Editor’s Note - September 2015

This September marks the 4th annual World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to clarify the misconceptions and stigmatizations associated with dementia. Last month, Alzheimer’s Disease International released their 2015 global impact report that provided an analysis of the prevalence, incidence, cost, and trends of dementia.¹

Of note, an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide are living with dementia in 2015. Furthermore, this number is projected to double every 20 years—affecting 74.7 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050.¹ 

In 2015, it is estimated that there will be 9.9 million new cases of dementia worldwide, which translates to 1 new case every 3.2 seconds. Note: The incidence of dementia increases exponentially with age.¹

The global costs of dementia have increased 35.4%—from $604 billion in 2010 to $818 billion in 2015.¹

Consultant360 recently highlighted several articles focused on dementia:

• Patients may lose awareness of memory loss prior to onset of dementia. Unawareness of memory impairment is part of the natural history of dementia in late life rather than a symptom of a few affected people.²  

• Exercise and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation does not affect cognitive function in the elderly. A new study found no statistically significant difference in cognitive scores between participants who were given supplements and placebo.³

• Cortisol levels linked to brain volume in elderly. Monitoring cortisol levels in the saliva of elderly patients may help identify those with cognitive impairment.⁴ 

• Common dementia medications can cause harmful weight loss. A new study looked at side effects of weight loss with the use of cholinesterase inhibitors.⁵

• Severity of diabetes could increase risk of dementia. Researchers found that patients with 1, 2, 3, and >3 Diabetes Complication Severity Index scores were correlated with 4%, 40%, 54%, and 70%, respectively, increases in dementia risk.⁶

Visit the Mental Health and Alzheimer's Medical Resource Centers at Consultant360.com to read these articles and much more. And while you are there, sign up for our daily e-newsletters and have breaking news delivered to your inbox everyday. 

Sincerely,

Pooja Shah

Editor, Consultant and Consultant360

References:

1. Prince M, Wimo A, Guerchet M, et al. World Alzheimer’s Report 2015. The global impact of death: an analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends. Alzheimer’s Disease International. August 2015. www.alz.co.uk/research/WorldAlzheimerReport2015-sheet.pdf. Accessed September 1, 2015.
2. Mullarkey C. Patients may lose awareness of memory loss years before onset of dementia. Consultant360. August 27, 2015. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/patients-may-lose-awareness-memory-loss-years-onset-dementia. Accessed September 1, 2015.
3. Potts M. Do exercise and supplementation benefit cognition in older patients? Consultant360. August 26, 2015. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/do-exercise-and-supplementation-benefit-cognition-older-patients. Accessed September 1, 2015.
4. Butcher MC. Cortisol levels linked to brain volume in elderly. Consultant360. August 21, 2015. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/cortisol-levels-linked-brain-volume-elderly. Accessed September 1, 2015.
5. Potts M. Common dementia medications could cause harmful weight loss. Consultant360. August 3, 2015. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/common-dementia-medications-could-cause-harmful-weight-loss. Accessed September 1, 2015.
6. Butcher MC. Diabetes severity can increase risk of dementia onset by 70%. Consultant360. July 16, 2015. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/diabetes-severity-can-increase-risk-dementia-onset-70. Accessed September 1, 2015.