We have moved on
I wrote this poem many years ago. At the time there was a national target for the early diagnosis of dementia (HEAT target 4). Concerned about the potential for harm … Continue reading We have moved on
Tag: Alzheimer’s
“Trickles down from the upper echelons”
I read this letter by Dr William Durward, a retired NHS Scotland Consultant with interest. It was published in the Herald, 7 November 2018, and was written in response to … Continue reading “Trickles down from the upper echelons”
Mild Cognitive Impairment
This recently-published Guest editorial in International Psychogeriatrics concludes that the concept of MCI faces extinction. As a doctor practising in this field I found this editorial difficult to follow and self-contradictory.
Paradigms, pathologies and shifts
The following extracts are taken from this perspective published in the Scotsman, 11 January 2018: Pfizer has seemingly concluded that Alzheimer’s disease is far more complex than we had ever … Continue reading Paradigms, pathologies and shifts
Back in the driving seat: Industry
Historical backdrop (the last decade): UK Key Opinion Leaders argued robustly and consistently for an early approach to the diagnosis of dementia without articulating uncertainties, risks and necessary ethical aspects of person-centred … Continue reading Back in the driving seat: Industry
The ‘Edinburgh Consensus’
I was born in Edinburgh: It was by accident that I learned that this “consensus” has been “operationalised” across the NHS. This small group consensus needs to explain how … Continue reading The ‘Edinburgh Consensus’
Might the experts themselves be confused?
I recently read a British Geriatrics Society (BGS) blog which was titled: “Antidementia medication may improve survival in Alzheimer’s disease”. Having read this blog several times I wrote to the … Continue reading Might the experts themselves be confused?
Prescribed Disengagement
A medical colleague recently asked me to “explain” disempowerment. A dear friend of mine (diagnosed with dementia) has written about: “Prescribed Disengagement”. My view is that few have written better about this matter than … Continue reading Prescribed Disengagement
“In a world that has lost its signposts”
The following screenshots come from a Sunday Observer of the 19th August 2015. I have written before on Hole Ousia about how we use language. Whether we are scientists or … Continue reading “In a world that has lost its signposts”
My reply to Tripathi and Kumar
I thank Assistant Professor Tripathi and Dr Kumar for their reply. (1) I do prescribe the “anti-dementia” drugs, explaining to my patients that this is because they may produce mild … Continue reading My reply to Tripathi and Kumar
Reply by Tripathi and Kumar
The featured image (above) is from the Alzheimer’s Society and is their position statement on current anti-dementia medications. This is the BMJ rapid-response reply by Assistant Professor Shailendra Mohan Tripathi Ambrish … Continue reading Reply by Tripathi and Kumar
PART I: Dementia: the “epidemic” of metaphors
At the creative heart of science is a spirit of open-minded enquiry[1]. The history of my profession has revealed this to me alongside the realisation that if dementia is to … Continue reading PART I: Dementia: the “epidemic” of metaphors