Global Markets for Treatments for Syndromes of Dementia and Movement Disorders

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

http://www.reportlinker.com/p01009666/Global-Markets-for-Treatments-for-Syndromes-of-Dementia-and-Movement-Disorders.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Pathology

INTRODUCTION

This report explores present and future strategies within the neurodegenerative disorder market, which includes treatments and therapies for progressive dementia, progressive dementia with other neurological abnormalities and movement disorders. Market gains, setbacks and needs are discussed in this report. Comparisons, usage and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of technologies, including small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, are also presented in this report.

A detailed analysis of the structure of the syndromes of dementia and movement disorder industry has been conducted. Revenues are broken down by neurodegenerative disease and primary clinical/pathological feature. Sales figures are estimated for the five-year period from 2012 through 2017.

Applications for syndromes of dementia and movement disorder treatments, or therapeutic technologies, are also discussed separately in the report, with an emphasis on small molecule and monoclonal antibodies technology. The report also covers significant patents and their allotment in each category.

R&D spending, along with increasing competition, patent expiries and new technologies are taking the market in a new direction. Global market revenues increased from 2009 to 2011 and are expected to continue to show growth over the forecast period as new advances, launches and collaborations continue to influence the market. This study looks at most of the systems affected by these factors.

Acquisition strategies and collaborations by companies are also covered in this report. This study also discusses the strength and weaknesses of each type of technology in light of the new technologies, growing competition and changing customer needs.

Some of her other reports with BCC include Reagents for Chromatography; SpectroscopyAn Enduring Market; Advanced Drug Delivery SystemsTechnologies and Global Markets; Orthopedic Drugs, Implants and DevicesMedical Imaging Reagents and Analysis Equipment; Pharmaceutical Regulatory IndustryThe Dynamic Media, Sera and Reagent Market in Biotechnology; Contract Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Research and PackagingGlobal Markets; Chiral TechnologyGlobal Markets; Autacoids and Related DrugsTechnologies and Global Markets; ContraceptivesTechnologies and Global Markets; Liver Disease TreatmentsThe Global Market; Hormone Replacement Therapies and Other Hormone TherapiesGlobal Markets; Cardiovascular MedicineDiagnostics, Drugs and Devices; and Cancer Therapies ? Technologies and Global Markets.

The lead consultant on this project is Ms. Ruma Chakravarty, who holds a master's degree in biophysics. She has tremendous experience in market research, quality, process improvement and lean and six sigma concepts.

Continued here:
Global Markets for Treatments for Syndromes of Dementia and Movement Disorders

Global Markets for Treatments of Dementia and Movement Disorders — Focus on Movement Disorders

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2012 Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Markets for Treatments of Dementia and Movement Disorders -- Focus on Movement Disorders http://www.reportlinker.com/p01009663/Global-Markets-for-Treatments-of-Dementia-and-Movement-Disorders----Focus-on-Movement-Disorders.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Pathology

INTRODUCTION

STUDY OBJECTIVES

BCC's goal in conducting this study is to provide an overview of the current and future characteristics of the global markets for treatments for syndromes of dementia and movement disorders. The key objective is to present a comprehensive analysis and the future direction of the market as it shapes drug and therapy development.

This report explores present and future strategies within the neurodegenerative disorder market, which includes treatments and therapies for progressive dementia, progressive dementia with other neurological abnormalities and movement disorders. Market gains, setbacks and needs are discussed in this report. Comparisons, usage and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of technologies, including small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, are also presented in this report.

A detailed analysis of the structure of the syndromes of dementia and movement disorder industry has been conducted. Revenues are broken down by neurodegenerative disease and primary clinical/pathological feature. Sales figures are estimated for the five-year period from 2012 through 2017.

Applications for syndromes of dementia and movement disorder treatments, or therapeutic technologies, are also discussed separately in the report, with an emphasis on small molecule and monoclonal antibodies technology. The report also covers significant patents and their allotment in each category.

REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY

Extensive research in the field of syndromes of dementia and movement disorders and company collaborations with research institutes have highlighted the importance of understanding the nature of these disorders. New technological developments are providing disease-modifying therapies for the late stages of the disorders. Collaborations between research institutes and pharmaceutical companies are on the rise as state-of-the-art technology is being explored to develop more efficient products and therapies. R&D spending, along with increasing competition, patent expiries and new technologies are taking the market in a new direction. Global market revenues increased from 2009 to 2011 and are expected to continue to show growth over the forecast period as new advances, launches and collaborations continue to influence the market. This study looks at most of the systems affected by these factors. Acquisition strategies and collaborations by companies are also covered in this report. This study also discusses the strength and weaknesses of each type of technology in light of the new technologies, growing competition and changing customer needs.

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Global Markets for Treatments of Dementia and Movement Disorders -- Focus on Movement Disorders

Dementia care plan consultation

17 October 2012 Last updated at 03:26 ET

Plans to halve the number of hospital beds for people with dementia in the Harrogate area are to go out to public consultation.

The 32 inpatient beds for dementia patients are equally divided between Harrogate Hospital and Alexander House in Knaresborough.

The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust plan to close all 16 beds in Knaresborough.

The trust said the plan was based on the changing needs of patients.

Under the proposals, the 16 beds at Alexander House would be closed but the unit would still offer respite care.

The trust said bed occupancy in Knaresborough had fallen and the environment at Harrogate hospital was more appropriate to treat patients with complex needs.

Savings generated by bed closure would enable the trust to "protect and invest" in community services as more people with dementia were being treated outside hospital, it said.

The Alzheimer's Society said the trust should ensure services were sufficient to meet the needs of people at all stages of dementia.

A public consultation on the plans will run until January 2013.

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Dementia care plan consultation

Global Markets for Treatments of Dementia and Movement Disorders — Focus on Progressive Dementia

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Markets for Treatments of Dementia and Movement Disorders -- Focus on Progressive Dementia

http://www.reportlinker.com/p01009665/Global-Markets-for-Treatments-of-Dementia-and-Movement-Disorders----Focus-on-Progressive-Dementia.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Pathology

INTRODUCTION

STUDY OBJECTIVES

BCC's goal in conducting this study is to provide an overview of the current and future characteristics of the global markets for treatments for syndromes of dementia and movement disorders. The key objective is to present a comprehensive analysis and the future direction of the market as it shapes drug and therapy development.

This report explores present and future strategies within the neurodegenerative disorder market, which includes treatments and therapies for progressive dementia, progressive dementia with other neurological abnormalities and movement disorders. Market gains, setbacks and needs are discussed in this report. Comparisons, usage and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of technologies, including small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, are also presented in this report.

A detailed analysis of the structure of the syndromes of dementia and movement disorder industry has been conducted. Revenues are broken down by neurodegenerative disease and primary clinical/pathological feature. Sales figures are estimated for the five-year period from 2012 through 2017.

Applications for syndromes of dementia and movement disorder treatments, or therapeutic technologies, are also discussed separately in the report, with an emphasis on small molecule and monoclonal antibodies technology. The report also covers significant patents and their allotment in each category.

REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY

Read more:
Global Markets for Treatments of Dementia and Movement Disorders -- Focus on Progressive Dementia

Dementia Sufferers Will Top 2 Billion by 2050

As the baby boomer generation sails into their senior years, rates of dementia are soaring to never-before-experienced heights. With the disease expected to spread exponentially within the next generation, some experts believe were headed towards the worst medical disaster in human history.

That probably got your attention, and it should. Heres whats happening : dementia is unfortunately already considered commonplace among the elderly, with those afflicted totaling just about 36 million. However, according to the newest statistics recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO), that number is expected to hit 2 billion by the year 2050.

At that point,Alternet reportsdementia will cost the U.S. alone over $1 trillion in medical care.Not to put too fine a point on it, Dr. Barry Greenberg, director of the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, reported to MITs Technology Review, "The scope of the looming medical care disaster is beyond comparison with anything that has been faced during the entire history of humanity.

The syndrome, dementia, is caused by several diseases, but its most common cause is Alzheimers.

For those whove never witnessed a loved one experience the debilitating slide into a mental no-mans land, it may be difficult to grasp the severity of the illness, which encompasses physical as well as mental impairments. But the statistics should help illuminate the diseases danger. The Alzheimers Association reports that Alzheimer's is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and it's the only disease on the top ten list that cannot be cured, prevented, or even slowed."

Alternet reports that tens of billions of dollars have been spent to find and develop a single drug that could stop or at least slow the disease, and still, after decades, we have nothing to show for our efforts. The WHO is hoping that by releasing these latest statistics, more attention will be paid to problem and more funding provided.

In the meantime, what's showing promise is that since 2005, its been widely suspected that of the causes of dementia,Alzheimers may in fact actually be a type of diabetes. And if that turns out to be true, then like diabetes, Alzheimers may be controlled through diet.

Of course, widely suspected and proven are two different places on the spectrum of health care, but so far evidence suggests that there is hope in that direction. And when youre facing a medical issue of this magnitude, whether you're a sufferer or a caregiver, hope is no small gift.

If you are currently taking care of a loved with dementia, you can read TakeParts coverage of caregiving, or visit the National Alliance for Caregiving, to learn about resources that may help.

Have you had a loved one afflicted by dementia? Tell us about your experience in the Comments.

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Dementia Sufferers Will Top 2 Billion by 2050

Sensors Embedded in Everyday Life Might Spot Dementia Early

Diagnosing dementia early is both important and difficult. Carnegie Mellon University neuroscientist Anind Dey thinks hes found a better way.

By embedding motion-detecting sensors in domestic objects, such as coffee machines and pill boxes, Dey can make informational representations of people performing everyday tasks. Doctors can then look at that data for subtle changes suggesting mental decline.

Right now, the state of medicine being what it is, you have an occupational therapist come to your parents or grandparents house once every six months, said Dey, who presented his dwellSense platform Oct. 16 at the Wired Health Conference in New York City. For a diagnosis in which a few months can make a difference, thats not frequently enough.

So far, dwellSense has been tested with 14 elderly people in the Pittsburgh area. In addition to coffee-making and pill-taking, Deys group also tracked telephone-dialing. The information wasnt used for medical purposes, but to see if they tracked with traditional cognitive test results. Dey said they did.

They correlated very well with occupational therapist results, Dey said. It could catch problems more objectively, more quickly, than requiring an occupational therapist visit.

The next stage of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded project is collaboration with doctors who can give feedback on how best to present the data. We want to get them engaged in trying to figure out how to abstract this information to a higher level and improve the conversation with their patients, Dey said.

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Sensors Embedded in Everyday Life Might Spot Dementia Early

Art gallery tours a treat for dementia patients

Tags: dementia, national gallery of australia, toowoomba regional art gallery

DEMENTIA care specialist Marjorie Crawford hopes residents from her memory support unit will soon be able to enjoy a National Gallery of Australia project in Toowoomba.

She will travel to Canberra with Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery education program co-ordinator Sue Lostroh tomorrow for a seminar on the National Gallery of Australia's Outreach Program.

The program encourages local galleries to facilitate guided tours for people living with dementia.

Mrs Crawford, who is the clinical nurse consultant overseeing Blue Care's Toowoomba memory support unit, said a trial visit to the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery by patients in June was successful.

"It was just amazing to see the conversation it invoked," Mrs Crawford said.

"That's the thing about dementia; it is all about the here and now.

"It is that whole gallery experience that makes it so special."

She said she hoped the specialised tours could become a regular occurrence.

"Hopefully, this seminar is another opportunity to talk about the program and how we can deliver it."

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Art gallery tours a treat for dementia patients

Standards of dementia care in Norfolk and Waveney improve

Care for the elderly. Residents in a care home in Norwich.; Photo: Bill Smith; Copy: Generic; Archant 2006; (01603) 772434

By BEN WOODS Friday, October 5, 2012 5:35 PM

Dementia sufferers in Norfolk and Waveney have experienced a boost in their standard of care, according to a report published today (October 5).

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The annual report from the Norfolk Joint Dementia Strategy has revealed improvements in personalised dementia care, the level of support provided to home carers, as well as a reduction in the number of people being admitted to hospital.

It comes after the introduction of dementia intensive support teams (DIST), which work in hospitals, and the community, to reduce the number of hospital admissions and the length of stays in inpatient wards.

The report, published by NHS Norfolk and Waveney and Norfolk Adult Community Services, also outlines future plans to find people with dementia earlier.

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Standards of dementia care in Norfolk and Waveney improve

Dementia Care Facility Recognized as First Tennessee Distinguished Provider

MILWAUKEE, WI--(Marketwire - Oct 16, 2012) - Dementia Care Specialists (DCS) has recognized Provision Living at Hermitage, Nashville, TN as the first facility in Tennessee to achieve the status of Distinguished Provider -- the highest credential in dementia care.

DCS is a specialized offering of the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), the worldwide leader in crisis prevention and intervention training. Launched in 2011, the Distinguished Provider program signifies a commitment to the DCS training philosophy and abilities-based approach, which helps improve function, safety, and quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's/dementia.

"When people look for a long-term care facility, they want to select a place that they trust will offer the best and most attentive care for themselves or their loved ones. That trust is exactly what the Distinguished Provider status communicates. It is a seal of approval from industry leaders," said Kim Warchol, OTR/L, Dementia Care Specialists president and founder.

A Distinguished Provider demonstrates a commitment to high-quality, person-centered dementia care. This includes compliance with training standards and the implementation of CPI's Dementia Capable Care training and principles. For individuals at all stages of Alzheimer's/dementia, these principles promote the highest possible level of function, maximize health and safety, and help maintain dignity and quality of life.

With more than 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's/dementia, and many more projected over the coming years, the level of care provided by Provision Living at Hermitage can serve as an example and help elevate the standard of dementia care in the US.

In addition to recognizing facilities, DCS also recognizes therapists and care partners who demonstrate the passion, heart, and skill to deliver Dementia Capable Care. DCS welcomes both facilities and individual practitioners to apply for the Distinguished Provider program. The application and additional information are available at crisisprevention.com/dcs.

CPI is an international training organization committed to best practices and safe behavior management methods that focus on prevention. Through a variety of specialized offerings and innovative resources, CPI educates and empowers professionals to create safe and respectful work environments and enrich the lives of the individuals they serve.

For more information about CPI and DCS, visit crisisprevention.com.

For more information about Provision Living at Godfrey, visit http://www.provisionliving.com/provision-living-at-Hermitage/

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Dementia Care Facility Recognized as First Tennessee Distinguished Provider

Benzodiazepine use and dementia in the over 65s

Public release date: 5-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Press presse@inserm.fr INSERM (Institut national de la sant et de la recherche mdicale)

The results from comparative analysis of this population demonstrate the risk of developing dementia increased by 50% for subjects who consumed benzodiazepines during the follow-up period, compared with those who had never used benzodiazepines. Although this study does not confirm a cause and effect relationship, as is the case for all epidemiological research, the researchers recommend increased vigilance when using these molecules, which remain useful in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety in elderly patients.

The results of this research are available online on the British Medical Journal (BMJ) website as of 28 September 2012

In France, approximately 30% of individuals over 65 are prescribed benzodiazepines to treat the symptoms of anxiety and sleep disorders. The prescription of these molecules is widespread, especially in France and other countries such as Canada, Spain and Australia. Consumption of benzodiazepines is often chronic, with many people taking them over a period (often several years) that significantly exceeds recommended good practice guidelines that suggest limiting the duration to two to four weeks. The effects of benzodiazepines on cognition have been the subject of several studies with much-debated results.

On 28 September 2012, researchers from Inserm unit 657 "Pharmacoepidemiology and the assessment of the impact of health products on the population", 897 "Inserm Research Centre into epidemiology and biostatistics" and 708 "Neuroepidemiology", in collaboration with the Universit de Bordeaux, published on-line the sophisticated results of analyses from a cohort of elderly individuals to improve knowledge of the relationship between the use of benzodiazepines and the development of dementia.

In an attempt to counteract the bias that may have restricted the scope of previous studies, the researchers completed several comparative analyses using data from the PAQUID cohort, covering 3777 individuals from between 1897 and 1989.

The main study focused on a sample of 1063 individuals from the PAQUID cohort (mean age of 78), who were free from dementia symptoms at the beginning of the follow-up period and who had not consumed any benzodiazepines prior to the fifth year in the follow-up period (see above diagram). Out of the 1063 individuals, 95 used benzodiazepines from the fifth year onwards, thus defining two populations: those "exposed to benzodiazepines" and those "not exposed to benzodiazepines". The annual occurrence of dementia observed in the exposed group is 4.8 individuals out of 100, compared with 3.2 individuals out of 100 for the "non-exposed" group.

"The analysis of the cases of dementia in the first population group shows that individuals who began treatment after five years during the follow-up period had an increased risk of developing dementia" states Tobias Kurth, an Inserm research director. "We wanted to check the robustness of this result by completing two additional analyses" he adds.

The second analysis consisted of creating five "small" cohorts using the sample studied previously. The researchers demonstrated that the link between benzodiazepine and dementia is robust, although the date treatment began does vary (benzodiazepine consumed from T5, T8, T10, T13, and T15).

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Benzodiazepine use and dementia in the over 65s

Benzodiazepine use doubles dementia risk in over 65s

Washington, October 6 (ANI): Many people over 65 are prescribed benzodiazepines to treat the symptoms of anxiety and sleep disorders.

A new study, however, found that the risk of developing dementia increased by 50 percent for subjects who consumed benzodiazepines during the follow-up period, compared with those who had never used these molecules.

Although this study does not confirm a cause and effect relationship, as is the case for all epidemiological research, the researchers recommend increased vigilance when using these molecules.

The prescription of these molecules is widespread, especially in France and other countries such as Canada, Spain and Australia.

Consumption of benzodiazepines is often chronic, with many people taking them over a period (often several years) that significantly exceeds recommended good practice guidelines that suggest limiting the duration to two to four weeks.

The effects of benzodiazepines on cognition have been the subject of several studies with much-debated results.

Recently, researchers from Inserm unit 657 "Pharmacoepidemiology and the assessment of the impact of health products on the population", 897 "Inserm Research Centre into epidemiology and biostatistics" and 708 "Neuroepidemiology", in collaboration with the Universite de Bordeaux, analysed a cohort of elderly individuals to improve knowledge of the relationship between the use of benzodiazepines and the development of dementia.

In an attempt to counteract the bias that may have restricted the scope of previous studies, the researchers completed several comparative analyses using data from the PAQUID cohort, covering 3777 individuals from between 1897 and 1989.

The main study focused on a sample of 1063 individuals from the PAQUID cohort (mean age of 78), who were free from dementia symptoms at the beginning of the follow-up period and who had not consumed any benzodiazepines prior to the fifth year in the follow-up period.

Out of the 1063 individuals, 95 used benzodiazepines from the fifth year onwards, thus defining two populations: those "exposed to benzodiazepines" and those "not exposed to benzodiazepines".

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Benzodiazepine use doubles dementia risk in over 65s

Aiming for a dementia-friendly town

Aiming for a dementia-friendly town

Thursday, 27 September 2012

Jane Honey

THE newly-formed Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance received a cash boost last week and a positive reaction to its first public meeting. The group hopes to make Tavistock the first dementia-friendly town in the country and aims to raise awareness of the condition and work to banish the stigma many associate with it. The move comes in a week when new research from Alzheimers Disease International revealed that a quarter of sufferers hide their diagnosis and even avoid going out of the home because of negative connotations surrounding dementia. Just as startling is the rapid increase in cases of dementia worldwide one new case is being diagnosed every four seconds three times as many as HIV/AIDS. This means 682 million people will live with dementia in the next 40 years significantly more than the entire population of all of North America, which stands at 542 million. Tony Parker, chairman of the Tavistock DAA, said he was delighted with the turnout at the first meeting last Thursday: There was a really good response, and quite a varied cross-section of people from solicitors to charities, the police and medical people, and people from Tavistocks memory caf. It was also very interesting to hear their views and ideas on how we can make the town more dementia-friendly, from street signs to acccessibility. Several key people have volunteered their services to form a steering group and we now have some money from Cllr Debo Sellis which will enable us to start our training and awareness packages for shops, businesses and clubs etc. Parallel with this, over the next three months we are going to concentrate on identifying the practical needs of people with dementia, and their carers. Tavistock DAA is working closely with the Rotary Club, whose REPoD movement (Rotarians Easing Problems of Dementia) started in Tavistock and is now being followed all over the UK. Geri Parlby, of Tavistock Rotary Club and a member of the new steering group, said Tavistock DAA would be officially launched at a Dementia Awareness Day event in Tavistock Town Hall on November 23, which is being organised by Senior Voice, REPoD and Tavistock Rotary Club. Geri said: The day is aimed at informing people about the services available in the area and increasing awareness. There will be displays and lots of speakers and we are hoping Angela Rippon will be our keynote guest, as shes agreed to be our honorary patron, due to her links in the area. This is a key chance for the people of Tavistock to learn more about dementia, and also perhaps for us to get more volunteers involved. Cllr Sellis, county councillor for Tavistock, has given Tavistock DAA 500 from her locality budget. She said: I think probably most families have been, or will be, touched by dementia and I think this is really good use of tax payers money. I know many people are too scared to admit to themselves, let alone their families, that they feel they may have dementia, and we really must do all we can to get rid of this stigma. Anyone who would like more information about Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance can call Tony Parker on 01364 631507 or email tavistockdaa@btinternet.com

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Aiming for a dementia-friendly town

Future of senile dementia

Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012

The health and welfare ministry says that the number of elderly people suffering from senile dementia and in need of nursing care has topped 3 million this year. As Japan's population continues to gray, the number of such elderly people will inevitably increase.

It is important that average citizens have a correct understanding of senile dementia. Cooperation between them and experts must deepen within communities. For such cooperation to go smoothly, the public sector needs to make serious efforts to strengthen community nursing care services.

As of this year, people aged 65 or older now number an estimated 30.8 million an increase of about 7 million in the past 10 years. This increase and the fact that more people have started to visit medical institutions for treatment of senile dementia are believed to be responsible for an increase in the number of senile dementia cases. According to the health and welfare ministry, the number of elderly people with senile dementia who need nursing care has more than doubled in the past 10 years from 1.49 million in 2002 to more than 3 million in 2012.

Using data for 2010, the ministry estimated that there were 2.8 million such people in 2010 and 3.05 million in 2012, the latter group accounting for 9.9 percent of people aged 65 or older. It predicts that the number of such people will further increase in the future 3.45 million in 2015, accounting for 10.2 percent of people aged 65 or older, 4.1 million in 2020 (11.3 percent) and 4.7 million in 2025 (12.8 percent).

In 2010, an estimated 50 percent of elderly people with senile dementia were receiving nursing care at home the same percentage as in 2002. The ministry thinks that being able to live in their own communities while receiving nursing care has a positive effect on senile dementia sufferers. Therefore, the ministry is pushing a policy of improving the treatment and nursing care of senile dementia sufferers in communities, and encouraging those who are receiving care in hospitals or nursing care facilities away from home to go back to their communities.

The ministry in August instructed prefectural governments to improve medical and nursing care of senile dementia sufferers in communities so that about half of such people who have been hospitalized at psychiatric wards will be able to go home within two months of the start of their hospitalization. Currently the goal is to have half of such patients return home within six months of the start of their hospitalization.

In 2008, about 75,000 senile dementia patients were hospitalized, and about 52,000 of them or about 70 percent were in psychiatric wards. The ministry hopes its new policy will reduce unnecessary medical costs.

Prefectural governments are supposed to work out medical treatment plans for fiscal 2013 through 2017 in accordance with the ministry's instruction. The ministry also has instructed them to establish a senile dementia medical treatment center staffed by experts and readily available for diagnosis and medical advice in each zone having about 60,000 people aged 65 or older. It is expected that about 300 such centers will be established across the nation. If everything goes as well as the ministry hopes, its policy is understandable. Nevertheless, there is the danger that senile dementia sufferers will be released from hospitals that provide psychiatric treatment after two months even if they should remain there because their communities lack sufficient care facilities.

The ministry should pay attention to the fact that there is a shortage of facilities in communities to treat senile dementia sufferers. Under the ministry's policy, an early support team composed of nurses and occupational therapists will visit families that are caring for senile dementia sufferers. Caring for a senile dementia sufferer places a heavy burden on family members . The public sector needs to establish more community facilities that can readily receive senile dementia sufferers when their condition becomes unmanageable for family members.

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Future of senile dementia

Village plan offers dementia care

5 October 2012 Last updated at 07:11 ET

A retirement village in Wales with an on-site dementia centre is planned for farmland in Monmouthshire.

The 33m Grove Community project at Llanfoist, near Abergavenny, would be capable of housing 100 residents and could create up to 250 jobs.

The continental-style centre would offer one-to-one care and be financed by pension funds and a Swiss bank.

Ben Jones, the man behind the venture, said it was aimed at keeping couples and families together.

We hear all the time about partners being taken from their loved ones and situated miles away, so having a dementia unit will mean a lot to a lot of people

"Should one partner develop dementia, they'll not be that far away for the other partner to visit on a daily basis," he said.

"We hear all the time about partners being taken from their loved ones and situated miles away, so having a dementia unit will mean a lot to a lot of people."

Other elements of the project include a swimming pool in the barn, a restaurant alongside the lake and medical centre in the farmhouse.

Of the 225 bedrooms, flats and cottages, 100 will be sold to private individuals with the rest being offered to the state sector, including NHS patients.

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Village plan offers dementia care

The Dementia Plague

As the world's population of older people rapidly grows in the coming years, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia will become a health-care disaster.

Stephen S. Hall

Friday, October 5, 2012

William UtermohlenBlue Skies (detail), 1995 Galerie Beckel Odille Bocos

Evelyn C. Granieri is that rarest of 21st-century doctors: she still makes house calls. On a warm Thursday morning toward the end of August, the New Yorkbased geriatrician, outfitted in a tailored white suit and high heels, rang a doorbell at a seven-story red-brick apartment building in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and was buzzed in.

"You look gorgeous!" the doctor exclaimed when she greeted her patient, a 99-year-old woman with white hair and a wry smile, in the dining room of her apartment. In an hourlong conversation, Mrs. K (as we'll call her) recalled, in moving and sometimes mischievous detail, growing up in Poland, where soldiers on horseback took her brother away; coming to America on a ship and working in her parents' grocery story in Queens; and dealing with male colleagues in the real-estate business when they got "fresh." But when Granieri asked how old Mrs. K was when she got married, she looked puzzled.

WHY IT MATTERS We have no effective treatments for dementia, a huge health crisis facing the world. The annual cost of care in the United States alone could reach $1 trillion by 2050.

"I can't remember," she said after a pause. A cloud passed over her face. "Was I married? To whom?" A framed photograph on a nearby table memorialized her 50th wedding anniversary.

Spirited and funny, her personality intact even as her memory deteriorates, Mrs. K is one of more than five million Americans with dementia. Far from the gleaming research centers where scientists parse the subtle biochemical changes associated with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of the condition, clinicians like Granieri, chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Aging at Columbia University Medical Center, confront its devastating reality every day. And, often, they talk to relatives of patients. As Granieri and two interns probed Mrs. K's memory with small talk and measured her blood pressure, a niece called from Manhattan to see how her aunt was doing.

Almost every dementia patient has worried family members huddled in the background, and almost every story about dementia includes a moment when loved ones plead with the doctor for somethingany medicine, any intervention, anythingto forestall a relentless process that strips away identity, personality, and ultimately the basic ability to think. Unfortunately, Evelyn Granieri is the wrong person to ask. In 2010 she served on a high-level panel of experts that assessed every possible dementia intervention, from expensive cholinesterase-inhibiting drugs to cognitive exercises like crossword puzzles, for the National Institutes of Health; it found no evidence that any of the interventions could prevent the onslaught of Alzheimer's. She canwith immense compassion, but equally immense convictionexplain the reality for now and the immediate future: "There really is nothing." Dementia is a chronic, progressive, terminal disease, she says. "You don't get better, ever."

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The Dementia Plague

Dementia 'night camp' gives caregivers a rest

Jim Fitzgerald / AP

Victor Rivera dances with a dementia patient Sept. 20 at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in the Bronx borough of New York. The Hebrew Home has a program that provides care and activity overnight for dementia victims with sleep problems.

By JIM FITZGERALD, AP

NEW YORKJust after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

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Dementia 'night camp' gives caregivers a rest

Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Is Making October "A Month to Remember"

Newswise ATLANTA (October 1, 2012) The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) announces today is the first day of nationwide October Lewy body dementia awareness month, A Month To Remember. LBDA invited volunteers to join the awareness movement by Standing Strong with LBDA to build awareness for Lewy body dementia in their communities all month long. The LBD Awareness Movement is a national, grass roots effort to increase LBD awareness in the general public and medical profession. Participants in the movement are getting involved with LBDA in several ways to make Lewy body dementia (LBD) become a household word, from distributing materials in their community and to local physicians offices, to organizing outreach or community fundraising events.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) affects an estimated 1.3 million individuals and their families in the United States. It is currently widely underdiagnosed because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly known diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD. Early diagnosis allows for important early treatment that may extend quality of life.

Given the growing population of older Americans, at some point in your life LBD will likely affect someone you know, said Angela Herron, President of LBDAs Board of Directors. The general public, and far too many primary care doctors and nurses, have never heard of LBD. In addition to trying to manage a very difficult disease, LBD families find themselves in the unanticipated role of educator and advocate.

These are just a few of the outstanding efforts around the country: Karen F. of Allentown, PA has 8 outreach events and media activities in October Rachael V. and Samantha L. are organizing the 1st Annual LBD Walk for Awareness in Abilene, TX on Oct. 20! Karen M. organized the Giddy-Up for Gary 5K in Omaha, NE on Oct. 12! Sue Ellen J. is doing an outreach event, delivering posters and materials to physicians and getting the word out and the PSAs to her local media in Austin, TX!

Check out LBDAs online calendar for all of the events for October Awareness Month!

LBDA is also encouraging Awareness Movement participants throughout the country to engage with each other locally by joining a Hub of Hope in their community. LBDA Hubs of Hope provide opportunities to connect LBD families and friends in local areas to build a network of resources for caregivers and people with LBD, as well as engage them in social and educational programs about LBD. To join LBDAs awareness movement, A Month To Remember, and for more information please visit http://www.lbda.org/go/awareness.

The Lewy Body Dementia Association The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting patients, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. Through outreach, education and research, LBDA supports those affected by Lewy body dementias. To learn more about LBD and LBDA please visit http://www.lbda.org.

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Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Is Making October "A Month to Remember"

Dementia rate 'to triple by 2050'

The number of Australians suffering from dementia is expected to triple to almost one million by 2050, a new report says. Source: Supplied

THE number of people suffering from dementia is expected to triple to 900,000 by 2050, a new report suggests.

It is estimated around 300,000 Australians currently have dementia and it's thought 400,000 people will be suffering from the disease by 2020.

But by 2050 the number of sufferers will be close to one million.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) director David Kalisch and Alzheimer's Australia president Ita Buttrose will launch a new report into dementia in Canberra today.

"An average of 25 people died each day from dementia in 2010," Mr Kalisch said in a statement.

"(Also) as any person with relatives or friends who have dementia knows it has a marked impact on quality of life not only for those with the condition but their families and friends as well."

The AIHW report Dementia in Australia reveals the disease was the third leading cause of death in 2010 accounting for six per cent of all deaths. Twice as many women as men die from dementia.

The disease was recorded as the underlying or an additional cause of 14 per cent of deaths in 2010.

The report also shows that of the 300,000 existing sufferers, 62 per cent are women.

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Dementia rate 'to triple by 2050'

Overnight dementia 'camp' allows caregivers rest

NEW YORK (AP) Just after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

"We would all wake up, and my daughter would ask, 'Why is Grandpa screaming? Why is he so grumpy?'" Garcia said.

"Now he comes home in the morning, shows me his drawings, tells me what they did all night."

While many nursing homes offer temporary "respite care" so caregivers can catch up on sleep or go on vacation, the overnight-only program at the Hebrew Home fills a niche.

But costs are high, and such programs are rare. An official at the Alzheimer's Association said she knew of no other.

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Overnight dementia 'camp' allows caregivers rest

Overnight dementia care gives caregivers some rest

NEW YORK (AP) Just after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

"We would all wake up, and my daughter would ask, 'Why is Grandpa screaming? Why is he so grumpy?'" Garcia said.

"Now he comes home in the morning, shows me his drawings, tells me what they did all night."

While many nursing homes offer temporary "respite care" so caregivers can catch up on sleep or go on vacation, the overnight-only program at the Hebrew Home fills a niche.

But costs are high, and such programs are rare. An official at the Alzheimer's Association said she knew of no other.

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Overnight dementia care gives caregivers some rest