Amy Duhig

Direct medical costs and source of cost differences across the spectrum of cognitive decline: a population-based study.

Objective cost estimates and source of cost differences are needed across the spectrum of cognition, including cognitively normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), newly discovered dementia, and prevalent dementia.

Development of a patient-reported outcome instrument to assess complex activities of daily living and interpersonal functioning in persons with mild cognitive impairment: The qualitative research phase.

As drug development research efforts move toward studying patients earlier in the course of Alzheimers disease (AD), it is important to incorporate the patients perspective into measurement of outcomes.

Economic considerations of cognition and functional outcomes in patients with schizophrenia: A systematic literature review

Abstract Background The primary focus of research in schizophrenia has been on the positive symptoms, with findings that clearly establish their economic burden. More recently, research has expanded to focus on another core symptom of schizophrenia, namely cognitive impairments. While this work has established the adverse impact of cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) on functional outcomes, their relationship to the economic impact of schizophrenia has not been systematically evaluated. Objective The aim of this research was to perform a systematic literature review identifying evidence that evaluates: 1) the economic impact of CIAS and its treatments, including health-state utilities, and 2) the economic evidence associated with improvements in the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery and the University of California Performance Skills Assessment (UPSA). Method A systematic search of articles published from January 1999–April 2013 was conducted. Studies reporting direct costs, indirect costs, and quality of life impacts of CIAS and costs of CIAS interventions were reviewed. Results Forty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty-four focused on indirect costs (work-related outcomes) associated with cognitive impairments and 14 studies included residential status outcomes. Four studies concentrated on the direct cost of cognitive remediation therapy. Three studies reported quality of life outcomes, but none used health-state utilities. Eight studies focused on the UPSA and its relationship to community outcomes. Only two studies were cost-effectiveness analyses. Conclusions Despite the growing scientific literature relating CIAS to adverse outcomes, the translation of outcomes into economic outcomes is seldom reported. Should novel pharmacotherapies and/or psychosocial treatments require reimbursement from health authorities and/or other payers, many gaps warrant attention in order to demonstrate the economic value of these therapies.

Nursing Home Use Across The Spectrum of Cognitive Decline: Merging Mayo Clinic Study of Aging With CMS MDS Assessments

Objective, complete estimates of nursing home (NH) use across the spectrum of cognitive decline are needed to help predict future care needs and inform economic models constructed to assess interventions to reduce care needs.

A cross-national study of augmentation of cholinesterase inhibitors with memantine in Alzheimer's disease

fields have been discovered. Methods: Subchronic effect of a weak combined magnetic field (MF), produced by superimposing a constant component (region mT) and an alternating MF of (0.1 mT) which was the sum of signals of frequencies region Hz, was studied in olfactory bulbectomized and transgenic B6aC3-Tg (APPswe, PSEN1DeltaE9) 85DBO/J mice, which were used as animal models of sporadic and heritable Alzheimer’s disease accordingly. Exposure to the MFs induced the decrease of Ab level in bulbectomized mice and reduced the number of Ab plaques in the cortex and hippocampus. Results: Positive results were obtained in volunteers with Alzheimer’s desease.We have developed several types of equipment for correction and treatment of their condition. Conclusions: We expect that numerous positive pieces of evidence both in animal experience and with humans will be of enormous importance for those suffering from different stages of Alzheimer’s desease all over the world.

A cross-national study of carer burden in dementia

Background: Laminaria japonica , an edible brown seaweed, has long been utilized since ancient times as an important food resource to promote maternal health in Pacific and Asian countries. Due to its high contents of dietary fiber, minerals, carbohydrates, and protein, L. japonica has recently attracted much attention for its bioactive materials and nutraceutical qualities. Methods: The present study examined the effects of desalted Laminaria japonica (D LJ) on learning and memory function and cholinergic neuron activity in trimethyltin (TMT) induced memory deficits rats.After TMT injection (8mg/kg, i.p.), rats were administered with saline or D LJ (10 and 50mg/kg, p.o.) daily for 21 days. The cognitive improving effects of D LJ on TMT-induced amnesic rats were investigated by assessing the Morris water maze test and by performing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry.Results: In theMorris water maze, TMT treated group produced impairment in escape latency to find the platform. However, DLJ treated groups were significantly recovered the impairment of memory compared to the control group (on the 2nd and 4th day (P <0.05)). Consistent with behavioral data, DLJ group was significantly increased ChAT-ir neurons in the midial striatum compared to the control group (P <0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, administration of D LJ improved spatial learning and memory. These results suggest that D LJ may be useful for the cognitive improvement via regulation of cholinergic marker enzyme activity.