Mastodawn

Art Walaszek Apr 27, 2023

Interested in learning more about how #caregivers can support persons living with #dementia?

Check out my presentation at the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute Milwaukee Regional Office "Breaking the Silence" event:

https://wai.wisc.edu/breakthesilence/

#MedMastodon #GeriMastodon

Breaking the Silence: Addressing Dementia in Communities of Color

Thank you to our event sponsors, speakers, and the almost 400 attendees! We loved hosting you at the 9th Annual Breaking the Silence: Addressing Dementia in Communities of Color Minority Health Month Event. We received positive feedback about the keynote speakers, and especially people looking for more information about the talk presented by Art Walaszek,…

Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute

Art Walaszek Feb 15, 2023

What a wonderful story in the @washingtonpost ...

Older adults share with a palliative care physician their wisdom regarding relationships that last.

#GeriMastodon #geriatrics #psychmastodon

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/14/lifelong-couples-relationship-advice/

Lifelong couples told me their secrets. This is what they said.

As a palliative care doctor, I've often wondered what makes these couples last. They all had one thing in common.

The Washington Post

Art Walaszek Feb 9, 2023

Great editorial by Ganguli and Hendrie decrying #ageism in politics, specifically the term "gerontocracy."

https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(22)00560-7/fulltext

#geriatrics #GeriMastodon

Art Walaszek Feb 9, 2023

Another great resource regarding #ageism, this time as it pertains to the widespread adoption of telehealth:

https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(22)00557-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

"The assumption that older adults can or should utilize information technology for access to healthcare with the same facility as younger age cohorts represents a trifecta of ageism, mentalism and ableism."

#geriatrics #GeriMastodon

Art Walaszek Feb 9, 2023

A deep dive into the relationship between cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and #apathy - exploring the concept of "vascular apathy."

While there is consistent evidence linking CVD with apathy, there are other factors that could contribute to apathy, e.g., depression or neurodegenerative disease.

(Note that apathy is the most common behavioral/psychological symptom of #dementia.)

https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(22)00526-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

#GeriMastodon #Geriatrics #Psychiatry

Art Walaszek Feb 8, 2023

In light of commentary I have seen today on Mastodon that President Biden is too old to run again, I would like share some resources to raise awareness of #ageism.

Check out the blog, "Yo, Is This Ageist?"

https://yoisthisageist.com/

"Generalizations about the capacities of older people are no more acceptable than racial or gender stereotypes. Period."

#GeriMastodon #Geriatrics

Yo, Is This Ageist?

challenging the stereotypes that segregate us by age

Tumblr

Art Walaszek Feb 5, 2023

I hope to see you in Milwaukee, WI, on April 21, 2023, for the 9th Annual Minority Health Month Event hosted by the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute:

"Breaking the Silence: Addressing Dementia in Communities of Color"

#Geriatrics #GeriMastodon #dementia #Alzheimers

https://wai.wisc.edu/breakthesilence/

Breaking the Silence: Addressing Dementia in Communities of Color

Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute

Art Walaszek Dec 29, 2022

Update on #aducanumab fiasco:

Congressional investigation into regulatory capture of the FDA is damning:

FDA's approval process was "rife with irregularities"

https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/Final%20Aduhelm%20Report_12.29.22.pdf

#Geriatrics #GeriMastodon

Art Walaszek Dec 28, 2022

Pretty good review of neurobiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of #apathy in older adults.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-022-02292-3

#GeriMastodon #geriatrics

The neurobiology of apathy in depression and neurocognitive impairment in older adults: a review of epidemiological, clinical, neuropsychological and biological research - Translational Psychiatry

Apathy is a common condition that involves diminished initiative, diminished interest and diminished emotional expression or responsiveness. It is highly prevalent in the context of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders and is related to poor health outcomes. Presence of apathy is associated with cognitive and functional decline in dementia. Despite its negative impact on health, there is no definitive treatment for apathy, a clinical reality that may be due in part to lack of knowledge about assessment, neuropsychological features and neurobiological underpinnings. Here, we review and synthesize evidence from clinical, epidemiological, neuropsychological, peripheral biomarker and neuroimaging research. Apathy is a common feature of depression and cognitive disorders and is associated with impairment in executive function. Neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies point to dysfunction of brain circuitry involving the prefrontal cortex, especially the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex circuit, the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex circuit, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex circuit. However, inconsistent findings, particularly in neuroimaging may be due to heterogeneity of apathy symptoms (with a need to better elucidate subtypes), neuropsychiatric comorbidities, the severity of cognitive impairment and other factors. These factors need to be accounted for in future studies so that biomarker research can make progress. On the whole, the literature on apathy has identified likely neurocognitive, peripheral biomarker and neuroimaging targets for understanding apathy, but also points to the need to address methodological issues that will better inform future studies. In turn, as we learn more about the underpinning of apathy and its subtypes, subsequent research can focus on new neurally based interventions that will strengthen the clinical management of apathy in the context of its comorbidities.

Nature

Art Walaszek Dec 27, 2022

A framework for addressing the combination of structural #racism & #ageism:

- "When people from historically marginalized groups who have experienced a lifetime of racism then become older, they experience the added injustice of ageism as well."

- "Injustice in any form is an affront to the core values of #geriatrics practice."

https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jgs.18105

#GeriMastodon #MedMastodon @[email protected]