A recent study published in The Nurse Practitioner featured methods for managing herpes zoster (or Shingles) among older adults. The authors identified a higher incidence of shingles outbreaks among women over the age of 60. The study results indicate that “the treatment of herpes zoster has three goals: to prevent spread of the virus, to treat pain, and to prevent complications.” Full Story
A recent article published in Nursing Times featured new guidelines on the management of pain in older adults that were developed by the British Pain Society and the British Geriatric Society. The authors employed a systematic review in which the authors search PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) for relevant publications between 1997 and 2010. The authors “identified only a small number of studies on the management of pain in older people,” and conclude that, “the guideline has exposed this lack of evidence for many types of treatment in an ever-increasing ageing population.” Full Story
A recent study published in Pain Medicine examined “the demographic, physical, and mental health characteristics; current drug use patterns; motivations for use; and diversion sources among elderly prescription opioid misusers.” The study consisted of eighty-eight older adults (age 60 and older) who reported prescription medication misuse over the past 90 days. The authors found that “this group of elderly participants often misuse their own prescriptions for pain management.” Full Story
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society sought to determine “types of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and actually inappropriate medications (AIMs), which PIMs are most likely to be considered AIMs, and risk factors for PIMs and AIMs at hospital discharge in elderly intensive care unit (ICU) survivors.” The authors found that “certain types of PIMs, which are commonly initiated in the ICU, are more frequently considered inappropriate upon clinical review,” and “efforts to reduce AIMs in elderly ICU survivors should target these specific classes of medications.” Full Story
A recent article published on the New York Times’ “The New Old Age” blog addressed a recent report in which researchers have identified decreased dementia rates among older adults in Europe. The author found that “the new generation of very old people [are] functioning at a much higher level, ” and concludes that “it’s possible to increase the number of people who live to very old ages and at the same time have them function better.” Full Story
A recent study published in Pain examined age-related changes in offset analgesia (a form of temporal pain inhibition) among older adults. The study consisted of “twenty-five younger adults and twenty older adults who completed six offset trials in which an experimental heat stimulus was presented to their forearms.” Participants rated pain intensity continuously through each trial, and older adult participants, “demonstrated reduced offset compared to younger adults.” The authors conclude that, “the reduced offset found in older adults may reflect an age-related decline in endogenous inhibitory systems.” Full Story
Dr. Cary Reid, Director of the Translational Research Institute on Pain in Later Life, recently attended and presented at the 8th Annual NIH Pain Consortium. His presentation focused on pain self-management programs that have been implemented in community settings. He also addressed knowledge gaps in pain treatment and summarized current research and policy issues related to pain self-management. Click here to view Dr. Reid’s presentation, which begins at the 33:20 mark.
A recent study published in the Journal of Health Nutrition and Aging measured the prevalence and clinical correlates of unrecognized comorbid mood disorders and chronic pain of uncertain origin in older primary care patients. The study consisted of 2720 patients with “persistent pain of uncertain origin.” The authors conclude that, “depression is highly associated with pain of uncertain origin in older patients.” Full Story
A recent article featured in the New York Times’ “Health and Wellness” blog addressed persistent disability rates among older adults. The author found that, “a vast majority of people who live to older ages live with disability or a mobility problem in the last years of life, and for women it’s even more likely.” The author also mentioned that, “we shouldn’t deny demographic reality. If you live to be 90, the majority of people will have a period of disability.” Full Story
Dr. Mark Lachs, Co-Chief of the Division of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, recently posted a blog on Huffington Post that overviewed Dr. Jason Karlawish’s recent keynote presentation at the NYC Elder Abuse Conference. Dr. Karlawish’s presentation focused on the importance of capacity assessment in work with older adults. Click here to read Dr. Lachs’ blog on Huffington Post. A summary of this blog was also featured on the NYC Elder Abuse Center’s Elder Justice Dispatch blog and can be viewed by clicking here.
