Psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's Disease: a longitudinal study by the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi) in Catalonia, Spain.

Objectives: Psychotropic drugs are usually prescribed to deal with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, especially when nonpharmacologic approaches are not available or have limited efficacy. Poor outcomes and serious adverse events of the drugs used must be addressed, and risk-benefit ratios need to be considered. The aim of this longitudinal study was to describe the evolution of dispensation of psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to identify the associated demographic and clinical variables.

[Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. A follow three or more years of a sample of patients].

Introduction: The rates of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease show variations due to various factors. AIM. To determine the influence of age, education, gender, activities of daily living (ADL) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (IAChE) and memantine in the rhythm and rate of cognitive decline.

Predictors of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment using the CAMCOG: a five-year follow-up.

Background: There are discrepant findings regarding which subscales of the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG) are able to predict cognitive decline. The study aimed to identify the baseline CAMCOG subscales that can discriminate between patients and predict cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: This was a five-year case-control study of patients with cognitive impairment and a control group.

[Annual economic cost of informal care in Alzheimer's disease].

Introduction: The indirect cost associated with the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease is taken on primarily by the family.

Aim: To describe the cost associated with time dedication, its annual evolution, associated characteristics and related caregiver burden.

Subjects And Methods: Non-institutionalized patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease who are managed on an out-patient basis in a diagnosis unit and their primary caregivers.

Syndromic association of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Alzheimer disease and patient classification.

Objectives: To identify patient groups with Alzheimer disease (AD) according to the presence of psychological and behavioral syndromes and to determine the clinical differences among these groups.

Methods: Cross-sectional and observational study of 491 patients with probable AD whom were administered the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at the baseline visit and reevaluated after 12 months.

Results: Principal component analysis (PCA) of baseline NPI data revealed three factors, including a psychosis factor (delusions, hallucinations, and aberrant motor behavior), a depressive factor (depression, anxiety, irritability, agitation, and apathy) and a hypomanic factor (euphoria and disinhibition).

[Analysis of the demand for neurological health care generated by primary care in a geographical area within the districts of Girona].

Aim: To perform a descriptive analysis of the outpatient activity in a neurological department in terms of the frequency and type of neurological diseases that were attended.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients referred to the neurology outpatients department. The cases that visited for the first time during the years 2006 and 2007 were recorded consecutively.

[Cognitive profile in fibromyalgia. Comparison with a mild cognitive impairment group].

Objective: The neuropsychological assessment of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and with subjective cognitive complaints was analyzed. The group was compared with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group without FM.

Material And Method: Retrospective study of 32 patients with FM were evaluated and 86 patients with MCI without FM.

[A longitudinal study of apathy in patients with Alzheimer's disease].

Introduction: Apathy is the most common behavioral symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of apathy in patients with mild AD and at 12 months.

Patients And Methods: Longitudinal study in patients with AD assessed with Cambridge-Cognitive Revised (CAMCOG-R), Disability Assessment in Dementia (DAD) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).

[Differences among dementias according to onset age: study based on dementia registry data].

Introduction: To know cognitive, functional and sociodemographical features as risk factors in order to differentiate dementias based on onset age of illness.

Methods: Cross-sectional and analytical study based on 670 cases of a pilot program for dementia from the Gerona Hospital Registry for dementias. The cases were standardized and registered consecutively during the 2004-2005 biennium.

[Mortality rates in patients with Alzheimer's disease treated with atypical neuroleptic drugs].

Aim: To evaluate the influence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and a history of heart disease on increased mortality rates among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who have been treated with cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine and who received risperidone or olanzapine therapy during the time under study.

Patients And Methods: Our study involved a sample of 751 patients diagnosed with AD and treated with anti-dementia drugs. Of the total number, 10.

[Metabolic syndrome in Alzheimer's disease: clinical and developmental influences].

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) results in an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its implications when the disease is already well established remain unknown. AIM. To assess the influence of MS in the clinical manifestations and its effect on mortality among AD patients treated with anti-Alzheimer drugs.

Trazodone for Alzheimer's disease: a naturalistic follow-up study.

This study intended to provide a patient profile for trazodone (a triazolopyridine-derivative of phenylpiperazine) prescription in everyday clinical practice in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to describe clinical evaluation and the impact on caregiver burden at a 6-month follow-up. A naturalistic, prospective and observational study was performed, with a 6-month follow-up in 396 patients with probable AD, according to the NINCDS-ARDRA criteria. At the baseline and at the 6-month visit, patients were administered the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) to determine their Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to assess the impact on caregiver burden.

[Clinical heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease according to the age of onset].

Introduction: The age of onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been linked to the degree of clinical heterogeneity. Some studies have suggested that the presenile and senile forms may be different conditions.

Aim: To describe the clinical and developmental characteristics of patients with AD according to the age of onset.

[The feasibility of a registry of dementias: clinical features and diagnostic coverage].

Introduction And Aim: Classic epidemiological studies do not allow to know the dementia patterns of derivation and diagnosis in a defined territory. This information is fundamental for the planning and distribution of the sanitary and social resources to a medium-to-long term. The results of a pilot-registry program for dementia cases based on the population surveillance principles is presented.

[Mortality-associated factors in patients with Alzheimer's disease treated with galantamine].

Background And Objective: To study the effect of clinical and demographic variables on mortality in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor galantamine.

Patients And Method: This retrospective cohort study reviewed 172 medical records, gathering information such as demographic and clinical variables, adverse events, number of withdrawals and duration of treatment with galantamine.

Results: Of 172 patients, 18.

Comparison of different clinical diagnostic criteria for depression in Alzheimer disease.

Objective: Data in the literature show different estimates of the prevalence of depression in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) when different classification systems are used. This study describes the prevalence and clinical features of depression in AD based on five different depression classification systems.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study of 491 patients with probable AD.

Differential efficacy of treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease over a 6-month period.

There are various anticholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). All AChEIs have shown greater efficacy than placebo in randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trials. No differential studies have yet been made of the efficacy between all AChEIs.

[Cost relation between severity of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive and functional impairment].

Background And Objective: This study aims to identify the relationship between costs of medical and social attention in patients with dementia of Alzheimer disease (AD) type and clinical and sociodemographic data of patients and their caregivers.

Patients And Method: It was an analytic observational study in a cohort of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease who received ambulatory attention. Information about the use of health-related resources was collected and costs were estimated from a societal perspective.