middle aged and senior woman

Don’t Blame Mom Anymore!

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

We all have heard the joke “blame mom”, “it was mom’s fault”, but according to a recent study at the University of Michigan, you can blame mom for exposing you to stress as a child! Yep, the research (done on roundworms) found that experiencing stress early in life may make you better able to fight stress you might encounter later …

Statins and Dementia – Connection?

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

A study funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) will help determine if statin use can prevent dementia and disability in those patients 75 years or older. It has long been said that the side effects of statins often outweigh the benefits (muscle pain, weakness, etc.). Maybe now we can contribute something positive to this important medication and weigh …

Hypertension Blood Pressure

Hypertension Could Lead to Dementia

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Recent studies have shown that people with hypertension in midlife have a higher risk of developing dementia. This study, although limited, may be important to you and the caregivers in your communities. Unfortunately, many of our residents are past midlife and this information may not be relevant to them. That said, it may be helpful for your staff, family members …

Depression in Dementia with Lewy Body

Dementia with Lewy Bodies is associated with higher scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale than Alzheimer’s disease

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

Several reports have suggested a higher morbidity of depression in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies than those with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, those results have not been consistently duplicated. The psychiatric symptoms of dementia, such as depression, are important for its diagnosis and management. As a result, this study aimed to clarify the qualities of the depressive symptoms in DLB …

Anticholinergic Drugs and Dementia

Common prescription drugs could result in dementia

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, News

A new study by JAMA Internal Medicine found that certain classes of anticholinergic drugs — particularly antidepressants such as paroxetine or amitriptyline, bladder antimuscarinics such as oxybutynin or tolterodine, antipsychotics such as chlorpromazine or olanzapine and antiepileptic drugs such as oxcarbazepine or carbamazepine increased the odds of dementia by nearly 50%. This reinforces the suspected belief that there is an …