Outpatient treatment of sleep disorders in Alzheimer patients.

Sleep disorders are common in patients with Alzheimer dementia and affect the quality of life of patients and of their caregivers. Despite the rising number of studies in the area, almost all of them are about non-pharmacological treatment. Our objective was to review the literature concerning pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to treat sleep disorders of elderly patients with Alzheimer dementia in the ambulatory setting.

Mortality due to respiratory diseases in the elderly after influenza vaccination campaigns in the Federal District, Brazil, 1996-2009.

Objective: To compare mortality rates due to respiratory diseases among elderly individuals residing in the Federal District of Brasília, Brazil, prior to and after the implementation of a national influenza vaccination campaign.

Methods: This was an ecological time series analysis. Data regarding the population of individuals who were over 60 years of age between 1996 and 2009 were obtained from official databases.

A placebo-controlled double-blind randomized study of venlafaxine in the treatment of depression in dementia.

Background/aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine in the treatment of major depression in dementia.

Methods: Thirty-one outpatients who had dementia and major depression participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week, flexible dose clinical trial. The screening measures were Cornell Scale for depression in dementia, DSM-IV for depression and dementia and Mini-Mental State Examination.

An exploratory open-label trial of ziprasidone for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ziprasidone in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Method: A 7-week open-label trial of ziprasidone.

Results: Of the 25 patients who participated, 15 completed the study.