POCN’s Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence https://alzheimers.pocn.com/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:24:21 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Alzheimers-COE-POCN-Favicon-TM-150x150.png POCN’s Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence https://alzheimers.pocn.com/ 32 32 Rising Dementia Cases Demand Improved Hospital Care: Nursing Interventions Key to Better Outcomes https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/rising-dementia-cases-demand-improved-hospital-care-nursing-interventions-key-to-better-outcomes/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/rising-dementia-cases-demand-improved-hospital-care-nursing-interventions-key-to-better-outcomes/#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:24:21 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=16091 The global dementia population is rapidly increasing, projected to exceed 75 million by 2030. This growth emphasizes the need to improve healthcare services, particularly in acute hospital settings, where nurses play a crucial role in shaping the experiences of patients with dementia. This review synthesizes evidence on nursing interventions aimed at enhancing care for hospitalized patients with dementia, guiding future intervention development and implementation.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/rising-dementia-cases-demand-improved-hospital-care-nursing-interventions-key-to-better-outcomes/feed/ 0 Global Dementia Crisis: 75% of Patients Face Behavioral Symptoms, Highlighting Need for Consistent Care Guidelines https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/global-dementia-crisis-75-of-patients-face-behavioral-symptoms-highlighting-need-for-consistent-care-guidelines/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/global-dementia-crisis-75-of-patients-face-behavioral-symptoms-highlighting-need-for-consistent-care-guidelines/#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:19:23 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=16088 Dementia affects 55 million people globally, with over 75% experiencing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs). These symptoms contribute significantly to health, social, and financial burdens, including increased caregiver strain and earlier nursing home admissions. Despite the availability of both nonpharmacologic (eg, music therapy, caregiver training) and pharmacologic (eg, antipsychotics, antidepressants) treatments, there is considerable variation in clinical practice, with nonpharmacologic interventions often underutilized due to barriers like limited time and resources.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/global-dementia-crisis-75-of-patients-face-behavioral-symptoms-highlighting-need-for-consistent-care-guidelines/feed/ 0 Study Identifies APOE4 Homozygosity as a Distinct Genetic Form of Alzheimer’s Disease https://alzheimers.pocn.com/diagnosis/study-identifies-apoe4-homozygosity-as-a-distinct-genetic-form-of-alzheimers-disease/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/diagnosis/study-identifies-apoe4-homozygosity-as-a-distinct-genetic-form-of-alzheimers-disease/#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:12:36 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=16085 Researchers of a study have revealed that individuals with two copies of the APOE4 gene variant are almost certain to develop Alzheimer's disease if they live long enough, suggesting that this genetic configuration is not just a risk factor but a distinct form of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers from Spain and the United States found that 95% of people over 65 with two copies of APOE4 had Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in their cerebrospinal fluid, indicating that APOE4 homozygosity could be considered a genetic form of the disease. 

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/diagnosis/study-identifies-apoe4-homozygosity-as-a-distinct-genetic-form-of-alzheimers-disease/feed/ 0 The Gut Microbiota and Alzheimer’s Disease https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/the-gut-microbiota-and-alzheimers-disease/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/the-gut-microbiota-and-alzheimers-disease/#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:04:42 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=16082 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairments that affect memory, decision-making, communication, and other aspects of daily life. The disease is marked by the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles, leading to inflammation and cognitive decline. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota-brain axis may provide insights into AD’s onset and progression, with research showing that individuals with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have a lower diversity of gut microbiota compared with healthy individuals.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/the-gut-microbiota-and-alzheimers-disease/feed/ 0 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Prevalence in Dementia https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/obstructive-sleep-apnea-prevalence-in-dementia/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/obstructive-sleep-apnea-prevalence-in-dementia/#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:57:06 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=16079 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in the general population, with many cases undiagnosed, and it is also common among individuals with dementia, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OSA is associated with factors that may exacerbate AD pathology, such as amyloid and tau accumulation. The standard treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which has shown potential benefits for cognition, although adherence to CPAP treatment remains low, especially among those with cognitive impairments.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/obstructive-sleep-apnea-prevalence-in-dementia/feed/ 0 Promising Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments: Varied Results in Key Drug Trials https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/promising-alzheimers-disease-treatments-varied-results-in-key-drug-trials/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/promising-alzheimers-disease-treatments-varied-results-in-key-drug-trials/#respond Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:54:50 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=15756 Recent randomized clinical trials have focused on three agents aimed at treating early Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly with donanemab, aducanumab, and lecanemab. These trials were primarily centered around their ability to reduce amyloid deposition as indicated by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Donanemab's trial, TRAILBLAZER-ALZ, demonstrated a notable reduction in amyloid levels and a marginal improvement in the Integrated Alzheimer’s Disease Rating Scale, though this did not significantly impact most secondary cognitive measures.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/promising-alzheimers-disease-treatments-varied-results-in-key-drug-trials/feed/ 0 Progress in Alzheimer’s Disease: Amyloid Hypothesis and New Immunotherapies https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/progress-in-alzheimers-disease-amyloid-hypothesis-and-new-immunotherapies/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/progress-in-alzheimers-disease-amyloid-hypothesis-and-new-immunotherapies/#respond Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:47:39 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=15750 Authors of this comprehensive analysis discuss the amyloid cascade hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which posits that the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) is a key early event leading to neurodegeneration. Evidence supporting the amyloid hypothesis includes the neurotoxic effects of various amyloid species and the high risk of cognitive decline in individuals with significant brain Aβ burden. The neurotoxicity of these amyloid species has been extensively demonstrated, including their role in instigating tau pathology, synaptic deterioration, and various cellular stresses.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/progress-in-alzheimers-disease-amyloid-hypothesis-and-new-immunotherapies/feed/ 0 Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Breakthroughs: Emerging Therapies and Pathology Insights https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/alzheimers-disease-treatment-breakthroughs-emerging-therapies-and-pathology-insights/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/alzheimers-disease-treatment-breakthroughs-emerging-therapies-and-pathology-insights/#respond Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:42:16 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=15747 This comprehensive analysis discusses Alzheimer's disease (AD), focusing on its growing prevalence, underlying pathologies, and current treatment strategies. The review highlights significant advances in AD therapies, particularly disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Authors note the FDA's conditional approval of aducanumab and lecanemab, monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid plaques, marking a new era in AD treatment. Other therapeutic approaches include a focus on tau protein pathology, immunotherapy, and small molecule drugs. Emerging strategies involve targeting neuroinflammation and insulin resistance, as well as innovative approaches like stem cell therapy.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/treatment/alzheimers-disease-treatment-breakthroughs-emerging-therapies-and-pathology-insights/feed/ 0 Study Emphasizes AI and Neuroimaging Progress in Early Alzheimer’s Disease Detection https://alzheimers.pocn.com/diagnosis/study-emphasizes-ai-and-neuroimaging-progress-in-early-alzheimers-disease-detection/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/diagnosis/study-emphasizes-ai-and-neuroimaging-progress-in-early-alzheimers-disease-detection/#respond Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:33:48 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=15745 This review explores the use of neuroimaging and artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML), for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) detection. The authors work to assess biomarkers and detection methods, analyzing gaps in current research. The review covers studies from 2013 to 2022, focusing on AI, ML, and statistical modeling applied to MRI and PET scans for early AD diagnosis. It emphasizes the importance of understanding AD's onset and progression, marked by amyloid-beta and tau protein accumulation, and differentiates between early-onset AD and late-onset AD based on age and symptoms.

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]]> https://alzheimers.pocn.com/diagnosis/study-emphasizes-ai-and-neuroimaging-progress-in-early-alzheimers-disease-detection/feed/ 0 Global Study Highlights Cultural and Educational Impact on Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Understanding https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/global-study-highlights-cultural-and-educational-impact-on-alzheimers-disease-research-and-understanding/ https://alzheimers.pocn.com/patient-management/global-study-highlights-cultural-and-educational-impact-on-alzheimers-disease-research-and-understanding/#respond Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:20:44 +0000 https://alzheimers.pocn.com/?p=15742 This review provides an in-depth exploration of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a global context, emphasizing the need for a cross-cultural neuropsychological perspective. The study underscores the critical role of cultural variables in understanding and assessing neurological disorders. It also highlights the importance of considering language, country of origin, and race in cognitive neuroscience and critically examines the historical and scientific application of race in research.

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