▶ New use of opioids increases risk of death in older adults with dementia This study of the entire population in Denmark age 65 and older diagnosed with dementia between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2018, found a fourfold increased excess mortality risk among participants within 180 days after their first opioid prescription. Strong opioids (including morphine, oxycodone, ketobemidone, hydromorphone, pethidine, buprenorphine and fentanyl – used to relieve pain when milder medicines are not effective) were associated with a sixfold increased mortality risk. Among those who used fentanyl patches as their first prescription, 64.4% died within the first 180 days compared with 6.4% in the unexposed group. ▶ Cognitive benefits of volunteering Volunteering in late life is associated with better cognitive function. A University of California-Davis study found that volunteering was associated with better baseline scores on tests of executive function and verbal episodic memory. ▷ University of Colorado study A study by University of Colorado researchers of an adult population aged 70 to 79 showed that volunteering was related to 16% lower odds of developing dementia (24% lower among women). While there are benefits to remaining cognitively active through employment after the traditional retirement age, researchers noted that volunteering may provide added benefits
because volunteering “is mentally and emotionally rewarding.”
▶ CRISPR & gene editing Two new studies used the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) system, which is emerging as one of the most powerful tools in the search for new drugs. One study at University of California at San Diego developed a strategy that targets the amyloid precursor protein that plays a central role in Alzheimer’s. Another team at Duke University reported on a strategy to reduce APOE-e4, which is the most significant Alzheimer’s genetic risk factor for some populations. While both studies are preliminary (conducted in mice), they are part of an exciting new frontier in Alzheimer’s research. The Alzheimer’s Association has released the first Alzheimer’s prevalence statistics for all 3,142 counties in the United States. The average for the U.S. among adults 65 and older is 10.7%, but higher rates were found in numerous areas in the East and Southeast. Miami-Dade County was highest at 16.6%. Statewide, Colorado’s rate is 10.4%. Age is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s, but Blacks and Hispanics are at higher risk for developing the disease due in large part to factors including higher rates of heart disease and diabetes. ▶ First-ever county-level Alzheimer’s prevalence statistics
27 The Acumen
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