Category: Dementia

Dementia Elderly Japan Missing Podcast Yasuko Arakawa

Woman with Dementia, Yasuko Arakawa is Missing 「荒川泰子さんが行方不明です。」[Podcast Episode]

Over a year has passed since Yasuko Arakawa, who had been diagnosed with an early-onset type of dementia, disappeared from their home in the western Japan city of Yonago on August 8th 2023. Her husband Tsutomu is desperately seeking any information on her whereabouts.  

荒川泰子さんは2023年8月8日、西日本の米子市の自宅から姿を消して以来、早期発症型認知症と診断されていた彼女の行方は、1年以上経ってもわかっていません。夫の勉さんは、彼女の行方に関する情報を必死に求めています。

Dementia Japan Missing Yasuko Arakawa

Yasuko Arakawa is Missing 「荒川泰子さんが行方不明です。」

Over a year has passed since Yasuko Arakawa, who had been diagnosed with an early-onset type of dementia, disappeared from their home in the western Japan city of Yonago on August 8th 2023. Her husband Tsutomu is desperately seeking any information on her whereabouts.

荒川泰子さんは2023年8月8日、西日本の米子市の自宅から姿を消して以来、早期発症型認知症と診断されていた彼女の行方は、1年以上経ってもわかっていません。夫の勉さんは、彼女の行方に関する情報を必死に求めています。

Alzheimer’s Dementia Disability Japan

Japan OKs Insurance Coverage of Alzheimer’s Drug Donanemab

Japan’s Central Social Insurance Medical Council, which advises the health minister, approved Wednesday public health insurance coverage for donanemab, an Alzheimer’s medicine developed by U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. The government set the drug’s price at 66,948 yen per 350-milligram vial. As a dip is required every month, it will cost a patient about 3.08 million yen per year. Treatment with donanemab will last up to 18 months. Due to the high costs, the government will provide subsidies to cap patients’ out-of-pocket expenses. As a result, most of the costs will be shouldered by the government. The insurance coverage will start Nov. 20.

Assisted Living Dementia Elderly Japan Robotics

Japan researchers develop device hoped to help overcome ‘mental frailty’ among elderly

The research group developed a gamelike system that uses a cylindrical device with the firmness of hard tofu. Users adjust their grip force between 150 and 400 grams to trace a line of stars displayed on the screen. People with mild cognitive impairment tend to deviate from the line more easily than healthy elderly individuals, allowing for early detection of those suspected of developing the condition.

Barrier Free Dementia Disability Japan Welfare

Central Japan City Creates “Dementia Help Mark”

The central Japan city of Obu, Aichi Prefecture, has created an orange-colored “dementia help mark” to make it easier for people to talk to dementia sufferers in need of support. The step was proposed by Ryuichi Takai, 74, who lost his father with dementia in a train accident. “I hope the help mark will become available nationwide to reduce as much as possible the number of people who have to feel the same kind of grief I did,” Takai said.

Barrier Free Dementia Japan

Japan Government to Promote “New Perception of Dementia”

The Japanese government will promote a “new perception of dementia” to offer hope to those living with the syndrome, according to a draft plan presented Monday. The plan, which incorporates opinions from dementia sufferers, sets four priority targets, including utilizing new insights and technologies, and calls on local governments to draw up their own plans for helping people with dementia. It is expected to be approved by the cabinet in autumn.

Alzheimer’s Dementia Health Japan

Japan set to approve Lilly’s donanemab to treat Alzheimer’s disease

A Japanese health ministry panel gave the green light Thursday for the manufacture and sale of the Alzheimer’s drug donanemab-azbt, developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co.

After the soon-to-come formal approval by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the drug, under the brand name Kisunla, will become the second medicine available in Japan for treating early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. The drug works by removing accumulated amyloid beta proteins in the brain, slowing the progress of the disease.

Cancer Care Dementia Disability Hospitals Japan

Survey Finds Hospitals in Japan Have Difficulties Dealing with Cancer Patients with Dementia

Many hospitals in Japan have experienced difficulties dealing with cancer patients with dementia, a survey by the Japan Cancer Society showed Saturday.

The survey was carried out in April-June 2023 for 451 hospitals designated by the health minister to provide high-quality treatment to cancer patients, with 256 of them, or 57 pct, giving responses.