MELBOURNE: Despite minimal evidence supporting their effectiveness to manage symptoms of dementia, the use of antipsychotic drugs in Australian nursing homes is widespread. Studies showing the drugs increase the risk of stroke, cognitive decline and death have also been largely ignored.
Now UNSW Australia-led researchers have shown their use could be drastically reduced by creating awareness about these risks and training nursing staff to use alternative approaches to manage the symptoms of dementia.
The results of the innovative Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (DCRC) project are being presented this week by UNSW Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Toronto, Canada…