In the News

Study: Can Depression Treatments Reduce Seniors' Mortality Risk?

It has long been known that depression is associated with an increased risk of mortality in older adults. But new research shows that the converse is also true, that this risk can be reduced by treating the depression. In a new study done at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and published in the current edition of Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers assessed the 5-year risk of death in 1,226 subjects, 60 years of age or older, who entered into a general practice-based clinical trial. One group of patients received usual care from their doctors, while the other received usual care plus depression "intervention" by a depression care manager. Overall, 396 patients were diagnosed with major depression and 203 with significant minor depression.

The results were striking: During the study, 223 patients died; those in the depression intervention group were 33 percent less likely to die than those in the usual care group. The effect on those who had been diagnosed with major depression was marked: It cut the risk of death by 45 percent in this group. Those with minor depression experienced no significant drop in mortality due to treatment. The authors of the study concluded, "If we are to prepare for the increasing need for mental health services among older persons and to ease the burden of disability associated with depression, we must engage primary care practices as partners in developing services that interrupt the pathway from depression to death." Read More

Happy, Homey Environments Increase Alzheimer's Patients' Appetites

A new study published in the May issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing highlights efforts of Swedish researchers to increase the weight of Alzheimer's patients. Weight loss is a common issue among Alzheimer's patients, and malnutrition can lead to more serious problems such as increased risk for bone fractures and infections

Two nursing home wards with similar numbers of patients and staffing profiles were selected, each receiving food from the same central kitchen. One group received special staff training that emphasized themes such as promoting the patient's integrity, communicating effectively, and creating a calmer and more home-like environment. As a result, the staff in this group worked with patients to print new patterns on curtains and tablecloths, they wore more brightly colored clothes, and instead of prepared trays, they set tables with serving bowls and encouraged the patients to help themselves. The patients in this group tended to gain weight, while those in the control group lost weight. In fact, the experiment "was so successful that staff on the control ward were given the same training at the end of the study so that they could make the same improvements on their ward," according to lead researcher Anna-Greta Mamhidir. The individual subjects who gained weight also displayed improved intellectual abilities. Read More

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