Having a good listener in one’s life may help slow cognitive decline: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 18, 2021
Older adults who have regular interactions with active listeners are more likely to have cognitive functioning that contradicts evidence of dementia-related brain changes, a new study finds.
Early Alzheimer’s diagnosis may unintentionally hamper social engagement
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 23, 2021
Clinicians should identify strategies to alleviate the social impacts of dementia diagnoses and encourage patients to mobilize informal support networks, researchers say.
CMS shares new coverage details for Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 26, 2023
On the eve of an FDA decision, CMS has released new information about the detailed patient data that clinicians must provide to ensure Medicare coverage when prescribing Leqembi.
MA enrollees with dementia report poor quality of care: study
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 09, 2022
Medicare Advantage plans will be more incentivized to address gaps in care if consumer care assessments include more input from enrollees with dementia, investigators say.
Primary care clinicians on front lines of early Alzheimer’s care in rural U.S., study reveals
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 09, 2022
Primary care doctors and NPs, rather than specialists, are more likely to provide care for early-onset dementias in rural areas.
Docs struggle with making MCI diagnoses, 2022 Alzheimer’s report finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 23, 2022
Less than half of primary care physicians surveyed report being comfortable diagnosing mild cognitive impairment that’s due to Alzheimer’s disease. Fully 90% told researchers that it is “hard...
Epilepsy raises risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and vice-versa
By
Alicia Lasek
May 29, 2023
People with a common type of epilepsy have nearly four times the relative odds of receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, a new study finds.
Medicare’s plan to cover Alzheimer’s drugs hinges on patient data registries
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 02, 2023
Medicare Part B will cover Alzheimer’s drugs with traditional FDA approval, CMS announced Thursday. Prescribing clinicians must participate in a patient data registry.
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).
Community burden of dementia symptoms mirrors that of nursing homes, caregiver survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Apr 29, 2022
Frequent, unsubtle symptoms have a big impact on patient quality of life, but are often unreported in primary care, investigators report.