Each study has a usefulness score out of 100 (rubric version 4.0). Tap a score to see what makes it up.
Highest usefulness score first. Studies without a score come last.
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Very early in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, it became glaringly clear that older persons were at significantly increased risk of infection, severe illness, hospitalization, intensive care and respiratory support, and death.
Why it matters
This commentary notes that older persons were at significantly increased risk of infection, severe illness, hospitalization and death early in the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses the misrepresentation of COVID-19 as a geriatric disease and lessons from the experience of older nursing home residents.
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A total of 11 case reports met criteria for inclusion.
Why it matters
This study examined case reports of antidepressant-associated QTc prolongation and found inconsistent risk evaluation and management, with no standardized approach. It does not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Food and Drug Administration-s (FDA) approval of aducanumab (Aduhelm® in the US) as a treatment for mild cognitive impairment of the Alzheimer type and Alzheimer-s disease has raised such major concerns about efficacy, safety, FDA processes, and regulatory capture that Biogen-s license to market this biologic should be immediately withdrawn.
Why it matters
This paper argues that aducanumab has not demonstrated benefit to patients, failed to meet regulatory guidelines, and is likely to cause individual and societal harm. The authors conclude that Biogen's license to market the drug should be immediately withdrawn.
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In 2016, there were 1,005,781 Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service long-term residents.
Why it matters
This study described differences in antipsychotic use and falls among long-term care residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias by race and ethnicity. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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The geographical distribution of mortality has frequently been studied.
Why it matters
This study looked at the geographic distribution of 16 causes of death, including dementias, across 26 Spanish cities and found that many causes shared similar geographic patterns. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention, and the authors say dependence among causes of death should be considered when mapping mortality.
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This is a scientific review/perspective article, not a new experiment, that synthesizes evidence — largely from animal studies plus some human data — proposing that failure of the glymphatic system (the brain's sleep-dependent waste-clearance network) may be a shared underlying pathway across many forms of dementia.
Why it matters
This review proposes that failure of the brain's sleep-dependent waste-clearance system may be a shared pathway across many forms of dementia. It is a synthesized hypothesis backed largely by animal studies, not a proven causal chain in humans.
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39/100
Several concepts, which in the aggregate get might be used to account for "resilience" against age- and disease-related changes, have been the subject of much research.
Why it matters
Describes an Alzheimer's Association workgroup's effort to agree on definitions for cognitive reserve, brain reserve and brain maintenance, ideas used to account for resilience against age- and disease-related changes. It also reviews how these have been measured and gives guidelines for research.
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The modified questionnaire and interview instruments capture a range of impairment in DS adults, including subthreshold symptomatology, and the instruments provide complementary information relevant to the ascertainment of dementia in DS.
Why it matters
This study adapted the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale for adults with Down syndrome and tested it in 34 participants, finding that both modified instruments captured a range of cognitive impairments, most of which were chronic. It is a diagnostic assessment study and does not test any treatment or cure.
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An optical-impression by an intraoral scanner (IOS) involves optically measuring the surface shape of the target teeth or gums directly in the patient's mouth.
Why it matters
This paper is about intraoral scanners in digital dentistry and only mentions in passing that their communication features could be applied to group examination and identification of disaster victims or dementia patients. It provides no evidence about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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39/100
Fast-food outlet exposure may be an important environmental determinant of BMI.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study of 124,286 Dutch adults, more fast-food outlets near home were associated with higher body mass index in both rural and urban areas. Elevated BMI is described as a risk factor for several conditions including dementia, but this study did not measure dementia, so it cannot show an effect on Alzheimer's disease.
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Convenience stores play an important role in supporting community-dwelling older adults’ lives.
Why it matters
In this educational program for 184 participants in Japan, attitudes toward dementia improved significantly among convenience store staff, while a sense of community subscale improved significantly among health and social care professionals. The program may foster community networks, but it did not measure any effect on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a clinical condition with a high risk of progression to dementia.
Why it matters
This review found no consensus on guidelines for routine MCI screening, and the sensitivity and specificity of screening tools vary greatly. It suggests combining two self-administered highly sensitive tools (p-AD8 plus IQCODE) for initial screening and two highly specific tools (DemTect plus MoCA, or MES plus MoCA) for secondary screening.
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In this review we highlight recent advances in the human genetics of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Why it matters
This review surveys genetic variation in roughly 50 genes confirmed or suggested to cause or influence risk for frontotemporal dementia, including TREM2. It is about genetics and risk, not about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Observational and audit data were collected for 181 patients (average age = 82.5 years) across the two hospitals.
Why it matters
This study found that a nurse education project increased cognitive assessments by ward nurses but had limited other effects on nursing processes. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease, and it suggests that clearly defined action plans with assigned responsibilities may be important for practice changes.
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Delivery of cognitive rehabilitation by telehealth appeared feasible but required modifications such as greater reliance on caregivers and clients for manipulating materials.
Why it matters
This very small feasibility study had only 6 participants and tested whether cognitive rehabilitation could be delivered by video rather than in person. It did not test whether this treatment cures or prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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The aim of this paper was to review studies analyzing the associations between air pollution and neurodevelopment in children as well as the effect on adult population.
Why it matters
This review reports that higher concentrations of certain air pollutants were associated with dementia in adults, along with other effects on the nervous system in children and adults. It identifies air pollution as a risk factor but does not test or report any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Technological advances will catalyze groundbreaking discoveries for effective treatments of neurodegenerative cognitive disorders, such as AD, and inform novel strategies for dementia prevention and sustained lifelong cognitive health.
Why it matters
This article describes how digital technology can enhance the Boston process approach to cognitive assessment within the Framingham Heart Study to detect insidious onset changes earlier. It concerns assessment and detection, not treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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This collaboratively developed, person-centred model can support the design of new education and training tools and be readily translated into existing programmes.
Why it matters
This study developed a person-centred model for nutritional care in nursing homes based on focus groups and interviews with staff and family carers. It addresses care practices around eating and drinking, not the treatment, cure or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
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In the usability assessment, eight categories of errors were distinguished, of which three were of critical, two of medium, and three of low severity.
Why it matters
This usability assessment of an online portal for dementia patients and carers identified eight categories of errors, three of which were critical. The study did not report any outcomes related to treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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The level of technology use in the context of aging in place is influenced by six major themes: challenges in the domain of independent living; behavioral options; personal thoughts on technology use; influence of the social network; influence of organizations, and the role of the physical environment.
Why it matters
This study identified six major themes influencing older adults' technology use for aging in place, including challenges with independent living, behavioral options, personal thoughts on technology, social network influence, organizational influence, and the physical environment. The authors state that awareness of these psychological and contextual factors is needed to facilitate aging in place through technology.
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Research links air pollution mostly to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Why it matters
This article states that the effects of air pollution on the central nervous system are not broadly recognized and that fine and ultrafine particulate matter are of special interest for brain effects. It discusses air pollution as a public health problem but does not report a treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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39/100
Recent findings Intracranial hypotension occurs spontaneously, following (lumbar) dural puncture, accidental dural opening, or excessive surgical cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
Why it matters
This review describes intracranial hypotension, which can present with atypical findings including frontotemporal dementia, and discusses imaging and treatment approaches. It concerns intracranial hypotension, not Alzheimer's disease treatment, cure or prevention.
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One challenge faced by many family members caring for persons with dementia is lack of information about how to take care of others and themselves.
Why it matters
Spanish-speaking families caring for someone with dementia often cannot find information that fits their language and culture. This study built Cuidatecuidador.com, a bilingual website on dementia and caregiving, with content evaluated by caregivers in 3 countries. The authors report only "trends" that using the information "may be related" to caregivers feeling more in control and less depressed. That is an early signal about caregiver well-being, not proof the site works and not evidence about treating or preventing Alzheimer's.
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Recent advances in mobile devices have made profound changes in people's daily lives.
Why it matters
This paper describes the design of a wearable computer called eButton and possible uses including monitoring older adults with dementia. It is a technology overview and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
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There is evidence of geographical variation in dementia[1], not all of which can be ascribed to genetic factors[2].
Why it matters
Using data from Swedish twins, this study found a south-north gradient in dementia risk, with higher risk in the north, and estimated that a large share of the variation was due to spatial effects. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention, but suggests that environmental factors may play a role alongside genetics.
From across this topic
10 of the 7,967 studies in this topic, picked by a fixed rule (a hash of each study's address), not by score or date; each page of this list shows a different 10. The same 10 appear here every time.
- Global mortality from dementia: Application of a new method and results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
- Donepezil for dementia with Lewy bodies: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Depression and dementia: interrogating the causality of the relationship
- Attitudes and support needs of Black Caribbean, south Asian and White British carers of people with dementia in the UK
- Health risk factors in caregivers of terminal cancer patients: a pilot study
- Meat Consumption and Cognitive Health by APOE Genotype
- Designing clinical trials for assessing the effects of cognitive training and physical activity interventions on cognitive outcomes: the Seniors Health and Activity Research Program Pilot (SHARP-P) study, a randomized controlled trial
- Dementia diagnosis and utilization patterns in a racially diverse population within an integrated health care delivery system
- Rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder and neurodegenerative diseases
- Triggered Palliative Care Consults: A Systematic Review of Interventions for Hospitalized and Emergency Department Patients