Warfarin Versus Non-Vitamin K Inhibitors Medications and Cognitive Disease Progression in Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with cognitive decline. Use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) medications offers a lower risk of dementia, but it is unclear whether differences exist between types of OAC agents.

Objective: This was a secondary analysis to explore whether the progression from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment to dementia differs between adults with AF on warfarin versus non-vitamin K inhibitors medications (NOACs) using data extracted from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center clinical case series.

Population Dementia Incidence and Direct Oral Anticoagulant Use in a Representative Population With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background And Objectives: Incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), a risk factor of dementia, have been increasing over time. Oral anticoagulation reduces risk of stroke and other negative outcomes of AF and may reduce dementia health inequities. The objective of this study was to estimate dementia incidence in patients with newly-diagnosed AF and taking an anticoagulant as use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) increased.

Diagnoses and Treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Persons Living with Dementia.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and prescribed central nervous system (CNS) active drugs to treat them are prevalent among persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (PLWD) and lead to negative outcomes for PLWD and their caregivers. Yet, little is known about racial/ethnic disparities in diagnosis and use of drugs to treat BPSD.

Objective: Quantify racial/ethnic disparities in BPSD diagnoses and CNS-active drug use among community-dwelling PLWD.

Estimates of diagnosed dementia prevalence and incidence among diverse beneficiaries in traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

Approximately half of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA), a private plan alternative to traditional Medicare (TM). Yet little is known about diagnosed dementia rates among MA enrollees, limiting population estimates. All (100%) claims of Medicare beneficiaries using encounter data for MA and claims for TM for the years 2015 to 2018 were used to quantify diagnosed dementia prevalence and incidence rates in MA, compare rates to TM, and provide estimates for the entire Medicare population and for different racial/ethnic populations.

COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality in community-dwelling racially and ethnically diverse persons living with dementia.

Background: Community-dwelling persons living with dementia (PLWD) are vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, severity, and mortality due to the high prevalence of comorbidities, reliance on caregivers, and potential inability to employ risk reduction measures, among other factors.

Methods: We used a retrospective cohort of Medicare Fee-For-Service beneficiaries enrolled from January 2018 to September 2020 (n = 13,068,583), a comparison cohort from January 2019 to April 2021 (n = 13,250,297), and logistic regression to estimate the effect of dementia on COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality in community-dwelling older persons.

Results: COVID-19 diagnoses were higher among persons living with dementia (PLWD) than those without dementia.

Benzodiazepine use and the risk of dementia.

Introduction: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are commonly prescribed for anxiety and agitations, which are early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). It is unclear whether BZDs causally affect ADRD risk or are prescribed in response to early symptoms of dementia.

Methods: We replicate prior case-control studies using longitudinal Medicare claims.

Changes in physical and mental health of Black, Hispanic, and White caregivers and non-caregivers associated with onset of spousal dementia.

Introduction: We aim to determine whether racial/ethnic health disparities are a consequence of caregiving for persons with dementia and/or health status before becoming a caregiver.

Methods: Longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2012) on 7859 Black, Hispanic, and White couples were analyzed for changes in physical and mental health with incident dementia of a spouse.

Results: Blacks and Hispanics, but not Whites, had poorer health before becoming caregivers for a spouse with dementia, than those who did not become caregivers.

Cognitive Assessment At Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit In Fee-For-Service And Medicare Advantage Plans.

The Medicare annual wellness visit-a preventive care visit free to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part B-requires detection of cognitive impairment. We surveyed an internet panel of adults ages sixty-five and older who were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare or Medicare Advantage to measure the use of that benefit and the receipt of structured cognitive assessment by 2019. Overall, approximately one-half of beneficiaries surveyed reported having an annual wellness visit, and fewer than one-third reported having a structured cognitive assessment.

Drug therapies for chronic conditions and risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: A scoping review.

Introduction: Most older Americans use drug therapies for chronic conditions. Several are associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).

Methods: A scoping review was used to identify drug classes associated with increasing or decreasing ADRD risk.

Parental Income and Wealth Loss and Transfers to their Young Adult Children.

As young people transition to adulthood, many rely on financial support from their parents to complete schooling and to live independently. Evidence suggests that there has been a gradual lengthening of the time young adults take to transition to adulthood. Young people attempting to move out of their parents' home, complete college, or enter the workforce during the Great Recession faced uncertain economic times, increasing their need for financial support.

Measuring Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias in Diverse Populations Using Medicare Claims Data.

We examined how methods used for identifying dementia in administrative claims affected dementia incidence across racial/ethnic populations using a 100% sample of Medicare beneficiaries (n = 23,793,452). We found levels differed by method from 3.1% annual incidence to 3.