Alzheimer’s Association International Conference®
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC® 2015) is the world’s largest forum for the dementia research community, bringing together leading researchers from around the world with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The meeting was hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s disease care, support, and research. The organization’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected by the disease, and to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias through the promotion of brain health. As a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s research program, AAIC® serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital collegial research community.
At AAIC® 2015, international investigators, clinicians, and care providers gathered to share the latest study results, theories, and discoveries to bring the world closer to breakthroughs in dementia science. According to new research reported at the meeting, more than 28 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease between now and midcentury, and the cost of caring for them will consume nearly 25% of Medicare spending in 2040. Additionally, there will be a shift toward more severe forms of the disease, leading to greater Medicare costs. However, an Alzheimer’s Association report released this year, Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer’s Disease: How a Treatment by 2025 Saves Lives and Dollars, indicated that, if a treatment that delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by five years is introduced by 2025, the economic and healthcare burden over the next two decades could be greatly mitigated.
AAIC® 2015 featured thousands of poster presentations and oral sessions, in addition to hundreds of plenary and symposia speakers. Many of these presentations focused on care of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in long-term care facilities.
Management of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia
Presentations discussed the management of neuropyschiatric symptoms (NPS). NPS may vary as a function of time of day, a common clinical phenomenon known as “sundowning syndrome,” characterized by the emergence or exacerbation of NPS in the late afternoon, evening, or at night.
Providing Support for Residents With Dementia and Their Families
Susan D. Gilster and Jennifer L. Dalessandro (The Gilster Group, Cincinnati, OH) presented a program that they implemented at their organization to enhance family members’ knowledge and understanding of dementia to provide better support.
Updates on Assessments for Dementia
There is ample evidence that accurate identification of cognitive abilities (and disabilities) can significantly optimize care. An explicit goal of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is to ensure that nursing home staffs adequately assess cognition in residents.
Managing Dehydration and Weight Loss in Residents with Dementia
Jane Louise Murphy of Bournemouth University, UK, presented two interesting initiatives to tackle dehydration and unexplained weight loss, respectively, among residents with dementia in long-term care settings.
