Describes a genetic engineering project to build an intelligent mouse. Cites understanding the molecular basis of learning and memory as a very important step. Concludes that while science will never create a genius mouse that plays the stock market, it can turn a mouse into a quick learner with a better memory. (YDS)

The Training Rural Alzheimer's Networking Services for Education and Referral (TRANSFER) prepares rural health and social service providers in West Virginia to detect the presence of cognitive disorders and offer care to these people and their families. A train-the-trainer model was developed that can be used with rural practitioners. (JOW)

Reports the results of a consensus meeting convened to provide guidelines for clinicians and make recommendations for researchers regarding disruptive vocalization (DV). Suggests that DV arises largely in persons with cognitive impairment and generally reflects an underlying need or discomfort. Managing DV involves appropriate identification of…

Reports on a multisensory intervention that combined art, music, and movement within a long-term care setting for Alzheimer's patients. Details the benefits derived by some of the participants who attended the sessions regularly. Many were able to retrieve memories, enjoy socialization, and have the opportunity for affective expression. (RJM)

Includes "Foreword. Social Theory and Educational Gerontology: Themes and Future Perspectives" (Phillipson); "Can There Be a Cultural Sociology of Ageing?" (Blaikie); "Consumers, Identity and Old Age" (Vincent); "Population Ageing: Critical Gerontology and the Sociological Tradition" (Phillipson, Biggs);…

Explores the reasons that dementia is poorly understood and managed and suggests ways in which obstacles to optimal management of dementia can be overcome through research and through development of evidence-based services. (Author/JOW)

Six older adults with probable Alzheimers disease (AD) were trained to recall a name-face association using the spaced-retrieval method. We administered six training sessions over a 2-week period. On each trial, participants selected a target photograph and stated the target name, from eight other photographs, at increasingly longer retention…

Research on assessment and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is moving at a rapid pace. Continuing education (CE) providers must translate new findings for clinicians so as to enhance patient care. A two-page survey was distributed by mail to a sample of 5,000 licensed Missouri clinicians to gather data in support of this translation process.…

An association between weight loss and Alzheimer's disease has been established in the general population but little information is available regarding this association in people with intellectual disabilities. A 4-year longitudinal study of adults with Down syndrome with and without Alzheimer's disease was undertaken. Age-associated weight loss…

Most studies of vision in persons with Alzheimer's disease either exclude those with advanced dementia or are unable to assess their vision adequately, and therefore, improperly report these persons' visual acuity status. In this study, visual acuity was assessed using the ETDRS Snellen-type acuity chart and Teller Acuity Cards. The Teller Acuity…

Background: Numerous studies have documented that persons with Downs syndrome (DS) are at an increased risk of Alzheimers disease (AD). However, at present it is still not clear whether or not all persons with DS will develop dementia as they reach old age. Methods: We studied 506 people with DS, aged 45 years and above. A standardized assessment…

This paper describes an exhibit, "Layered Worlds: The Look of Alzheimer's," which uses photography as the medium to interpret Alzheimer's disease visually. The goal was not to photograph the victims of the disease, but to interpret the experience of Alzheimer's for the patient, family members, and caregivers. The metaphor of layers was…

The memory deficits associated with the dementia syndromes of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lewy body disease are outlined and related to the language impairments that have been observed in patients with these disorders. Assessment techniques are described, including commonly used individual tests and test batteries that assess memory and…

Analyzes caregiver burden in relation to Alzheimer patients' awareness of their own deficits. Results suggest that caregiver burden was associated with impaired patient awareness of memory deficit independent of disease stage and dementia severity, suggesting that impaired awareness may be an important mediator of caregiver burden. (RJM)

Provides psychometric data on two tools used to identify pleasant activities for Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Results indicate that both tools had good reliability. Depression and decreased cognitive functioning were associated with reduced frequency of enjoyable activity; the reduction was greater in depressed AD patients when compared with…