Dementia

Leader: Pinar Soysal Tomas Welsh

Co-Leader: Pinar Soysal (Department of Geriatric Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, dr.pinarsoysal(at)hotmail.com)

Co-Leader: Tomas Welsh (Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE), Bath, UK., Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK., Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK., tw695(at)bath.ac.uk)

Secretary: HannaMaria Roitto (Department of Geriatrics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland., hanna-maria.roitto(at)helsinki.fi)

Objectives

The group will specifically generate actions aimed at:

  • Understanding the different practices in diagnosis and management of dementia of different subtypes across Europe 
  • Sharing best practice to to support and facilitate the early clinical detection and assessment of cognitive impairment in older adults in Europe. 
  • Sharing best practice of investigation and management of dementia and dementia related neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults in Europe
  • Keeping the needs of people living with dementia and their carers at the heart of all we do
  • Collaborating with other relevant SIGs to achieve the above aims and to improve the care of patients with dementia across Europe.

Outcomes

Reactivated “Dementia SIG” in 2020. Currently 46 members from 17 countries. We have a database of all members and their main areas of interest.

Current scientific activities are below.

new Article: Outcomemeasures for Alzheimer’s disease: A global inter-societal Delphi consensus

1)Completed projects:

- Two systematic reviews and meta-analysis: collaboration between Dementia SIG and SR/MA SIG

  1. Demurtas J et al. (2020) Physical Activity and Exercise in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: An Umbrella Review of Intervention and Observational Studies, J Am Med Dir Assoc. 21(10):1415-1422.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.08.031.
  2. Soysal P et al. (2022) The Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis” Psychogeriatrics. Feb 6. doi: 10.1111/psyg.12810.

- Global Delphi consensus initiative in Alzheimer’s Disease: This consensus on how to standardize and prioritize outcomes and outcome measures for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in a real-world clinical setting (Pharmagenesis).

2) Education: Systematic review/Cochrane Dementia open online seminar (introduction to systematic review methodology, and Cochrane), June 30th, 2021 (nearly 100 participants joined the meeting.)

3) Symposium:

  • Symposium on dementia (online) at 17th EuGMS Congress 2021
  • European Academy of Neurology 2022 Scientific Theatre (Two members of Dementia SIG will represent the EUGMS)

4) Ongoing projects:

  1. Ongoing systematic review (in collaboration with SR/MA SIG) on  guidelines physical activity/exercise dementia and MCI.

5) Future projects:

Surveys

  • Survey of investigation and management of dementia for older people in different countries: Aiming to develop a European guideline for investigation and management of dementia in older people living with frailty
  • Survey of evaluation and management of geriatric syndromes in older patients with dementia
  • Survey of new methods of investigation and management due to COVID
  • Survey of knowledge and practice of decision making capacity

Guideline

  • European guideline for investigation and management of dementia in older people living with frailty (see above)
  • Pathway for managing people living with dementia in ED

Systematic reviews

Systematic review ideas (collaborate with EuGMS SR & MA SIG)

  • Impact of COVID-19 on caregiver burden; social isolation
  • Hypothyroiditis and cognitive decline

Education

7) Regular meetings:

We plan to have regular SIG meetings approximately every 4 months. The Dementia SIG will aim to organize a symposium on dementia in every EuGMS congress.

19th EuGMS International Congress, Helsinki September 20-22 - SIG Collateral Meeting - OPEN - SEPT 20th from 10.30am to 11.30am HelsinkiTIME

18th EuGMS International Congress, London September 28-30 - SIG Collateral Meeting - OPEN - SEPT 28th from 12.00pm to 01.00pm UK TIME

If you are interested in joining the SIG, please get in touch.

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