Hayden, Lisa J., Glynn, Shirley M., Hahn, Theodore J., Randall, Frychettya, Randolph, Eugenia

A large randomized trial evaluated the benefits of online education, support, and self-care promotion for caregivers of persons with dementia. Anecdotal reports from participants indicated enjoyment of the materials, convenient access from home, and support from professionals and other caregivers. A substantial number of screened caregivers experienced obstacles of access, cost, and time regarding use […]

Wray, Laura O., Shulan, Mollie D., Toseland, Ronald W., Freeman, Kurt E., Vásquez, Bob Edward, Gao, Jian

Purpose: Few studies have addressed the effects of caregiver interventions on the costs of care for the care recipient. This study evaluated the effects of a caregiver education and support group delivered via the telephone on care recipient health care utilization and cost.; Design and Methods: The Telehealth Education Program (TEP) is a manualized program […]

Dysken, Maurice W., Guarino, Peter D., Vertrees, Julia E., Asthana, Sanjay, Sano, Mary, Llorente, Maria, Pallaki, Muralidhar, Love, Susan, Schellenberg, Gerard D., McCarten, J. Riley, Malphurs, Julie, Prieto, Susana, Chen, Peijun, Loreck, David J., Carney, Sara, Trapp, George, Bakshi, Rajbir S., Mintzer, Jacobo E., Heidebrink, Judith L., Vidal-Cardona, Ana, Arroyo, Lillian M., Cruz, Angel R., Kowall, Neil W., Chopra, Mohit P., Craft, Suzanne, Thielke, Stephen, Turvey, Carolyn L., Woodman, Catherine, Monnell, Kimberly A., Gordon, Kimberly, Tomaska, Julie, Vatassery, Govind

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been associated with both oxidative stress and excessive glutamate activity. A clinical trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of (i) alpha-tocopherol, a vitamin E antioxidant; (ii) memantine (Namenda), an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist; (iii) their combination; and (iv) placebo in delaying clinical progression in AD.; Methods: The Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies […]

Yeh, Yen-Chi, Liu, Chien-Liang, Peng, Li-Ning, Lin, Ming-Hsien, Chen, Liang-Kung

Aim: Medication-related anticholinergic burden is a quality indicator for geriatric pharmacotherapy; however, little is known regarding the benefits of reducing anticholinergic burden for demented patients; Methods: Demented residents in a Veteran Home were enrolled for this study and an educational program was held for primary care physicians providing services at the Veterans Home. Residents were […]

Karlin, Bradley E., Visnic, Stephanie, Shealy McGee, Jocelyn, Teri, Linda

Dementia is often associated with challenging behaviors that can significantly impact the quality of life of individuals with dementia and pose great difficulty for long-term care staff. Antipsychotic medications, historically the mainstay approach for managing such behaviors, have increasingly been associated with limited efficacy and increased death risk with older dementia patients. In an effort […]

Gitlin, Laura N, Mann, William C, Vogel, W, Arthur, Paul B

Background: Behavioral symptoms accompanying dementia are associated with increased health care costs, reduced quality of life and daily functioning, heightened family caregiver burden, and nursing home placement. Standard care typically involves pharmacologic agents, but these are, at best, modestly effective, carry serious risks, including mortality, and do not address behavioral symptoms families consider most distressful […]