World Alzheimer Report 2015

World Alzheimer Report 2015

Dementia Global health

According to this report from Alzheimer's Disease International, there are over 46 million people live with dementia worldwide, and by 2050 this is estimated to increase to 131.5 million.

The report also looks at the economic impact of dementia, estimating its worldwide cost at US $818 billion. It is also estimated that 94% of people living with dementia in low and middle income countries are cared for at home, in regions where health and care systems often provide limited or no support to people living with dementia or to their families.The report "leaves us with no doubt that dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and other causes, is one of the biggest global public health and social care challenges facing people today and in the future."

World Alzheimer report 2015: the global impact of dementia. An analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends.  Martin Prince, 25 August 2015.

The road to reducing dementia

The road to reducing dementia

Dementia Diet Exercise

This briefing paper from Deeble Institute scholar, Kimberly Ashby-Mitchell, examines the evidence surrounding dementia onset and the role of diet and physical activity in brain health.

The road to reducing dementia onset and prevalence: are diet and physical activity interventions worth investing in? discusses the fact that dementia is now the second leading cause of death in Australia, with over a quarter of a million sufferers at present.  Research shows that high ratios of saturated fats and excessive caloric intake have been found to be associated with impaired cognitive function, while increased intakes of fish,vegetables and legumes have been reported to have a protective brain effect.

Increased levels of physical activity have been found to promote neuroprotective changes in the hippocampus of the brain – a region central to learning and memory, and one of the first areas affected by dementia.  

Safer hospital care for dementia patients

Safer hospital care for dementia patients

Communication Dementia Safety

A recent Australian study examined the impact of implementing a clinician-carer communication tool for hospitalised patients with dementia. The results indicated that the use of this simple, low-cost "Top 5" communication tool for patient care is associated with improvements in both the clinician and the care experience, with a potential benefit for patient safety.

Improving clinician–carer communication for safer hospital care: a study of the ‘TOP 5’ strategy in patients with dementia examined 21 Australian hospitals over a year, after which clinicians and carers reported high levels of acceptability and perceived benefits for patients.  

Karen Luxford , Anne Axam , Fiona Hasnip , John Dobrohotoff , Maureen Strudwick , Rebecca Reeve , Changhao Hou , Rosalie Viney.  International Journal for Quality in Health Care. 2015. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzv026. 

Full-text available through CIAP for NSW Health employees.

Changing how psychotropic medicines are used in residential aged care.

Changing how psychotropic medicines are used in residential aged care.

Aged care Ageing Dementia Pharmacy

RedUSe is a new program aimed at reducing use of sedatives in aged care. It is led by Dr Juanita Westbury from the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and is based on extensive research she conducted with colleagues at the UTAS School of Pharmacy on the impact psychotropic medicines have on aged care residents.

The major aim of the program is to educate aged care professionals and promote awareness of drug mismanagement and chemical restraint of the elderly.

With nearly 60% of aged care residents prescribed psychotropic drugs and the percentage increasing, it has become a priority to address the over use of sedatives in our ever increasing number of dementia sufferers.

For more information or to register your interest in the RedUSe program contact Dr Juanita Westbury, RedUSe Program Lead at Juanita.Westbury@utas.edu.au