Early dementia risk disclosure encourages help from family members
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2021
Family members of older adults value early dementia risk information provided by clinicians, a new study finds. When interviewed about their post-disclosure reactions, some said the knowledge prompted...
Helping seniors hear better may slow declining physical function, new findings suggest
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2021
The study linked hearing impairment to faster functional decline — particularly in seniors’ balance skills. As a treatable condition, hearing loss may be a target for interventions, improving quality...
COVID-19 vaccine more effective in nursing home residents with past virus exposure: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2021
Nursing home residents who have had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection have stronger responses to vaccination than those who have not been exposed to the virus, a real-life investigation finds.
Clinical briefs for Friday, July 16
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2021
Feds now reviewing prospect of COVID-19 boosters for fully vaccinated people … Cleveland Clinic, Mount Sinai won’t give Aduhelm to patients … FDA chief acknowledges possible missteps on Aduhelm approval...
Slow buy-in: Only 3% of neurologists have written Aduhelm prescriptions so far
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 15, 2021
Neurologists are very aware of Biogen’s newly approved Alzheimer’s drug, but few have prescribed it so far, a real-time study of the brand’s market launch has found.
Nonprofit tapped by Congress invests $11M to boost vaccination rates among long-term care workers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 15, 2021
The studies will compare methods of encouraging vaccine uptake. One will recruit 6,000 workers at 30 long-term care facilities in Washington state and Georgia. The other, at Dartmouth College, will recruit...
Dementia diagnostics more accurate when patients recall Cinderella story
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 15, 2021
Narrating an overlearned story, such as the Cinderella fairy tale, gave the most accurate results, identifying Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment with 78% accuracy, investigators say.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, July 15
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 15, 2021
FDA adds provider warning to J&J vaccine regarding rare neurological disorder … Biogen’s dementia drug Aduhelm could cost Medicaid up to $2.2 billion a year … Biden to nominate West Virginia’s...
Require COVID-19 vaccination of all healthcare workers, seven clinical groups say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 14, 2021
Their evidence-based verdict: healthcare institutions and facilities — including long-term care facilities — should require that their personnel be vaccinated as a condition of employment.
CMS to weigh national Medicare coverage for Aduhelm, other Alzheimer’s drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 14, 2021
The agency is considering whether to establish a national coverage policy for monoclonal antibody drugs that treat Alzheimer’s disease, including the newly approved drug aducanumab (Aduhelm).