I share my tips for #caregivers on how to respond to behavioral & psychological symptoms of #dementia (#BPSD).

Based on my talk at the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute Regional Milwaukee Office's "Breaking the Silence" event on April 21.

#MedMastodon #GeriMastodon

https://wai.wisc.edu/breakthesilence/

Interested in learning more about how #caregivers can support persons living with #dementia?

Check out my presentation at the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute Milwaukee Regional Office "Breaking the Silence" event:

https://wai.wisc.edu/breakthesilence/

#MedMastodon #GeriMastodon

What a wonderful story in the @washingtonpost ...

Older adults share with a palliative care physician their wisdom regarding relationships that last.

#GeriMastodon #geriatrics #psychmastodon

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/14/lifelong-couples-relationship-advice/

Great editorial by Ganguli and Hendrie decrying #ageism in politics, specifically the term "gerontocracy."

https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(22)00560-7/fulltext

#geriatrics #GeriMastodon

Another great resource regarding #ageism, this time as it pertains to the widespread adoption of telehealth:

https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(22)00557-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

"The assumption that older adults can or should utilize information technology for access to healthcare with the same facility as younger age cohorts represents a trifecta of ageism, mentalism and ableism."

#geriatrics #GeriMastodon

A deep dive into the relationship between cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and #apathy - exploring the concept of "vascular apathy."

While there is consistent evidence linking CVD with apathy, there are other factors that could contribute to apathy, e.g., depression or neurodegenerative disease.

(Note that apathy is the most common behavioral/psychological symptom of #dementia.)

https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(22)00526-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

#GeriMastodon #Geriatrics #Psychiatry

In light of commentary I have seen today on Mastodon that President Biden is too old to run again, I would like share some resources to raise awareness of ageism.

Check out the blog, "Yo, Is This Ageist?"

https://yoisthisageist.com/

"Generalizations about the capacities of older people are no more acceptable than racial or gender stereotypes. Period."

#GeriMastodon #Geriatrics

I hope to see you in Milwaukee, WI, on April 21, 2023, for the 9th Annual Minority Health Month Event hosted by the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute:

"Breaking the Silence: Addressing Dementia in Communities of Color"

#Geriatrics #GeriMastodon #dementia #Alzheimers

https://wai.wisc.edu/breakthesilence/

Pretty good review of neurobiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of #apathy in older adults.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-022-02292-3

#GeriMastodon #geriatrics

A framework for addressing the combination of structural #racism & #ageism:

- "When people from historically marginalized groups who have experienced a lifetime of racism then become older, they experience the added injustice of ageism as well."

- "Injustice in any form is an affront to the core values of #geriatrics practice."

https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jgs.18105

#GeriMastodon #MedMastodon @AGSjournal@twitter.com

This account of two older adults struggling to get Paxlovid for #COVID19 in our broken healthcare system is painful to read.

Thank you, Dr. Mangurian, for sharing your parents' story.

https://jamanetwork-com.ezproxy.library.wisc.edu/journals/jama/fullarticle/2800108

#Geriatrics #Gerimastodon

Public service announcement to U.S. older adults and their families:

PLEASE do not select a Medicare Advantage plan. You may pay less now in premiums, but you will pay much much more later in bills (or will be denied necessary care).

This is increasingly happening to my patients.

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/its-time-to-end-the-medicare-advantage-scam/

#Geriatrics #GeriMastodon

Moving account of what the #COVID19 pandemic took away from older adults - besides their lives, of course.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/04/06/matter-time/

Eg,

"It’s this perpetual state of blahness. It’s like a zero. It’s not bad, it’s not good. I don’t feel as if I’m depressed, but I also don’t have much energy. My friends and I exchange emails, so we’re not completely out of touch, but it’s still isolating ... I’m not depressed, but I’m not happy, either. I just am."

#geriatrics #gerimastodon

Good news:

- the risk of #serotonin syndrome is low in hospitalized older adults treated with #linezolid (around 0.5%)
- antidepressants do not increase the risk of serotonin syndrome in these patients

So, being on an #antidepressant should not be a contraindication to receiving linezolid and antidepressants do not need to be stopped when linezolid is prescribed.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799688

#MedMastodon #GeriMastodon #Psychiatry

Drug overdose deaths for older adults in the US have more than tripled over the last 20 years.

Black men & women are disproportionately affected.

#psychiatry #psych #psychmastodon #geriatrics #gerimastodon

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db455.htm

Happy #Monday !

I’m a big fan of NIA’s “Healthy Aging Highlights,” which are geared towards older adults. Here’s the latest one, on myths about #dementia and #alzheimers disease:

https://mailchi.mp/nih.gov/myths-about-alzheimers-disease-51882?e=f3fe6a0cd0

#gerimastodon #geriatrics

Happy Saturday!

l'd love to share a beautiful quote about #caregiving in George Johnson's memoir, "All Boys Aren't Blue:"

"Caring for older human beings is truly a blessing. They are our living ancestors and something they did paved a way for us to exist. It's the least we can do to care for them."

#GeriMastodon #geriatrics

It’s great to see our paper on the use of healthcare & social services by people living with #dementia during the pandemic in print!
Kudos to Dr. Jack Hunt (formerly UWSMPH MSTP student, now #Psychiatry resident at UCSD) for leading the project. Thanks to our amazing team at the Wisconsin #alzheimers Institute and our partners at Wisconsin Dept of Health Services.

#geriatrics #gerimastodon

https://wmjonline.org/121no3/hunt/

A very thoughtful and accurate read of the #lecanemab results:

https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/lecanemab-and-alzheimer-s-more-data

Also, I did not realize that the most recent gantenerumab study had failed.

#gerimastodon #geriatrics #NeuroMastodon #dementia #alzheimer

Here's the primary outcome, cognition as measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, Sum of Box (CDR-SB), an 18-point rating scale.

Over 18 months, CDR-SB worsened by 1.21 points with #lecanemab & 1.66 with placebo, a difference of 0.45.

Not impressive, for an IV infusion given every 2 weeks for 18 months.

#geriatrics #dementia #gerimastodon #neurology #neuromastodon