Topics: Free Articles

Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Carlat Geriatric Psychiatry Report—our fifth CME newsletter. You’ve been asking for a source of unbiased reporting on geriatric psychiatry, and we’ve finally created one. We hope you’ll find it useful. 

Topics: Free Articles

It’s our pleasure to introduce Dr. Stephanie Collier, MD, MPH, as the editor-in-chief of CGPR. Dr. Collier is the director of education in the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean Hospital and an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

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The expanding population of older adults has created a need for all clinicians to participate in their care. Interviewing techniques require adaptation in older adults, such as accounting for hearing or vision impairment and speaking slowly and clearly. This article will cover additional factors to consider when evaluating older patients.

Aducanumab (Aduhelm), which is given intravenously once a month, is a monoclonal antibody directed against amyloid plaques that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The idea is that aducanumab will stick to the plaques in the brain. Once there’s an antibody on a plaque, the immune system signals the body’s defense mechanisms to remove it.

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There are several types of dementia, and each has a different prognosis and treatment course. This article outlines Dr. Roca's approach for distinguishing between the most common varieties—Alzheimer’s, vascular, Lewy body, and frontotemporal. In addition, the article covers how to differentiate between mild and major neurocognitive disorder (NCD). 

Although breaking the news to a patient or relative is challenging, discussing dementia often comes as a relief. A diagnosis helps explain why a patient is experiencing symptoms, and it opens the door to discuss expectations and management. We use a “person-centered approach” that focuses on a patient’s abilities, not their condition.

On March 14, 2022, Adlarity (donepezil hydrochloride) received FDA approval for the treatment of patients with mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer’s dementia. Adlarity is as effective as other cholinesterase inhibitors.

Topics: CME Post-Test

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only. By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 2 CME Credits.