Clinical Conversations

November 22nd, 2019

Podcast 243: Lowering high blood pressure lowers dementia risk

Controlling hypertension lowers the relative risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by roughly 15%. Given that many people have poorly-controlled hypertension, the finding that all antihypertensives are effective in bringing about this result might get your patients to be more adherent. We talk with Dr. Lenore Launer of the NIH’s Institute on Aging about her recent meta-analysis […]

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January 22nd, 2010

Podcast 71: We revisit, after a look at current clinical news, a conversation on the late clinical course of dementia.

I tried arranging an interview across a 13-hour time difference, with no luck. We revisit, instead, an October conversation about the late clinical course of dementia. First a look at the news. Comments to jelia@jwatch.org or to 1-617-440-4374. Interview link: Advanced Dementia’s Course News links: Massachusetts elects a U.S. Senator Screening and treating children for overweight Abnormal lipid profiles found […]

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October 16th, 2009

Podcast 61: A conversation about end-stage dementia.

We talk with Susan Mitchell, a Harvard researcher who set out to characterize the final clinical stages of advanced dementia. There are some surprises — namely, the benefit of clear communications with patients and their families (which, come to think of it, shouldn’t come as much of a surprise at all). Talk with us at […]

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November 21st, 2008

Podcast 21: An interview with Dr. Steven T. DeKosky about his JAMA paper showing that ginkgo extract does not prevent dementia

It’s the usual offering: the week’s news summarized, an interview, and a quick exit. This week we talk with Steven DeKosky about his JAMA paper on the (lack of) usefulness of ginkgo extract in preventing dementia. The links will point you to a good resource on these alternative therapies and what’s known about them. Don’t […]

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