Why attend a memory clinic? What do patients and their families want and/or expect?

Objective: To explore which symptoms led people to seek a memory clinic assessment and what they wanted and expected from that assessment. Did the patient and family want and/or expect diagnostic disclosure and, if so, why?

Methods: Patients scheduled for memory clinic appoint-ments received two questionnaires by post prior to clinic attendance - one for the patient, one for the next-of- kin - regarding symptomatology, wants, expectations and rationale.

Results: Ninety-two per cent of patients (n = 47) and 88% (n = 43) of next-of-kin wanted the patient to be informed of the diagnosis; 84% (n = 43) of patients and 86% (n = 42) of next-of-kin expected the patient to be informed.

Disclosing a dementia diagnosis: what do patients and family consider important?

Background: The literature available on the format of the feedback session following assessment of memory impairment is minimal. This study explored how this information should be presented from the perspective of patients and their families.

Methods: Thirty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with memory clinic patients and their carer at the clinic visit that followed the feedback session, to ask: what they recalled, what they found helpful, and what they thought was the best way to disclose a diagnosis of dementia.

Health professionals' and students' perceptions of elder abuse.

Aim: This study aimed to compare perceptions about elder abuse among health professionals and students in the same health disciplines.

Methods: The Caregiving Scenario Questionnaire (CSQ) was disseminated to Australian health professionals from two metropolitan health services and to university health care students.

Results: One hundred and twenty health professionals and 127 students returned surveys.

Metal-protein attenuation with iodochlorhydroxyquin (clioquinol) targeting Abeta amyloid deposition and toxicity in Alzheimer disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial.

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) may be caused by the toxic accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta).

Objective: To test this theory, we developed a clinical intervention using clioquinol, a metal-protein-attenuating compound (MPAC) that inhibits zinc and copper ions from binding to Abeta, thereby promoting Abeta dissolution and diminishing its toxic properties.

Methods: A pilot phase 2 clinical trial in patients with moderately severe Alzheimer disease.

Why participate in an Alzheimer's disease clinical trial? Is it of benefit to carers and patients?

Background: We explored carer motivation for seeking participation for a relative in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical drug trial, to assess impressions of the value of trial participation. We also surveyed the carers of patients who did not meet study entry screening criteria to see if our conduct of the screening visit was acceptable and ethical.

Method: A retrospective questionnaire was sent to the carers of 36 randomized participants and 22 carers of patients who did not meet study entry screening criteria for an AD clinical treatment trial.

Carer impressions of participation in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: what are their hopes? And is it worth it?

Background: We aimed to assess why carers seek participation for their relatives in clinical trials of Alzheimer's disease (AD) medications, and to assess carer impressions of the value of trial participation.

Method: A retrospective questionnaire was sent to 31 carers of participants in clinical trials for AD conducted at the Mental Health Research Institute and the National Aging Research Institute between January 1997 and December 1999.

Results: Twenty-five questionnaires (81%) were returned, completed to an extent to permit analysis.