The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from December 2005

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from December 2005

Can fish consumption help to lower the risk of age-related cognitive decline?(Cognitive Decline in the Elderly)
December 1, 2005... Eating fish once or more per week may protect against age-related cognitive decline. According to results from a new prospective cohort study of 3,718 persons, ages 65 years and older, eating fish once a week or more was associated with...

New study looks at whether antipsychotics raise the risk of cerebrovascular events: experts cite need to consider risks-benefits equation before prescribing.(Treating Dementia)
December 1, 2005... A typical antipsychotics have become widely used for treating behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Their rapid acceptance reflected their "purported superior profile in terms of motor side effects compared to conventional...

Mirtazapine-induced arthralgia and coagulopathy.(Adverse Events)
December 1, 2005... Mirtazapine (Remeron) is an antidepressant with a complex spectrum of mechanism of action that is different from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. (1) Instead of inhibiting...

Atypicals not linked to lower risk of falls.(What's New in Research)(atypical antipsychotic agents )
December 1, 2005... According to new study data, atypical antipsychotics, such as olanzapine and risperidone, may not provide greater benefits to elderly patients in terms of risks of falls compared with older, traditional antipsychotics. According to the authors,...

Complementary medicine and the elderly.(News Notes)(Survey)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Results of a new study published in The Gerontologist suggest that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an important aspect of healthcare among older Americans. The sample included 1,099 adults aged 52 years or older who took part in...

Smell-identification scale may predict MCI in AD patients.(News Notes)(mild cognitive impairment in Alzheimers disease)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... A brief, 10-item smell identification scale to assess risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) appears to perform comparably with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT)--a test which is widely used in research settings but...

Arthralgia associated with mirtazapine.(Case Report)
December 1, 2005... The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb reports 8 cases of arthralgia and/or arthritis associated with mirtazapine (Remeron) in patients between 42 and 62 years old (see also Adverse Events column, page 2 of this issue). For all...

Liver injury risk from Cylert (generic pemoline).(From the FDA)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... In October, 2005, the FDA concluded that the risk of liver toxicity from Cylert and generic versions (pemoline) outweighs the benefits of this drug. In May 2005, Abbott stopped sales and marketing of Cylert, the central nervous system stimulant...

Expanded liver damage warnings for Cymbalta.(From the FDA)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... The FDA and Eli Lilly have notified healthcare professionals that post-marketing reports have suggested that patients with preexisting liver damage who take Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) may have increased risk for further damage....