Depression in autopsy-confirmed dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.

Depression has frequently been cited as a manifestation of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Previous studies have suggested an increase of depression in patients with DLB, compared to those with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this study was to examine depressive symptomatology in nursing home residents, from a consecutive series of DLB (n=16) and AD (n=39) autopsy-confirmed cases.

Emerging therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease: an avenue of hope.

Emerging therapies for Alzheimer's disease offer hope to patients and their caregivers. Future treatments will probably include combination approaches with agents that modify amyloid processing, deposition, and clearance. One example, the AD vaccine, reduced amyloid burden and changed behavior in animal models of AD, but the human trial was halted when several subjects developed brain inflammation.

Neurosyphilis: is it still a clinically relevant form of dementia?

Though syphilis was thought by many to be a disease on the verge of distinction, a resurgence of cases since the 1980s has proven that this is not so. With this return of 'the great imitator,' a resurgence of neurosyphilis may soon be on its way. Relatively insensitive testing and more atypical presentations mean clinicians should continue to be vigilant for neurosyphilis.

Delirium. Pragmatic guidance for managing a common, confounding, and sometimes lethal condition.

Virtually any medical illness, intoxication, or medication can precipitate delirium, an acute confusional state common among older persons. Delirium is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality, thus management requires thorough assessment and swift but careful action. A range of nonpharmacologic interventions can aid management of delirium, but in general, emergent, empiric pharmacotherapy is indicated for acute cases.

The prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of depression in dementia patients in chronic care facilities in the last six months of life.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of depression among dementia patients and normal controls in chronic care facilities in the last six months of life.

Method: We reviewed perimortal data concerning dementia severity, depressive symptoms and diagnoses, and medication use for 279 dementia patients and 24 normal controls brought to autopsy through an Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center.

Results: Major depression was highly prevalent among both dementia patients and normal controls in chronic care facilities in the last six months of life.

Use of the Hamilton and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scales in Institutionalized Elderly Patients.

In screening for a study of drug treatment of major depression, the authors obtained data on depressive symptoms in elderly residential care patients (N = 116; average age 84 years; 81% women). Principal-components analysis (with varimax rotation) of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression yielded a four-factor solution (accounting for 47.2% of variance): core depression, anxiety, insomnia-hypochondriasis, and cognitive-ideational symptoms.