Geriatric Psychiatry

Evaluation of allocentric spatial processing may be a much better way to determine Alzheimer disease risk than egocentric spatial processing tools.

Cognitive problems have historically been the last to be recognized and treated in the clinical setting.

"I walk back to her bedside and take her hand. I kiss her gently, hoping it won’t be the last. 'I’ll be back soon. You know I will always find you,'” writes the author in a personal account of life with her aging mother.

Although intellectual stimulation and socialization are of benefit, enhanced motivational ability may be key to averting cognitive decline.

Trauma may be a hidden variable in the lives of older adults, impacting them in ways they may not recognize or be willing to admit.

New data indicate that dementia is largely undiagnosed or unrecognized; exposure to general anesthesia and surgery can lead to a subtle decline in memory and thinking skills in older adults; and sarcopenic obesity in older adults may predict dementia.

Cortisol and thyroid hormone levels may help predict response to cholinesterase inhibitors in patients with Alzheimer disease.

New research suggests that viruses and metals in the brain may exacerbate Alzheimer disease and deep brain stimulation shows promise in slowing cognitive decline.

A small study finds that thyroid function may meditate treatment efficacy in patients with AD.

If you were the consultant, what issues might you raise in the cases discussed here?

Three new studies examine research on biomarkers to predict lifetime risk of Alzheimer disease; diet and brain tissue volume; and cognitive impairment in active older adults.

Does moderate- to high-intensity aerobic and strength exercise training slow cognitive decline over the long term? New research might surprise you.

To understand the experiences and needs of the aging LGBTQ population, it is important to consider the culture, politics, and social norms that existed when these elders came of age. Clinicians can play a vital role by creating a safe and open environment that allows people to be themselves.

Improving sleep hygiene is very effective and low-risk in older adults. Which habits work best and which should be avoided? Take the quiz and learn more.

A simple diagnostic test for Lewy body dementia?

Hot off the press: Three new studies, including one that reports middle-age physically fit women are nearly 90% less likely to develop dementia decades later.

A 79-year-old widow with a history of severe physical abuse during childhood and throughout her married life attributes her outbursts to old age. Take the quiz and learn more.

Some of the most challenging decisional capacity consultations are requests to determine if a patient has the capacity to participate in discharge planning.

A new study makes the case for universal screening in patients who appear to be most vulnerable to underdiagnosis.

PTSD in late life can result from trauma that occurred much earlier or can follow traumatic events that occurred for the first time in old age.

In the elderly, falls are a common and important problem. In the US, fall-related injuries cost approximately $30 billion per year, and about 30% of older adults fall at least once in a given year.

A 67-year-old man complains of memory loss, difficulty with finances, mood swings, anxiety, and generalized weakness after a recent ICU hospitalization. After reading the case, take the quiz.

Lifestyle changes-more exercise, taking omega-3 supplements-may help those with dementia, and a protein found in the brain may be a marker for Parkinson disease. Details here.

The amyloid-β42/40 ratio should be included as a cerebrospinal fluid biomarker for Alzheimer disease, according to a new study.

Given the impact of sleep on quality of life, cognitive functioning, and health outcomes, understanding sleep disorders in older adults is vital to their overall care.