2023 Article Archive

November/December 2023

November/December 2023

• Eating Disorders and Dementia
  Know the difference between age-related changes in eating and dementia-related eating disorders.
• Handy Tools
  New ultrasound tools are emerging that promise convenience, faster imaging, and ease of use.
• A Narrative Approach to Palliative and End-of-Life Care
  Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center’s award-winning palliative care program puts the focus on the patients’ stories.
• Treating Parkinson’s Psychosis
  Greater awareness of symptoms can improve identification and treatment.

Departments

Editor’s Note
Seeing Older Adults Through a Trauma Lens

Research
Caregivers are typically disregarded in clinical trial design, yet they’re essential to participation of older adults.

Alzheimer’s Disease
Accurate diagnosis ensures appropriate treatment, and a new skin test is a significant advance.

Menopause
Hot flashes may be a sign of underlying health conditions, and researchers have found links between this common symptom of menopause and brain and heart health.

Substance Use Disorders
Increasing awareness of fatal drug interactions and opioid overuse/addiction among geriatric care providers is essential to reduce drug overdose deaths in older adults.

Probiotics
Can gut health management help prevent or manage type 2 diabetes?

Datebook

The Last Word
There’s a strong base of evidence for the use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in individuals who’ve experienced trauma, including older adults.

September/October 2023

September/October 2023

• Age Tech: The Next Frontier in Care
  Technology is making it easier for older adults to age in place and making home health practical for more patients.
• The Link Between Dementia and Depression
  Depression may increase the risk of dementia and worsen symptoms in those already experiencing cognitive decline.
• Frailty and the Microbiome
  Recent research suggest that gut dysbiosis may influence age-related diseases and conditions, including frailty.
• The Role of AI in Chronic Wound Care
  Artificial intelligence is now being used to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the diagnosis and treatment of chronic wounds.

Departments

Editor’s Note
Beyond the Blisters

Letter to the Editor

Bone Health
Are bone health and brain health linked? One study suggests they could be.

Brain Health
Scientific evidence is mounting to suggest that a brain-healthy lifestyle is crucial to well-being.

Heart Health
A growing number of studies show that shingles increases the risk of acute cardiovascular events.

Arthritis
Chair yoga offers surprising benefits to older adults with arthritis.

Datebook

The Last Word
By adopting a wound care culture, organizations benefit patients, staff, and their facilities.

July/August 2023

July/August 2023

• Diabetic Retinopathy
  It’s difficult to prevent diabetic retinopathy, but routine assessment and timely interventions can help prevent vision loss.
• Speech Therapy Helps Older Adults With Long COVID
  The COVID emergency may be over, but many still struggle with the effects. Speech therapists can help.
• Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults
  While addiction to alcohol and other substances is more prevalent among the young, older adults are increasingly struggling.
• Multiple Realities
  Immersive technologies are changing medical practice and education, making diagnostic decisions easier for clinicians.

Departments

Editor’s Note
Over but Not Over

Hearing Loss
Certain medications can cause hearing loss, but health care professionals can take an active role in helping older adults identify and minimize drug-related impairment.

Fall Prevention
New research sheds light on fall risk and dementia.

Bone Health
Clothing and new smart technology solutions protect hips.

Medication Monitor
People taking warfarin and using medical cannabis are at risk for drug-drug interactions.

Nutrition Briefs

Datebook

The Last Word
What geriatric professionals should know about suicide pacts and murder-suicides.

May/June 2023

May/June 2023

• Chronic Kidney Disease and Cognitive Impairment
  Patients with chronic kidney disease are at greater risk of developing cognitive impairment, a consequence that’s often overlooked.
• Reducing Racial Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health
  Marginalized groups, including Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans, have poorer cardiometabolic health than white Americans. What’s behind the difference, and what can physicians do to close the gap?
• The Hidden Risks of Oral Infections
  Improving oral health could help prevent potentially serious yet underrecognized health consequences, including cardiovascular disease.
• Protein Requirements for Older Adults
  Adequate protein intake is essential to preserve muscle mass, prevent sarcopenia, and ward off age-related declines in functioning.

Departments

Editor’s Note

Urinary Health
Results of a survey sent to directors of nursing on the impact of urinary incontinence on patients and staff of long term care facilities should inform management of overactive bladder.

Bone Health
Your patients may be surprised to learn that prunes may boost their bone health. Learn about this and other nutrition strategies.

Medication Monitor
The home pharmacy model offers benefits to patients wanting to age in place.

Eye Health
Researchers are digging into the ways in which ethnicity affects individuals’ risks for glaucoma and other eye diseases.

Datebook

The Last Word
To improve the quality of care for older adults, researchers are exploring the best ways for care partners to access patient portals.

March/April 2023

March/April 2023

• Caring for Patients With Dementia
  The role of providing dementia care is expanding to include earlier diagnosis from primary care providers, as well as knowledge of emerging drugs and new technology for cognitive testing.
• Deprescribing at the End of Life
  Polypharmacy, the use of five or more medications, is particularly detrimental to older patients with limited life expectancy. Geriatricians need to address the issue to improve patients’ well-being.
• The Condition No One Wants to Talk About
  Stigmas associated with andropause—the symptoms that arise from a decrease in testosterone, which commonly affects older men—can prevent patients from seeking treatment, so health care professionals should be prepared to initiate the discussion.
• Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers: A New Standard of Care
  New technology and advanced, noninvasive techniques may provide skin cancer patients with surgery-free treatments.

Departments

Editor’s Note
Looking Past the Headlines

Education
Raising the Bar in Gerontological Social Work Education

Home Health
Barriers to Aging in Place

Strategic Planning
Impact Commitments Support System and Community Health

Fall Prevention
Fall Prevention in Hospitals

Datebook

Nutrition Briefs

The Last Word
Accountable Care Organizations

January/February 2023

January/February 2023

• The Power of Sound
  Research shows music can be a powerful tool to help older adults suffering from a range of neurodegenerative conditions.
• Eating for Better Sleep
  Older adults need as much sleep as their younger counterparts; consuming the Mediterranean diet may help them achieve it.
• Social Isolation: A Matter of the Heart
  Loneliness leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults. Learn how experts are finding ways to mitigate the problem.
• Are Prediabetes & Type 2 Diabetes Reversible?
  The latest international consensus report on type 2 diabetes remission guides dietitians in helping their geriatric patients with diabetes.

Departments

Editor’s Note
Music as Medicine

Technology
Life-Saving Program Combines Technology With Nursing Skills

Therapy
The Importance of Integrating Speech Therapy for Older Adults

Women’s Health
Menopause and Brain Health

Hearing
Hearing Loss Affects Physical Function

Datebook

The Last Word
Aging, Intellectual Disabilities, and Missed Diagnoses