Explore Posterous

World Health Care Spending and Performance Ranking by Country (Table)

I am wondering if many people understand that we spend twice as much on healthcare as most industrialized countries. At the same time, our world ranking in healthcare delivery is poor.

Bob DeMarco Alzheimer's Reading Room Editor

It might be interesting to note that the profits of healthcare insurance companies rose by more than 400 percent in the period 2000-2007. During the same period, the number of people without healthcare insurance, and the cost of healthcare insurance was rising fast. It also surprises me when I see people arguing on television that they prefer the status quo.

All information is taking from 2005 OECD data unless otherwise noted. *2000, 2003-2005 World Health Organization Data. **2004 OECD data. Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Health Organization Analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Heath Research Institute

Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 1,000 articles with more than 18,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

More from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• Worried About Alzheimer's Disease
• Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia
• H1N1 Flu Virus Everything You Need to Know
• Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
• Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimer's or Dementia in Five Minutes
• Dimebon Connection Study
• The Metamorphosis of This Alzheimer's Caregiver (Part One)
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• Worried about Alzheimer's? Five Ways to Protect Yourself
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Alzheimer's Wandering Why it Happens and What to Do
• 50 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room Now
• World Health Care Spending and Performance Ranking by Country (Table)
• Urinary Incontinence -- How We Beat Alzheimer's Incontinence
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

Original content Bob DeMarco, Alzheimer's Reading Room

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

The Cannabis Caregiver -- Business Opportunity?

If I can stop laughing I'll give you my take on the article below. If you are one of my good buddies you already heard my story.

If you read -- The Metamorphosis of This Alzheimer's Caregiver (Part One) -- you know I am a curious person. I am always coming up with wacky ideas for new businesses. Not all of them are as wacky as they seem.

For several years now, I have been envisioning a great new business that I would start when legal marijuana comes to Florida.

To continue reading follow the link....

From: http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2009/12/cannabis-caregiver.html

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

Medivation Starts New Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's -- Dimebon

I wanted to bring this into you awareness.

Full disclosure: I am in the process of determining if my mother is a candidate for the Dimebon with Namenda clinical trial.

Protocol Number: B1451006

No Dimebon clinical data exist yet in patients with disease that has advanced to the moderate-to-severe stage. Therefore, this study evaluates the safety and efficacy of Dimebon in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease who are receiving existing background therapy with memantine (namenda).

Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via Email

MDVN Starts New Alzheimer’s Trials

Earlier this month, Medivation, Inc. (MDVN - Analyst Report) and Pfizer, Inc. (PFE - Analyst Report) initiated two phase III studies, CONTACT and CONSTELLATION, with Dimebon in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dimebon is being developed in collaboration with Pfizer for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Huntington diseases.

The CONTACT study will assess the potential benefits of adding Dimebon to ongoing treatment with Pfizer’s Aricept on neuropsychiatric symptoms and activities of daily living. Meanwhile, the CONSTELLATION study will evaluate the effects of adding Dimebon to Forest Lab’s (FRX - Analyst Report) Namenda, another standard of care, on cognition, memory and activities of daily living.

Preclinical studies indicate that Dimebon has the potential to protect brain cells from damage and enhance brain cell survival, by stabilizing and improving mitochondrial function. Dimebon’s mechanism is distinct from currently available Alzheimer’s medications.

Dimebon is currently in seven studies which are evaluating the safety and efficacy of the candidate across all stages of Alzheimer's disease, both as monotherapy as well as in combination with currently available Alzheimer's treatments, and in Huntington disease.

Dimebon’s unique mechanism of action and efficacy seen in clinical trials could make it a significant player in the worldwide Alzheimer’s market, which represents huge commercial potential. It is estimated that the market is currently worth about $5 billion.

Dimebon has successfully completed the first of two pivotal trials required to gain marketing approval in the U.S. for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

A second confirmatory phase III study, CONNECTION, is currently ongoing.

We expect to see top-line results from this study in the first half of 2010.

Positive results should allow Medivation to go ahead with the filing of the new drug application (NDA) for the Alzheimer’s indication in 2011.

We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Medivation.

All of the above investment information is from Zacks investment research. It does not represent any opinion on our part.

To read more about Medivation and Dimebon -- go here.

Popular articles on the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia
• H1N1 Flu Virus Everything You Need to Know
• Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
• Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimer's or Dementia in Five Minutes
• Dimebon Connection Study
• The Metamorphosis of This Alzheimer's Caregiver (Part One)
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• Worried about Alzheimer's? Five Ways to Protect Yourself
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Alzheimer's Wandering Why it Happens and What to Do
• 50 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room Now
• World Health Care Spending and Performance Ranking by Country (Table)
• Walmart and this Alzheimer's Caregiver
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for news, advice, and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob has written more than 950 articles with more than 8,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Original content Bob DeMarco, Alzheimer's Reading Room

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

Which Drugs Increase the Risk of Falling for the Elderly

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for adults sixty-five and older, and research suggests that those taking four or more medications are at an even greater risk than those who don’t—perhaps two to three times greater. -- Susan Blalock, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.....

Bob DeMarco

Alzheimer's Reading Room Editor

I am always worried that my mother might fall and injure herself -- or worse. Research studies indicate that falling is a leading cause of injury deaths for people 65 and older -- see Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview.

• More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States
• Twenty percent to 30% of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as bruises, hip fractures, or head traumas.
• Men are more likely to die from a fall.
• The risk of being seriously injured in a fall increases with age.
• People 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.

The drugs older people take can make them more susceptible to falling. Have you considered these facts? Asked your personal care physician if the drugs he or she is prescribing increase the chances of falling? Ever had a pharmacist warm you that a drug can increase the chances of falling? When you are getting a prescription filled has the pharmacist every told you -- be careful this drug can increase falling?

Stefanie Ferreri offered the following advice to patients and practitioners: For Patients If patients see a drug they are taking on the list, they should not stop taking it. Next time they see their doctor, talk about the risk of falling and possible alternative medications. For Doctors Physicians should look for medications that have been proven safe and effective in older adults and look for medicines that have less of a sedating effect. Physicians should be especially wary of anticholinergics, a class of drugs that affect nerve cells and used to treat a wide range of conditions. For Pharmacists Pharmacists should be alert for patients sixty-five and older who are taking four or more drugs and be sure the patients know about the additional risk of falling created by their medications. Here are some popular drugs that are on the list Celexa, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Prozac and Risperdal. Please consider sharing this information with family and friends. Or your doctor. Go here to see -- Prescription medications that increase the risk of falls for patients 65 and older.

Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via Email

Popular articles on the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia
• H1N1 Flu Virus Everything You Need to Know
• Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
• Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimer's or Dementia in Five Minutes
• Dimebon Connection Study
• The Metamorphosis of This Alzheimer's Caregiver (Part One)
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• Worried about Alzheimer's? Five Ways to Protect Yourself
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Alzheimer's Wandering Why it Happens and What to Do
• 50 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room Now
• World Health Care Spending and Performance Ranking by Country (Table)
• Walmart and this Alzheimer's Caregiver
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for news, advice, and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob has written more than 950 articles with more than 8,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Original content Bob DeMarco, Alzheimer's Reading Room

Which Drugs Increase the Risk of Falling for the Elderly

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

Alzheimer Society of Montreal offers weekly support, art therapy, and more.

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

Alzheimer Group Offers Art Therapy and more

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

Where is the Alzheimer's Association?

As far as I can tell, the Alzheimer's Reading Room has six subscribers from the Alzheimer's Association.

I am sitting here wondering why we don't have more?.

I believe the Alzheimer's Reading Room is accomplishing its core mission -- to bring high quality insight and advice to Alzheimer's caregivers, the families of caregivers, and people in the industry that have hands on experience with Alzheimer's.

The content on this site is frequently syndicated on to the online websites of the Chicago Sun Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Palm Beach Post, Houston Chronicle, and a long list of newspapers. The content is syndicated on Livestrong -- Lance Armstrong's cancer website.

We have articles on the Wall Street Journal, and a direct link to the Alzheimer's Reading Room on the New York Times.

Several hundred blogs syndicate our headline feed.

So where is the Alzheimer's Association?

I believe that many of the Alzheimer's Association volunteers would get a good understanding of what Alzheimer's caregivers are thinking and feeling when they call the Alzheimer's Association for help -- if they read the information and comments on this site.

Perhaps the Alzheimer's Association could consider having their volunteers recommend this website when people call in looking for help, or suggest this website as a resource of information.

I really don't understand what the Alzheimer's Association is doing other than spreading the word about Alzheimer's, and selling a longer and longer list of products.

I believe we are here -- the collective brain of the Alzheimer's Reading Room -- to help people that need our help now and will need us in the future.

I have more than 150 emails from people telling me after subscribing to this site they no longer feel ALONE.

How many does the Alzheimer's Association have?

If you are one of the six subscribers from the Alzheimer's Association you are welcome to comment on this article.

Better yet, how about writing an article about what the Alzheimer's Association is doing to help Alzheimer's caregivers when they call.

I bet our subscribers would welcome the opportunity to comment.

To comment on this article go here.

Where is the Alzheimer's Association?

From: http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2009/10/where-is-alzheimers-association.html

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

Dying from Dementia -- Late-Dementia Suffering Often Unnecessary

Since individuals with advanced dementia cannot report their symptoms, these symptoms often are untreated, leaving them vulnerable to pain, difficulty breathing and various other conditions. We shouldn't allow these people to suffer. We should be providing palliative care to make them more comfortable in the time they have left......As a teenager, I had the unfortunate but ultimately career-shaping experience of watching my maternal grandmother decline from Alzheimer's disease. She resided in a nursing home, where her final months were marked by repeated courses of antibiotics for infections and the use of restraints or medications to control her agitation before she died from one last infection. Seeing my grandmother in that state was so distressing that my mother eventually stopped taking the grandchildren to visit. My grandmother had little in the way of either comfort or company toward the end. --Greg A. Sachs, M.D.

To continue reading go here...

From: http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2009/10/dying-from-dementia-late-dementia.html

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

Alzheimer's or Dementia Get the Thyroid Checked

I wish I could shout this from the mountain top: when Alzheimer's or dementia present, get the thyroid checked.......

Yesterday I was reminded of our good fortune after I read an article about hypothyroidism and Alzheimer's disease.

What happened? During the television show Everybody Loves Raymond my mother started laughing. Later in the day it got even better. 

I had the World series on television and when they started singing the National Anthem-- my mother started singing along. Incredible.

Why is this incredible? For over two years before we discovered that my mother was suffering from a sluggish thyroid -- she did not laugh or smile. Not once.

I am sure you can imagine how disconcerting this was to me. It hurt.

To continue reading go here......

Alzheimer's, Thyroid and Hypothyroidism

 http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2009/10/alzheimers-or-dementia-get-thyroid.html 

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »

I promised not to put my parents in a nursing home

I have heard a frequent phrase throughout my decades working with seniors.

I promised I wouldn’t put my parents in a nursing home.

The decision to keep a parent home or place them in a facility is never an easy choice, and is usually contemplated for a long time. The horror stories we’ve all heard about nursing homes can make anyone cringe.

So how do you decide what is best for you loved one, especially when a parent has Alzheimer’s or dementia?

To continue reading go here.....

I promised not to put my parents in a nursing home

Loading mentions Retweet

Comment (0) »