The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from January 2007

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from January 2007

Older adults with Aspergers syndrome may be receiving inappropriate treatment.(Aspergers Syndrome)
January 1, 2007... precis * There are likely many older people who meet the criteria for AS but were never diagnosed. Older people with undiagnosed Aspergers syndrome (AS) may be receiving inappropriate treatments. * Study profiles how AS presents in old...

Study supports association between omega-3 fatty acid DHA and lower dementia risk.(The Framingham Heart Study)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... precis * Prospective study of 899 participants (median age 76 years; 571 women), free of dementia at baseline, who were followed up for 9 nine years to determine whether DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is associated with the risk of developing...

Venlafaxine and recurrent hyponatremia.(Adverse Events)
January 1, 2007... Normally the kidney is capable of excreting a large amount of dilute urine even after significant water intake. However, secretion of antidiuretic hormone can result in water retention and hyponatremia with a serum sodium concentration of less...

Omega-3 fatty acid may improve cognition in very mild AD.(What's New in Research)(Alzheimer's disease)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... precis * Six month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 174 patients (mean age 74 years) randomized to combined docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) fatty acid supplements or placebo, followed by 6 months of open...

Donepezil for post-operative delirium after hip replacement.(What's New in Research)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... precis * Small phase 2a pilot study suggests possible benefits of donepezil (Aricept) in treating postoperative delirium in elderly patients free of dementia prior to undergoing elective total hip replacement, although donepezil did not...

Rivastigimine for agitation in AD.(News Notes)(Alzheimer's disease)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... Researchers in Berlin found that 2 weeks of treatment with the acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) rivastigimine reduced agitation not attributed to delirium in a group of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This placebo-controlled...

SLUMS screening test for dementia.(News Notes)
January 1, 2007... A new screening test for dementia developed by geriatricians at Saint Louis University may be a more effective instrument for identifying mild cognitive impairment in the elderly than the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). While the Saint...

Clozapine for blepharospasm, obsessive-compulsive and psychotic symptoms.(Case Report)
January 1, 2007... Patient: Female, 65 y/o Medications: Clozapine (Clozaril), trihexyphenidyl (Artane), sulpiride (Dogmatil) * Comment: A 65-year-old woman living in Taiwan presented with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), psychotic symptoms and...

Pramipexole approved for moderate to severe primary restless legs syndrome.(From the FDA)
January 1, 2007... Mirapex (pramipexole) has received FDA approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). The drug is also approved for treating the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Manufactured by...

Topiramate first-time generic approval.(From the FDA)
January 1, 2007... Final approval has been granted for first-time generic topiramate tablets in 25 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg dosages, manufactured by Mylan Laboratories. [www.fda.gov/cder]