Fragility fractures, particularly hip fractures, represent a major public health concern among older adults and are associated with high morbidity, mortality, functional decline, and socioeconomic burden. Cognitive impairment is common in older adults with hip fractures and contributes to increased fracture risk, poor postoperative outcomes, delayed recovery, and higher rates of institutionalization. This review aimed to examine rehabilitation strategies for older adults with hip fractures, with a specific focus on considerations for those with cognitive impairment. Evidence suggests that individuals with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment can achieve meaningful functional gains through structured, intensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs incorporating progressive resistance training, balance and mobility exercises, and individualized approaches tailored to cognitive and physical abilities. However, the implementation of such programs is often hindered by insufficient staff training and awareness in dementia-specific rehabilitation, limited resources, and the lack of standardized protocols defining eligibility, intensity, and adaptation. Optimizing outcomes requires structured, tailored rehabilitation protocols, enhanced staff education, interprofessional collaboration, and proactive management of delirium and secondary fracture prevention through fracture liaison services, while concurrently addressing systemic barriers such as resource constraints. Integrated, coordinated care across the continuum is essential to maximize recovery, independence, and quality of life in older adults with hip fractures and cognitive impairment.

Purpose
This study aimed to analyze dementia-related death statistics in Korea between 2013 and 2023.
Methods
The analysis utilized microdata from Statistics Korea’s cause-of-death statistics. Among all recorded deaths, those related to dementia were extracted and analyzed using the underlying cause-of-death codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision.
Results
The number of dementia-related deaths increased from 8,688 in 2013 to 14,402 in 2023. The crude death rate rose from 17.2 per 100,000 in 2013 to 28.2 per 100,000 in 2023, although the age-standardized death rate declined from 9.7 to 8.7 over the same period. The dementia death rate is 2.1 times higher in women than in men, and mortality among individuals aged 85 and older exceeds 976 per 100,000. By specific cause, Alzheimer’s disease accounted for 77.1% of all dementia deaths, and by place, the majority occurred in hospitals (76.2%), followed by residential institutions including nursing homes (15.3%) in 2023.
Conclusion
The rising mortality associated with dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, highlights a growing public health concern in Korea. These findings support the need for enhanced prevention efforts, improved quality of care, and targeted policies addressing the complexities of dementia management. It is anticipated that this empirical analysis will contribute to reducing the social burden.

Citations

• Recent advances in pulmonary tuberculosis, the application of deep learning to medical topics, and highlights from this issue of Ewha Medical Journal
  Hae-Sun Chung
  Ewha Medical Journal.2025; 48(2): e16.     CrossRef

Primary depression with cognitive impairment, referred to as depressive pseudodementia, may be mistaken for a progressive degenerative dementia. Recognition of primary depression is clinically important because of its treatability.

To differentiate depression from degenerative dementia, author rsed brain Tc 99m-HMPAO SPECT. By the result the regionar cerebral blood flew(rCBF) in elderly depressed patient was decreased in the left temporoparietal cortex. The pattern of rCBF was different from that of dementia which shows decreased rCBF in bilateral cortex.

By using brain SPECT in depressed elderly patient with cognitive impairment, the discrimination from dementia will be more effective and accurate.