Address anxieties in a timely manner

Anxiety is very common in older adults and people with dementia. However, those who experience chronic or new-onset anxiety also have a higher risk of developing dementia. This connection is particularly strong in people under 70 years of age. Researchers from Australia discovered this. Do people…

When dementia leads to depression

Researchers from the USA and Sweden investigated the risk of developing severe depression after an Alzheimer's diagnosis. More than four million people from Sweden participated in the study. Their findings were published in April 2024 in the renowned journal Alzheimer's & Dementia. If, with...

Dementia risk „haze“

A new study by Chinese scientists underscores the importance of not smoking at a young age and during pregnancy. Those who started smoking in early adolescence also developed dementia earlier. Furthermore, the researchers were able to establish a link between smoking during pregnancy...

digiDEM Bavaria HIGHLIGHT_03: New Drugs for Dementia – Helpful Treatment Alternative or Sham?

In the third issue of our new special newsletter "SCHLAGLICHT – New Medications for Dementia," Dr. Nikolas Dietzel, a research associate at digiDEM Bayern, discusses the publication by scientists from Europe, the USA, and Australia, led by Professor Poul F. Høilund-Carlsen from Odense University Hospital in Denmark. In the article titled "Donanemab, another anti-Alzheimer’s…"

Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria: Sleep Quality of Caregiving Relatives – Influencing Factors and Starting Points for Improvements

Background: Dementia is considered one of the main causes of the need for long-term care among older adults [1, 2]. Approximately 70% of this care is provided by family members and caregivers in the home setting [2]. Caregiving can affect the sleep of family members and relatives who provide care. Objective: The objective of this study is …

Current state of knowledge on Alzheimer's disease: digiDEM Knowledge Test Alzheimer's Dementia

Background: High health literacy is necessary for the timely initiation of diagnostic and treatment measures for Alzheimer's dementia [1]. To increase health literacy in the population, the digiDEM Knowledge Test Alzheimer's Dementia has been developed. This is based on the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and includes 30 statements from...

Social isolation as a risk factor for loneliness and cognitive decline in people with dementia: Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria

Background: Social isolation, defined by the number and quality of social networks, is among the modifiable risk factors influencing the development and course of dementia [1]. In addition, an increase in social isolation is also significantly associated with the development of loneliness [2], another risk factor for...

Advance Care Planning for People with Dementia: Digital Dementia Register Bavaria

Background: For people with dementia to be actively involved in care planning, early discussion of care planning topics is of central importance [1]. The concept of so-called Advance Care Planning (ACP) offers a promising way to take their individual wishes regarding end-of-life care and treatment into account [2]. …