Dementia diagnosis offers missed opportunity to cut meds, study finds
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 22, 2023
Cardiometabolic and anticholinergic medications fell slightly when people were diagnosed with dementia, while drugs affecting the central nervous system (CNS) increased, according to a new study.
Report: Caregivers are left out of Alzheimer’s, dementia clinical trials
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 22, 2023
A new study explores the lack of integration of family caregivers to support their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) who are part of clinical trials.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Aug. 22
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 22, 2023
FDA gives OK to higher dose of eye disease drug … Shingles, pneumonia shots may lower Alzheimer’s risk … More findings on the Parkinson’s, gut link … Being bilingual may offer a memory perk...
Telemedicine visits in nursing communities soared and then fell during pandemic, report finds
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 21, 2023
When the pandemic rolled out across the world in early 2020, a lot of nursing communities turned to telemedicine. A new report shares just how much those communities leaned on telehealth services at the...
New guidance for treating hypoglycemia in long-term care stresses understanding of glucagon
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 21, 2023
There’s some new guidance on treating hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in long-term care communities. It’s specifically geared for healthcare workers, though anyone who is a caregiver for someone...
Report: Older adults living solo with cognitive impairment need more support
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 21, 2023
A new study gives more insights into how healthcare professionals view living arrangements when they are caring for people with cognitive impairment. On the whole, more interventions are necessarily to...
Clinical briefs for Monday, Aug. 21
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 21, 2023
What to know about the BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19 … Hot weather affects how some meds work … Lack of insurance could bump people in line for COVID-19 vaccines … More baby boomers are comfortable...
Reduce unneeded urine testing to cut antibiotic use in long-term care, study advises
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 18, 2023
If healthcare workers in long-term care communities can reduce unnecessary urine culture testing on residents, they can also lower the amount of unneeded antibiotics, according to a new report in The BMJ.
FDA fast-tracked dementia drug with known harms, reporter says
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 18, 2023
An article in The BMJ is sounding the alarm that the US Food and Drug Administration fast-tracked approval for the dementia drug Rexulti (brexpiprazole) — even though trials show the drug is harmful.
Combat loneliness by raising resilience factors, study says
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 18, 2023
When older people expand their social networks, engage in activities and use technology — upping their “resilience factors” — it can reduce their risk of loneliness and all the health ailments...