About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

IDND to Enhance Dementia Care

by Medindia Content Team on October 12, 2007 at 7:34 PM
IDND to Enhance Dementia Care

In order to improve dementia care, a year ago, local researchers, health-care professionals, and community advocates came together to form the Indianapolis Discovery Network for Dementia (IDND). Dementia has become a growing burden for society, propelling patients and caregivers to increasingly use the health-care system.

On Oct. 20, IDND will launch RAPID-PC - Recognizing and Assessing the Progression of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Primary Care with a summit meeting for researchers, clinicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to share experiences and progress.

Advertisement

The group is drawing upon unique features of the Indianapolis health-care environment, the most wired in the nation, to develop a model which they believe other communities can use to enhance the delivery of dementia care.

"If tomorrow we developed a breakthrough in dementia treatment such as a vaccine, it would take 17 years and $800 million for that development to become available as a prescription and it would reach only a fraction of those who could benefit from it. That isn't acceptable," said Malaz Boustani, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, an Indiana University Center for Aging Research investigator and a Regenstrief Institute research scientist. Dr. Boustani, IDND's chief research officer, bases his estimates on a systematic review of drug development literature.
Advertisement

According to Dr. Boustani, in the state of Indiana, which he says is representative of the U.S. as a whole, 60 percent of people with dementia or pre-dementia (also known as mild cognitive impairment) are not recognized as having these conditions when they go to a hospital and 80 percent are not recognized as having dementia or pre-dementia by their primary care physicians. The result is that less than 10 percent receive medications appropriate to their level of cognitive impairment and approximately a quarter receive medications that are inappropriate.

"Nationwide, the health-care system is not delivering good dementia care because we have not presented a comprehensive assessment of the biopsychosocial needs of a person with dementia and have not followed up with solutions that are sensitive to local community needs and resources," said Dr. Boustani, who is a geriatrician. Eight out of 10 individuals with dementia living in the community have significant behavioral and/or psychological symptoms that require medical and psychological care.

He also notes that caregivers have been largely ignored in spite of the fact that they provide millions of unpaid care hours per year (180 million hours valued at $1.7 trillion in Indiana in 2005) and are hospitalized at a very high rate (24 percent over a six-month period in Indiana).

With Rapid-PC, IDND is taking a major step toward its goal of building efficient, effective, locally sensitive solutions for dementia care.

Source: Eurekalert
GAN/C
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Mental Health News

How is Schizophrenia Genetically Linked to Cardiovascular Risk Factors?
Schizophrenic patients have a genetic link to increased cardiovascular risk factors, especially smoking and body mass index.
Anxiety & Depression - Early Hints to Multiple Sclerosis
Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression could be precursors to multiple sclerosis (MS), even before the classic MS symptoms appear.
Predicting PTSD Resilience Through Post Traumatic Brain Activity
Studying brain circuits tied to PTSD's progression from acute to chronic states is vital for grasping its pathophysiology and crafting targeted treatments.
High Depression Rates Among Canadian COPD Patients During COVID-19
Older adults with COPD were roughly twice as likely to develop depression if they faced functional limitations.
Comparing Suicide Risk and Depression Screenings for Identifying Patient Risk
In most scenarios, depression screening tools demonstrated superior performance compared to suicide risk screenings.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

IDND to Enhance Dementia Care Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests