Articles: dementia.
-
To estimate the prevalence of dementia and its subtypes by sex and age group for five regions of Canada. ⋯ These Canadian estimates of the prevalence of dementia fall toward the upper end of the ranges in other studies, whereas the estimates for Alzheimer's disease fall in the middle of the ranges. This may suggest an unusual balance between Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in the Canadian population.
-
Dementia is a complex syndrome associated with cognitive impairment, personality change, and behavioral disturbance. Behavioral symptoms frequently present the greatest challenge for caregivers and are often the determining factor in institutional placement. Determining the need for pharmacologic treatment of an agitated patient requires considering the full range of biopsychosocial variables and ultimately involves assessing the risks and benefits of the medications selected for the patient. In this article, the phenomenology of agitation is reviewed along with the pharmacologic treatment of agitation in patients with dementia, including the use of benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, beta-adrenergic-blocking agents, serotonergic agents, carbamazepine, and lithium.
-
To find out what difficulties general practitioners (GPs) experience with diagnosing and managing dementia. ⋯ Recommendations arising from the survey were: development of an assessment protocol and a screening instrument, regular cognitive check-ups for patients over 75 years, educational programs, improved coordination with Aged Care Assessment Teams and Community Services, inventories and registers of local community services and residential facilities, and appropriate Medicare rebates.
-
Review Case Reports
Ceramic lead glaze ingestions in nursing home residents with dementia.
Three cases of acute lead ceramic glaze ingestions that occurred in elderly patients during art therapy classes in nursing homes are reported. Initial blood lead levels were 109 micrograms/dL (5.23 mumol/L), 259 micrograms/dL (10.43 mumol/L), and 85 micrograms/dL (4.08 mumol/L), respectively, and all patients underwent chelation therapy. ⋯ Ceramic lead glaze ingestions among institutionalized patients may be more common than generally appreciated and occasionally are associated with significant morbidity or, rarely, mortality. Simple preventive measures could eliminate the majority of such occurrences.