Structural Brain Changes: How Imaging Affects Management of Late-Life Psychiatric Conditions

Topics: Alzheimers | Atrophy | CT | DaT Scan | fMRi | Frontotemporal dementia | Imaging | LATE | MRI | Parkinson’s | PET Scan | White matter hyperintensities

CGPR: When do you decide to order imaging for your older adult patients? Dr. Ajilore: I order imaging when I think there is a nonpsychiatric cause for the patient’s symptoms. This could be normal pressure hydrocephalus, vascular disease including lacunar infarcts or stroke, trauma, or (in rare cases) a brain tumor. In patients with dementia, one im

Nuplazid: Novel Mechanism, Modest Benefits

Topics: Dopamine | Geriatric Psychiatry | Neurology | Novel Medications | Nuplazid | Parkinson’s

Psychosis can be a paralyzing dilemma for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Most antipsychotics worsen the motor symptoms of PD, while the dopaminergic drugs that treat PD can worsen the psychosis. Psychosis afflicts up to 60% of patients with PD, and it is the leading cause of nursing home placement in these patients (Hacksell U et al, Neuroche

Antipsychotics Fall Short in Delirium

Topics: Dopamine | Geriatric Psychiatry | Neurology | Novel Medications | Nuplazid | Parkinson’s

Review: Oh ES et al, Ann Intern Med 2019;171(7):474–484; Nikooie R et al, Ann Intern Med 2019;171(7):485–495 Study type: Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials and prospective studies Delirium is common and costly. With an incidence rate approaching 50% in hospitalized older adults, the condition poses a burden that is anticipated