Dementia Drugs Found to Heighten Risk of Death

Drugs often used to treat elderly patients with dementia-related aggression and delusions can raise their risk of death, according to a study that reinforces new warning labels required on the medications.

The researchers pooled results of 15 previous studies on drugs known as atypical anti-psychotics and sold under the brand names Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel and Abilify.

Among more than 5,000 elderly dementia patients, those taking any of the drugs faced a 54 percent increased risk of dying within 12 weeks of starting the medication, compared with patients taking dummy pills.

There were 118 deaths among the 3,353 drug users versus 40 in the 1,757-patient placebo group, or 3.5 percent compared with 2.3 percent. The risks were similar for each of the drugs.

The drugs are approved for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disease, not elderly dementia. But because schizophrenia-like symptoms are common in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, doctors frequently prescribe the drugs to these patients, too.

The study appears in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association.

Bolton pushing hard on bid to reform U.N.

WASHINGTON (AP) — United Nations Ambassador John Bolton told Congress Tuesday that he’s working hard to press the U.S. case for an urgent overhaul of the world body, but he expects a tough diplomatic campaign to win the necessary support.

Making his first appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since President Bush used a recess-appointment to install him over the objections of Senate Democrats, Bolton said he has been engaged in "a matter of intense diplomacy in New York" to try to rally support for changing the U.N.

Bolton said that while rich countries like Japan, Britain and others in Western Europe support the U.S. proposals, the trick will be to get developing countries on board.

Bolton told the committee that many changes were needed at the United Nations, including a way to fix a discredited human rights commission that he said routinely had as members such countries as Cuba and Zimbabwe, despite their frequent rights abuses.

Insanity plea lodged in piano teacher’s killing

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A college student who claimed he stabbed and slashed his piano professor more than 200 times because he thought she was a robot intent on killing him pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder Tuesday.

Jackson Ngai, 24, went on trial for attacking University of Texas professor Danielle Martin with a meat cleaver, scissors and other items in her kitchen in 2004.

Ngai’s attorney has said Ngai believed Martin was a robot or was controlled by a computer chip in her brain and was trying to kill him. On her body was a handwritten note that said, "Computer chip in brain."

Prosecutors acknowledged Ngai’s history of mental illness but said they will prove he knew right from wrong when Martin was killed.

If a jury decides Ngai was insane, a judge could send him to a mental institution for the rest of his life. He could be given life in prison if convicted of murder.

Ngai had checked out of a mental health center less than a day before Martin was killed.