Powerful conversations: Preserving cognition and fending off dementia

+Summer Hiatus

In print

Practice + Older people

Powerful conversations: Preserving cognition and fending off dementia

Ngaire Kerse

Wednesday 18 December 2024, 12:30 PM

Cognitively stimulating conversations could be the answer for those worried about losing their marbles [Image: Anthony on Pexels]

We are on our summer break and the editorial office is closed until 13 January. In the meantime, please enjoy our Summer Hiatus series, in which our journalists curate an eclectic mix from our news and clinical archives throughout the year, The Conversation and other publications we share content with. Please note the comment function has been turned off while we are away. Happy reading!

This article was first published online on 28 February.

Specialist GP Ngaire Kerse looks at the issue of dementia in New Zealand, then examines how conversational interactions might help

Key points, Research is under way to determine the prevalence of dementia in different ethnic groups in the community. It is important to use dementia assessme, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Older People

Lifestyle

Research

References

Dodge HH, Yu K, Wu CY, et al. Internet-based conversational engagement randomized controlled clinical trial (I-CONECT) among socially isolated adults 75+ years old with normal cognition or MCI: Topline results. Gerontologist 2023; 3 November online. doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad147

Summer Hiatus archive

How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM