Glucocorticoid Therapy is Associated with a Lower Risk of Dementia.

Background: Recent evidence indicates an important role for neuroinflammation in the pathological cascade of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and neuroinflammation is increasingly being recognized as a potential therapeutic target.

Objective: To assess the impact of glucocorticoids on the risk of developing dementia.

Methods: We used health insurance data of the largest German health insurer from 2004-2013 with a baseline sample of 176,485 persons aged 50 years and older to study the association of glucocorticoid treatment and incidence of dementia.

[Trends in the Prevalence of Dementia and Parkinson's Disease: An Analysis Based on Health Claims Data from all German Statutory Health Insurance Funds for Persons aged 65+in Germany 2009-2012].

Objectives: There will be an increase in the number of people with dementia (DEM) and Parkinson's disease (PD) with the ageing of the population. The aim of the study was to calculate prevalences and trends of prevalences for DEM and PD in Germany to enable reliable public health planning.

Methods: For the years 2009-2012, sex-specific period prevalences of DEM and PD for 5-year age-groups based on health claims data from all German statutory health insurance funds were calculated.

The Impact of Antipsychotic Drugs on Long-term Care, Nursing Home Admission, and Death in Dementia Patients.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are commonly treated with antipsychotic drugs (APDs), which have been associated with adverse health effects. We examine the effect of APDs on long-term care (LTC), nursing home (NH) admission, and death of dementia patients.

Methods: We used health claims data of the largest German health insurer from 2004 to 2010 and followed newly-diagnosed dementia patients aged 60 years and older into LTC, NH, and until death.