American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
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Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen · Aug 2008
Multicenter StudyMeaning and practice of palliative care for nursing home residents with dementia at end of life.
To describe the meaning and practice of palliative care (PC) for nursing home (NH) residents with dementia at end of life (EOL). ⋯ The role of PC for NH residents with dementia at EOL is complex and poorly understood. As they are in a residential setting, decisions need to be made about how residents live, as well as how they die, thus balancing quality of living/comfort with disease management.
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Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen · Aug 2008
Neuropsychiatric impairments as predictors of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.
In this study, the relations between cognitive status and neuropsychiatric impairments in nondemented older adults in cross section and over time is examined. Using data from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA), a longitudinal, nation-wide study in which data were collected 3 times (ie, CSHA-1, CSHA-2, CSHA-3) at 5-year intervals, individuals were classified with (n = 240) and without (n = 386) cognitive impairment at CSHA-2. ⋯ After controlling for initial cognitive status, loss of interest and depression contributed significantly to the prediction of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease over time. These findings suggest that these neuropsychiatric impairments play significant roles throughout the course of cognitive decline and should be taken into consideration even before cognitive impairment is evident.