Beta-blockers are recommended as first-line symptomatic treatment for stable angina. However, their impact on mortality outside the context of myocardial infarction is unknown. We performed a meta-analysis of all randomized trials of beta-blockers in stable angina. Medical databases and cardiology journals were searched for relevant randomized clinical trials. The primary ...

Abstract Objective. In contrast to coeliac disease (CD), the mechanism behind non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is unclear. The aims of the study were to measure the presence of somatization, personality traits, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life in NCGS individuals compared with CD patients and healthy controls, and to ...

To compare the phenomenology and course of bereavement-related depression to depression that occurred later in the course of bereavement and to depression in non-bereaved youth. This sample is drawn from a cohort of parentally bereaved youth and non-bereaved controls followed for approximately 5 years. Three groups of depressed youth were ...

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to provide further detail about the results of a randomised controlled study published in this journal (Raglio et al., 2010, 14, 900-904), in which we assessed the efficacy of music therapy (MT) on the behavioural disturbances in people with moderate-severe dementia. Methods: Sixty ...

BACKGROUND: In the CALYPSO trial, carboplatin-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (CD) demonstrated superior therapeutic index versus carboplatin-paclitaxel (CP) in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. This paper reports the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) findings.Materials and methods:HRQoL was measured with the EORTC QoL-QC30 questionnaire and OV28 ovarian cancer module. Mean change scores from ...

ABSTRACTBackground: Quality of life (QoL) in dementia is a complex construct and factors that predict QoL ratings are unclear. We designed this study to determine: (1) the agreement in QoL ratings between community-dwelling patients with mild to moderate dementia and family carers; and (2) the factors associated with self-reported and ...

OBJECTIVE:: To review systematically, for the first time, the effectiveness of all pharmacologic interventions to improve quality of life and well-being in people with dementia. DESIGN:: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS:: We systematically reviewed the 15 randomized controlled trials and one review that fitted predetermined criteria. We included studies that ...

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down's syndrome is very high, and many such individuals who are older than 40 years have pathological changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Evidence to support treatment with Alzheimer's drugs is inadequate, although memantine is beneficial in transgenic mice. We aimed to assess ...

ABSTRACTBackground: Accuracy of estimation of time-intervals has received marginal attention in psychogeriatrics. We examined presumed differences in this time measure in participants with dementia (PWD) versus participants without dementia (PWoutD), further subdivided into specific diagnoses and performance subgroups. We also studied its demographic, clinical, and cognitive correlates and predictors. A ...

This study assessed five scoring methods of the Clock-Drawing test (CDT). A total of 72 out-patients and 29 healthy controls were assessed three times. At Visit 1, diagnostic procedure and assessments were performed with the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), and the CDT and the Mini ...

Long-acting bronchodilators comprising long-acting beta(2)-agonists and the anticholinergic agent tiotropium are commonly used for managing persistent symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Combining these treatments, which have different mechanisms of action, may be more effective than the individual components. However, the benefits and risks of combining tiotropium and long-acting beta(2)-agonists ...

ABSTRACTBackground: There are few studies on validation of depression scales in the elderly in Latin America. This study aimed to assess the validity of Montgomery-Åsberg. Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) in Brazilian elderly outpatients.Methods: A convenience sample of 95 outpatients was diagnosed for ...

The objective of this study was to validate a Spanish version of the Cornell-Brown Scale (CBS) for quality of life (QoL) in dementia. One hundred persons with mild-to-moderate dementia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, 4th edition) were recruited and interviewed at 5 Spanish centers to obtain ...

ABSTRACTBackground: Dementia caregiving has been linked to negative consequences for mental health in caregivers. Although depression seems to be an enduring psychological consequence associated with caregiving, little is known about the longitudinal effects that modulating variables related to coping strategies have on caregiver's changes in depression over time. This study ...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to test the accuracy of the Nijmegen Observer-Rated Depression (NORD) scale, a new short scale for screening of depression in nursing home (NH) residents with and without dementia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study with 103 residents with dementia (N = 19 depressed) and 72 residents without dementia (N = 10 depressed) ...

OBJECTIVES:: To study the frequency of overlapping of delirium with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) among patients with dementia, and to investigate the prognostic value of delirium, multiple NPS without delirium, or neither during a 2-year follow-up. METHODS:: We assessed 425 consecutive patients in acute geriatric wards and in seven nursing homes ...

Background: Nocturnal sleep of patients suffering from various forms of dementia is often impaired by nocturnal agitation or nocturnal wandering. Anticonvulsives such as carbamazepine or valproate are reported to have some therapeutic efficacy, but there is little information about other drugs suitable for treatment of this condition.<br /> Case Report: ...

This study examined the prevalence of irritability and social isolation in veterans with dementia, with and without depression. Participants were diagnosed with dementia and enrolled in a dementia care-coordination and support-service intervention. Participants were interviewed and underwent assessment with the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, a Patient Strain ...

Aim: To investigate quality of life (QOL) and the effect of memantine treatment in patients with Lewy body dementias. Methods: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled study in 70 patients with Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) over 24 weeks using caregiver-rated QOL-Alzheimer's disease (AD) ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Dementia affects the mood of people with dementia but also of their caregivers. In the coming years, the number of people with dementia will increase worldwide and most of them will continue to live in the community as long as possible. Home-based psychosocial interventions reducing the depressive symptoms ...

Background/Aims: To explore the presenting and early symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Method: Patients with mild dementia fulfilling diagnostic criteria for DLB (n = 61) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 109) were recruited from outpatient dementia clinics in western Norway. At diagnosis, caregivers were asked which symptom ...

Apathy and depression are the most prevalent neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Despite much research on apathy and depression in dementia, the nosological position of apathy as a separate syndrome from depression remains debated. This literature review provides a critical analysis of the areas of clinical ...

The diagnosis of depression in older patients is often complicated by comorbid conditions, such as cerebrovascular disease or dementia. Tools specific for this age group, such as the Geriatric Depression Scale or the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, may assist in making the diagnosis. Treatment decisions should consider risks ...

OBJECTIVE:: We examine historical changes from 1992 to 2008 in the severity of dementia and accompanying neuropsychiatric symptoms among persons presenting for evaluation and treatment at a multiracial urban dementia center. METHODS:: We reviewed intakes of white (n=197) and black (n=568) patients seen at a dementia center in New York ...

Hypertension (HT) and dementia are common disorders in the elderly. HT in the elderly is associated with increased occurrence rates of dementia including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). In connection to this, some studies have suggested that HT in old age correlates with the pathogenesis of dementia. Since ...

Aims.  To investigate the efficacy of applying a Montessori intervention to improve the eating ability and nutritional status of residents with dementia in long-term care facilities. Background.  An early intervention for eating difficulties in patients with dementia can give them a better chance of maintaining independence and reduce the risk ...

Rivastigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, is available as a transdermal patch (Exelon® patch, Rivastach® patch, Prometax® patch) for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Rivastigmine transdermal patch was effective, in terms of improving cognitive and global function, and generally well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate dementia of ...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) with psychotic features is relatively frequent in patients with greater depressive symptom severity and is associated with a poorer course of illness and greater functional impairment than MDD without psychotic features. Multiple studies have found that patients with psychotic mood disorders demonstrate significantly poorer cognitive performance ...

Background:  Agitation in dementia seriously affects not only patients' quality of life (QOL), but also caregivers' QOL. Thus, an appropriate assessment of agitated behaviour in dementia is needed for clinical management. We developed the Japanese version of the Agitated Behaviour in Dementia scale (ABID), examined its reliability and validity, and ...

PURPOSE: To identify correlates of self-rated and caregiver-rated quality of life (QOL) in community-residing persons with dementia (PWD) for intervention development. METHODS: Cross-sectional data of 254 PWD and their caregivers participating in a clinical trial were derived from in-home assessments. Self-rated QOL was measured with the Quality of Life-Alzheimer Disease ...

We present a systematic review of existing research that aims to assess the efficacy and safety of herbal medications (HM), as either monotherapy or adjunct to orthodox medications (OM), mainly comprised of cholinesterase inhibitors, for vascular dementia (VaD). We included 47 studies conducted in mainland China, each testing different HM. ...

Background and purpose:  To translate the Dementia quality of life instrument (DQoL) into German and assess its construct and concurrent validity in community-dwelling people with mild to moderate dementia. Methods:  Dementia quality of life instrument data of two pooled samples (n = 287) were analysed regarding ceiling and floor effects, internal consistency, ...

OBJECTIVES:: To determine if family caregivers of hospitalized individuals with dementia exhibit greater depression severity than caregivers of outpatients. METHODS:: Caregivers were recruited during care recipient treatment. Measures assessed depression, stress, burden, and grief. RESULTS:: Forty-one caregivers of a hospitalized patient and 44 caregivers of an outpatient (total N = ...

OBJECTIVE:: To 1) compare the accuracy of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) in nursing home residents with dementia when professional caregivers are the only available source of information and 2) explore different methods to account for missing items. DESIGN:: Cross-sectional ...

Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) is a promising treatment approach for older adults with dementia because it aims at supporting the management of day-to-day problems. There is insufficient evidence regarding whether CR provides clinically meaningful benefits. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptance, efficacy, and usefulness of a CR intervention in ...

Objective: To explore the course of depression in people with mild dementia and identify predictors for depression at 1-year follow-up. Methods: Patients with mild dementia (n = 199) were assessed using Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the depression item from Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at baseline and after ...

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with the selection of pharmacological treatments often given as first-line treatments to elderly patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia. It also evaluated patterns of medication usage over time in the year preceding and three years after the U.S. Food and Drug ...

Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) account for 10-15% of late onset dementias. Key treatment targets include cognitive and functional impairments, neuropsychiatric symptoms including intense and persistent visual hallucinations, and parkinsonism. Six-month, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine have indicated modest but ...

We compared patterns of neuropsychiatric symptoms across 4 dementia types [Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VAD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Parkinson disease dementia], and 2 mixed groups (AD/VAD and AD/DLB) in sample of 2,963 individuals from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set between September 2005 and ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Substituted judgment asks the proxy to decide what the patient would have decided, had he or she been competent. It is unclear whether substituted judgment of the patient's quality of life can serve as a surrogate measure in patients with dementia. Methods: 212 patients with dementia and their ...

Background/Aim: It has been questioned whether cognitive and behavioral scales sufficiently address the impact of dementia on the everyday life of patients. Therefore, other instruments are used, such as scales of activities of daily living (ADL). Our goal was to analyze variables influencing the appraisal of ADL. Method: Prospective cohort ...

OBJECTIVE:: To describe a patient with prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) manifesting as sertraline-induced parkinsonism. DESIGN:: Case report. SETTING:: Tertiary referral center. PATIENT:: A 75-year-old man who initially presented with anxiety and depression along with mild cognitive impairment, later developed drug-induced parkinsonism because of sertraline treatment, and eventually showed ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Depression in people with dementia has important implications, such as reduced quality of life of patients and carers, and is associated with increased costs and reduced cognition. Here, we review recent studies of the epidemiology, course, mechanisms and treatment of depression in people with dementia. RECENT FINDINGS: ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Peer support interventions can improve carer wellbeing and interventions that engage both the carer and person with dementia can have significant mutual benefits. Existing research has been criticised for inadequate rigour of design or reporting. This paper describes the protocol for a complex trial that evaluates one-to-one peer ...

ABSTRACTBackground: Depression in informal caregivers of persons with dementia is a major, costly and growing problem. However, it is not yet clear which caregivers are at increased risk of developing depression. With this knowledge preventive strategies could focus on these groups to maximize health gain and minimize effort.Methods: The onset ...

Late-life depression is associated with increased risk of dementia, but the temporal relationship between depression and development of dementia remains unclear. To examine the association between risk of dementia and baseline depressive symptoms; history of depression, particularly early-life (<50 years) vs late-life depression (≥50 years); and individual domains of the ...

Studies on humans show that depressive disorder is associated with an increased risk of developing cognitive dysfunction, and animal studies suggest that antidepressants may have neuroprotective abilities. On the basis of these observations, it was hypothesized that treatment with antidepressants may decrease the risk of developing dementia in patients with ...

Patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia demonstrate abnormalities in behaviour and social cognition, including deficits in emotion recognition. Recent studies suggest that the neuropeptide oxytocin is an important mediator of social behaviour, enhancing prosocial behaviours and some aspects of emotion recognition across species. The objective of this study was to ...

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess which clinical factors contribute most to the impairment of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in patients with dementia in Parkinson's disease (PDD) as compared to age- and dementia duration-matched patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Eighteen consecutive subjects (16 men, 2 women) with ...

Apathy in patients with dementia is common, underrecognized, and undertreated. We sought to improve understanding of the pharmacologic treatment of apathy in dementia by performing a systematic literature review of studies that used apathy outcome scales to document results of pharmacologic treatments for apathy. There is limited evidence of efficiency ...