A controlled trial of Partners in Dementia Care: veteran outcomes after six and twelve months.

Introduction: "Partners in Dementia Care" (PDC) tested the effectiveness of a care-coordination program integrating healthcare and community services and supporting veterans with dementia and their caregivers. Delivered via partnerships between Veterans Affairs medical centers and Alzheimer's Association chapters, PDC targeted both patients and caregivers, distinguishing it from many non-pharmacological interventions. Hypotheses posited PDC would improve five veteran self-reported outcomes: 1) unmet need, 2) embarrassment about memory problems, 3) isolation, 4) relationship strain and 5) depression.

Current management decisions in mild cognitive impairment.

Efforts toward early detection of Alzheimer disease (AD) have focused on refinement and identification of diagnostic markers, with the goal of preventing or delaying disease progression. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has emerged as a potential precursor to dementia. Though not without controversy, MCI has been associated with an increased risk for conversion to AD.

Attitude adjustment: shaping medical students' perceptions of older patients with a geriatrics curriculum.

For more than half a century, scientific research has documented widespread avoidance and even denial of aging. Though nothing new, aversive reactions to the elderly are not only unfortunate but dangerous today, as increasing life expectancy and consequent demand for specialized geriatric medical care vastly outpace the supply of qualified clinicians equipped to provide it. This discrepancy has led to a crisis that is not easily resolved.

Driver safety in older adults. The physician's role in assessing driving skills of older patients.

Physicians play an important role in addressing driving safety issues with their patients. This is especially true when age-associated changes, medical conditions and medications are likely to increase crash risk. Unfortunately, physicians have little or no training in determining crash risk.