reviews the book “Parenting Your Parents, 2nd Edition” by Bart Mindszenthy and Dr. Michael Gordon.

This month’s Cardiovascular Disease column is on that most common of arrhythmias in the elderly: atrial fibrillation. Finally, Drs. Rajneesh Calton, Vijay Chauhan, and Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar review a critical controversy in the management of atrial fibrillation in their discussion of “Rate vs. Rhythm Control and Anticoagulation.”

Enjoy this issue,
Barry Goldlist

Wandering: Clues to Effective Management

Wandering: Clues to Effective Management

Teaser: 


Donna L. Algase, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Wandering is among the most challenging behaviours associated with dementia. While research is progressing toward a fuller understanding of this phenomenon, the basis for deriving effective and tested interventions has not been fully developed. In this paper, wandering is defined from multiple perspectives, and its various outcomes and risks are discussed. Putative causes of wandering are summarized. Finally, an approach to aid clinicians in discovering effective strategies for managing an individual’s wandering is presented.
Key words: wandering, dementia, assessment, intervention, primary care.