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Possible depression-dementia link

Depression may increase a person's risk of developing dementia later in life, according to a study in the July 6 Neurology.

Researchers examined data on 949 people, with an average age of 79, who participated in the Framingham Heart Study. At the start of the Neurology study, participants were free of dementia and were tested for depressive symptoms between 1990 and 1994 based on questions about general depression, sleep complaints and other factors. Thirteen percent were classified as having depression (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20603483).

During the 17-year follow-up period, researchers found that 17.2% of the participants developed dementia. Of those, nearly 83% were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

A total of 21.6% of participants who were depressed at the start of the study developed dementia. Among those who were not depressed at the start, 16.6% were diagnosed as having dementia at the end of the study.

Researchers said it is still unclear whether depression causes dementia. But they said the study indicates that there are several ways depression might affect the risk of dementia.

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Family-centered rounds done in nearly half of pediatric cases

Inpatient, multidisciplinary rounds that occur inside patients' rooms are performed by slightly less than half of pediatric hospitalists, according to a study in the July Pediatrics.

Researchers examined the results of the 2007 Pediatric Hospitalist Triennial Survey completed by 265 hospitalists who worked at medical centers in the U.S. and Canada. The survey consisted of 63 questions on sociodemographic characteristics, training, practice characteristics and rounding practices.

Researchers found that 44% of the respondents took part in family-centered rounds, which involve parents in the decision-making process. Of those hospitalists, 48% worked at academic hospitals (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20587682).

Health professionals who performed family-centered rounds said the practice increased family involvement in care, improved parental understanding of discharge goals, and enhanced team communication.

The print version of this content appeared in the July 26 issue of American Medical News.

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