International psychogeriatrics
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Increasing efforts are being devoted to the study of early onset dementia (EOD), namely dementia in persons under the age of 65. Until recently, it was assumed that dementia occurs primarily among people aged 65 and over. However, since the number of persons with EOD is increasing, its importance as a clinical and social problem is rising accordingly. The aim of the present paper is to summarize research in this area. ⋯ Research on EOD is still in its early stages. There is an urgent need to expand research that will lead to more effective diagnosis and management of EOD as well as to the allocation of funds and the development of appropriate services suitable for the unique needs of young people with dementia.
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Comparative Study
A retrospective, exploratory, secondary analysis of the association between antipsychotic use and mortality in elderly patients with delirium.
Delirium, an acute altered level of cognition, is a frequent complication of medical illness in the elderly. Antipsychotic medications (APs) are often used to treat agitation and psychosis in delirium. The goal of this study is to compare mortality in delirious elderly medical inpatients treated with APs with those who did not receive APs. ⋯ In elderly medical inpatients with delirium, administration of APs was not associated with a statistically significant increased risk of mortality. Larger studies are needed to clarify the safety of AP medication in elderly patients with delirium.
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Comparative Study
A comparative study of elderly suicides in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: trends over time and age-associated trends.
The elderly population size in the U.K. and its constituent countries is increasing. Traditionally, suicide rates increase with aging. ⋯ The similarities and differences in elderly suicide rates, time trends for elderly suicide rates and age-associated trends in suicide rates between the three constituent countries of the U.K. offer an opportunity to examine the differential characteristics between these countries which may potentially explain these observations.
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The study aimed to assess the clinical utility of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) in patients referred to memory clinics, alone and in combination with the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) and the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). ⋯ In a memory clinic based population, the IQCODE proved sensitive for the diagnosis of dementia but overall diagnostic accuracy was suboptimal. Combining the IQCODE in series with the ACE-R or MMSE greatly improved diagnostic utility.