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Preventing Alzheimer's Disease: Why Not Targeting the Muscle First?

JAMDA
November 10, 2018

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest cause of dementia and in fact the most frequent neurologic disorder that accompanies the ageing process, currently affecting more than 30 million persons around the world.1 Although research is rapidly progressing, AD prevalence continues to rise worldwide, and currently available treatments produce minimal improvements, prompting the need for new strategies, including nonpharmacologic approaches. In this regard, a key lifestyle intervention, regular physical activity (PA), might play a major role in AD prevention,2 with the pandemic of physical...

Healthcare Costs of Frailty: Implications for Long-term Care

JAMDA
November 10, 2018

In the next few decades, there will be an unprecedented demand for health services required by frail and nonfrail older individuals. This increased demand will have multiple implications for individuals, families, health systems, and larger society. One of the main implications is higher health care costs. Recent evidence has shown that frailty could be associated with higher health care costs.1–3

Three Nurse-administered Protocols Reduce Nutritional Decline and Frailty in Older Gastrointestinal Surgery Patients: A Cluster Randomized Trial

JAMDA
November 10, 2018

To evaluate the effects of the modified Hospital Elder Life Program (mHELP) comprising 3 nurse-administered protocols in older patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.

CMS Issues CY 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

Health Policy
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Alternative Payment Models (APM), Coding, Reimbursement, & Documentation, Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization Act (MACRA), Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practice Management
November 8, 2018

On November 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, which will take effect January 1, 2019. The final rule updates Medicare Part B payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services under the Medicare PFS. This is the same fee schedule used to pay for Medicare Part B therapy services in nursing facilities. The final 2019 PFS conversion factor is $36.0391, a slight increase above the CY 2018 PFS conversion factor of $35.77510.

Here are how the nursing home...

QRURs and PQRS Feedback Reports: Access Ends December 31

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Practice Management, Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), Practitioners
November 8, 2018

The final performance period for the Value Modifier and Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) programs was 2016 and the final payment adjustment year is 2018. Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) and PQRS Feedback Reports will no longer be available after the end of 2018. If you need these reports, download them through December 31, 2018, from the CMS Enterprise Portal using an Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) system account with the correct role. Visit the ...

Understanding the Feasibility and Validity of Muscle Strength Measurements in Aging Adults

JAMDA
November 8, 2018

The interesting investigation performed by Yeung et al1 evaluated the agreement between measures of handgrip strength (HGS) and knee extension strength (KES) in a sample of young and older adults. This study concluded that at individual and population levels, HGS alone should not be considered a proxy for overall muscle strength. These findings contribute to the ongoing debate regarding what measures of muscle strength should be included for accurately evaluating age-related declines in strength.

Reply to the Letter to Editor

JAMDA
November 8, 2018

The following two letters consist of a critique and author's reply related to an article in this month's journal, which was published online early enough to obtain both the letter and reply in time to publish all three simultaneously. The letter by Fung et al raises legitimate questions about the conduct and interpretation of data in a systematic review and meta-analysis, which the response by Zhang et al addresses point-by-point. Taken together, these correspondences illustrate many of the challenges inherent in conducting a comprehensive and valid systematic review and meta-analysis.

Effects of Resistance Training on Functional Strength and Muscle Mass in 70-Year-Old Individuals With Pre-sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

JAMDA
November 7, 2018

Sarcopenia has been defined as age-related loss of muscle mass and function. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of a 10-week instructor-led resistance training program on functional strength and body composition in men and women aged 70 years with pre-sarcopenia.

Using a Decision Support Algorithm for Referrals to Post-Acute Care

JAMDA
November 7, 2018

Although hospital clinicians strive to effectively refer patients who require post-acute care (PAC), their discharge planning processes often vary greatly, and typically are not evidence-based.

Membership Is a Mission for Society Leader

Spotlight
November 6, 2018

Rajeev Kumar, MD, FACP, CMD, the Society’s secretary and chair of the Membership Committee, never tires of talking about the organization to his colleagues. “I usually get two reactions. There are people who are unaware of the organization and its member benefits but are excited to hear about them. Then there are our members, especially those who have attended an annual conference, who are converts for life,” he says. Either way, Society membership “feels like coming home to a big family.”

He often asks potential members, “What would make your work easier? What is causing you...