Analyzing Potential Interactions Between Complementary and Alternative Therapies, Over-the-Counter, and Prescription Medications in the Older Population.

Background: The escalating use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) raises concerns, particularly among geriatric patients taking multiple medications. Notably, the doubled chance of major drug interactions between prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in older adults underscores the need for further research. This study aimed to evaluate clinically significant CAM and prescription medication interactions in a geriatric clinic, emphasizing the growing importance of understanding CAM implications in health care.

HIV-Associated Conditions in Older Adults.

Geriatric practices will see more people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as their life expectancy is close to the general population due to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). Geriatricians focus more on HIV-associated, non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) disorders than HIV alone. We will review the most common chronic illnesses and conditions associated with aging and HIV.

Common Sleep Disorders Affecting Older Adults.

Sleep disorders in older adults increase with aging, likely due to increased sleep latency, decreased sleep efficiency, and total sleep time. Common sleep issues include chronic insomnia, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, sleep-related movement disorders, and sleep-disordered breathing. Diagnostic tools, such as a comprehensive sleep history and questionnaires, or a sleep log for more specific complaints, are commonly used.

Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults: Mini Review.

With an estimated prevalence of 4%, substance abuse amongst persons who are 65 years and older is increasing. The most common substances abused are alcohol, prescription drugs such as opiates and benzodiazepines (BZD), and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. This increase is believed to be partially endorsed by the baby boomer generation, born between 1946 to 1964, who had significant exposure to alcohol and drugs at a younger age.

Optimize your documentation to improve Medicare reimbursement.

There's nothing more frustrating than not getting credit for work performed. Physicians often leave large amounts of compensation on the table, because even though services were provided, insurance payers do not recognize the work due to suboptimal documentation. This problem is especially apparent in preventive medicine and wellness visits with adult and geriatric patients, and results in physician services being undervalued.

Axonal Terminals Exposed to Amyloid-β May Not Lead to Pre-Synaptic Axonal Damage.

Background: Synaptic deficits and neuronal loss are the major pathological manifestations of Alzheimer's disease. However, the link between the early synaptic loss and subsequent neurodegeneration is not entirely clear. Cell culture studies have shown that amyloid-β (Aβ) applied to axonal terminals can cause retrograde degeneration leading to the neuronal loss, but this process has not been demonstrated in live animals.