Efficacy of benzodiazepines and related drugs in patients over 75 years of age and impact on cognition.

Background: In France, despite the known risks, the use of benzodiazepines and related (BZD) is excessive, particularly in older populations. Over the age of 70, 1 person in 2 uses BZD on a long-term basis (more than 3 years), whereas it is recommended not to exceed 12 weeks. To compensate for the numerous undesirable effects and to maintain a positive benefit-risk balance, these treatments must be very effective and improve significantly the quality of life.

Decreased Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Is Associated With Cognitive Deficit in Elderly Patients.

Disruptions in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow during aging could compromise protein clearance from the brain and contribute to the etiology of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). To determine whether CSF flow is associated with cognitive deficit in elderly patients (>70 years). We studied 92 patients admitted to our geriatric unit for non-acute reasons using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) to calculate their ventricular and spinal CSF flow, and assessed their global cognitive status, memory, executive functions, and praxis.

Specific Effects of Anti-Hypertensive Treatment in an Older Patient with Dementia.

Dementia is one of the most common health problems in the world. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The presence of vascular risk factors such as hypertension (HT) may increase the risk of AD [1,2].