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Diaz MM, Bailey M, Garcia B, Aguilar XR, Sanchez DC. Mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with neurodegenerative diseases and perceived family caregiver burden in Lima, Peru. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e3361. [PMID: 38236201 PMCID: PMC10761328 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative diseases lead to difficulties with functional activities. In Peru, most caregivers are family members. Little is known about the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on caregivers in Peru. METHODS This was a cross-sectional, prospective study of family caregivers of dependent patients with dementia or Parkinson's Disease in Lima, Peru. A caregiver burden and mental health questionnaire was administered to the caregiver. RESULTS We enrolled 48 caregivers (65% females, mean ± SD age 49.0 ± 12.3 years); 70% of patients had dementia. Nearly 40% of caregivers reported having full-time jobs, and 82% felt overwhelmed with almost 75% dedicating more time to caregiving during the pandemic. Caregivers perceived patients felt lonelier (52%), had an increase in hallucinations (50%), or forgetfulness (71%) compared to pre-pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights that perceived caregiver burden and patient behavioral symptoms may have been exacerbated during the pandemic. In countries such as Peru, more caregiving resources and interventions are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica M. Diaz
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Maisie Bailey
- School of MedicineOregon Health Sciences UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Bettsie Garcia
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ximena R. Aguilar
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseasesInstituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurologicas PeruLimaPeru
| | - Danilo Coronel Sanchez
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseasesInstituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurologicas PeruLimaPeru
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Soysal P, Smith L, Trott M, Alexopoulos P, Barbagallo M, Tan SG, Koyanagi A, Shenkin S, Veronese N. The Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychogeriatrics 2022; 22:402-412. [PMID: 35128762 PMCID: PMC9115368 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic may have a disproportionate impact on people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to isolation and loss of services. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in people living with dementia/MCI. Two authors searched major electronic databases from inception to June 2021 for observational studies investigating COVID-19 and NPS in people with dementia/MCI. Summary estimates of mean differences in NPS scores pre- versus post-COVID-19 were calculated using a random-effects model, weighting cases using inverse variance. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. From 2730 citations, 21 studies including 7139 patients (60.0% female, mean age 75.6 ± 7.9 years, 4.0% MCI) with dementia were evaluated in the review. Five studies found no changes in NPS, but in all other studies, an increase in at least one NPS or the pre-pandemic Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score was found. The most common aggravated NPS were depression, anxiety, agitation, irritability, and apathy during lockdown, but 66.7% of the studies had a high bias. Seven studies including 420 patients (22.1% MCI) yielded enough data to be included in the meta-analysis. The mean follow-up time was 5.9 ± 1.5 weeks. The pooled increase in NPI score before compared to during COVID-19 was 3.85 (95% CI:0.43 to 7.27; P = 0.03; I2 = 82.4%). All studies had high risk of bias. These results were characterized by high heterogeneity, but there was no presence of publication bias. There is an increase in the worsening of NPS in people living with dementia/MCI during lockdown in the COVID pandemic. Future comparative studies are needed to elucidate whether a similar deterioration might occur in people without dementia/MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Soysal
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Lee Smith
- Cambridge Centre for Health, Performance, and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mike Trott
- Cambridge Centre for Health, Performance, and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Panagiotis Alexopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Patras University General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Mario Barbagallo
- Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Semen Gokce Tan
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain.,ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susan Shenkin
- Geriatric Medicine Unit, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nicola Veronese
- Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Green in times of COVID-19: urban green space relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Buenos Aires City. Urban Ecosyst 2022; 25:941-953. [PMID: 35095260 PMCID: PMC8790949 DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01204-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a deep impact on the way we perceive our world. This study explores its effect on Urban Green Space (UGS) perception in Buenos Aires City (CABA), Argentina. We provide a detailed overview of the distribution of UGS in CABA, along with socio-economic analysis and visitors' profile and perception before and during the restrictive measures adopted by the national authorities to contain the COVID-19 outbreak (July to December of 2020). We conducted a series of surveys based on open and closed questions. Before the pandemic, surveys were carried out in situ in eight parks of six districts, randomly chosen. During the confinement, online surveys were conducted. According to our results, the mean UGS density in CABA is 6.09 m2 /person, but marked differences between districts exist, ranging from 0.02 m2 /person to 17.68 m2 /person. This uneven distribution causes differences in the quality of life of CABA inhabitants, perhaps more pronounced during reduced-mobility situations like COVID-19 confinement. Socio economic analysis were done linking multidimensional poverty, COVID-19 positive cases and urban mobility in CABA. Regarding UGS visitors, before the confinement, the majority of respondents were employees or students; during the confinement, employees and retirees predominated. When asked to choose important attributes to describe their perception about the UGS from a given list, respondents selected “calm,” “green,” and “sounds of nature,” without differences before and during the confinement. However, when asked about the UGS role, the main answer was “a place to be with nature” before the confinement and “an important place in the city” during it. Understanding how society perceives the UGS, especially during crises, is essential to rethink the urban landscape and prepare our cities, towards biophilic cities and for a more sustainable future.
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Liu KY, Howard R, Banerjee S, Comas‐Herrera A, Goddard J, Knapp M, Livingston G, Manthorpe J, O'Brien JT, Paterson RW, Robinson L, Rossor M, Rowe JB, Sharp DJ, Sommerlad A, Suárez‐González A, Burns A. Dementia wellbeing and COVID-19: Review and expert consensus on current research and knowledge gaps. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2021; 36:1597-1639. [PMID: 34043836 PMCID: PMC8237017 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In response to a commissioned research update on dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic, a UK-based working group, comprising dementia researchers from a range of fields and disciplines, aimed to describe the impact of the pandemic on dementia wellbeing and identify priorities for future research. METHODS We supplemented a rapid literature search (including unpublished, non-peer reviewed and ongoing studies/reports) on dementia wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 with expert group members' consensus about future research needs. From this we generated potential research questions the group judged to be relevant that were not covered by the existing literature. RESULTS Themes emerged from 141 studies within the six domains of the NHS England COVID-19 Dementia Wellbeing Pathway: Preventing Well, Diagnosing Well, Treating Well, Supporting Well, Living Well and Dying Well. We describe current research findings and knowledge gaps relating to the impact on people affected by dementia (individuals with a diagnosis, their carers and social contacts, health and social care practitioners and volunteers), services, research activities and organisations. Broad themes included the potential benefits and risks of new models of working including remote healthcare, the need for population-representative longitudinal studies to monitor longer-term impacts, and the importance of reporting dementia-related findings within broader health and care studies. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on people affected by dementia. Researchers and funding organisations have responded rapidly to try to understand the impacts. Future research should highlight and resolve outstanding questions to develop evidence-based measures to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy Y. Liu
- Division of PsychiatryUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Robert Howard
- Division of PsychiatryUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Adelina Comas‐Herrera
- Department of Health PolicyLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceCare Policy and Evaluation CentreLondonUK
| | - Joanne Goddard
- Economic and Social Research CouncilUK Research and InnovationSwindonUK
| | - Martin Knapp
- Department of Health PolicyLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceCare Policy and Evaluation CentreLondonUK
| | | | - Jill Manthorpe
- NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care WorkforceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - John T. O'Brien
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Cambridge School of Clinical MedicineCambridgeUK
| | - Ross W. Paterson
- Dementia Research CentreQueen Square UCL Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Louise Robinson
- Population Health Sciences InstituteFaculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUK
| | - Martin Rossor
- Dementia Research CentreQueen Square UCL Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - James B. Rowe
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - David J. Sharp
- Department of Brain SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteCare Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Aida Suárez‐González
- Dementia Research CentreQueen Square UCL Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Alistair Burns
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental PsychologyThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
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Soto-Añari M, Camargo L, Ramos-Henderson M, Rivera-Fernández C, Denegri-Solís L, Calle U, Mori N, Ocampo-Barbá N, López F, Porto M, Caldichoury-Obando N, Saldías C, Gargiulo P, Castellanos C, Shelach-Bellido S, López N. Prevalence of Dementia and Associated Factors among Older Adults in Latin America during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra 2021; 11:213-221. [PMID: 34721498 PMCID: PMC8543347 DOI: 10.1159/000518922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on cognitive health in Latin American older adults, increasing the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Our objective was to analyze the prevalence of dementia and the associated factors in Latin American older adults during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. METHODS A multicentric first phase cross-sectional observational study was conducted during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Five thousand two hundred and forty-five Latin American adults over 60 years of age were studied in 10 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. We used the telephone version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the "Alzheimer Disease 8" scale for functional and cognitive changes, and the abbreviated version of the Yesavage depression scale. We also asked for sociodemographic and lockdown data. All the evaluation was made by telephone. Cross-tabulations and χ2 tests were used to determine the variability of the prevalence of impairment by sociodemographic characteristics and binary logistic regression to assess the association between dementia and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS We observed that the prevalence of dementia in Latin America is 15.6%, varying depending on the country (Argentine = 7.83 and Bolivia = 28.5%). The variables most associated with dementia were race and age. It does not seem to be associated with the pandemic but with social and socio-health factors. CONCLUSION The prevalence of dementia shows a significant increase in Latin America, attributable to a constellation of ethnic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcio Soto-Añari
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Loida Camargo
- Escuela de Medicina, Universidad del Sinú, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
- Fundación Centro Colombiano de Epilepsia y Enfermedades Neurológicas Jaime Fandiño Franky (FIRE), Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
| | - Miguel Ramos-Henderson
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Gerontología Aplicada (CIGAP), Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | | | | | - Ninoska Ocampo-Barbá
- Instituto de Neurociencias Comportamentales (INCC), Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno (UAGRM), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Fernanda López
- Hospital Nacional Dr. Alejandro Posadas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Porto
- Universidad de La Costa, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | | | - Carol Saldías
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Pascual Gargiulo
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias y Psicología Experimental, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Cesar Castellanos
- Instituto Dominicano para el estudio de la Salud Integral y la Psicología Aplicada (IDESIP), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Salomon Shelach-Bellido
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa, Peru
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Dellazizzo L, Léveillé N, Landry C, Dumais A. Systematic Review on the Mental Health and Treatment Impacts of COVID-19 on Neurocognitive Disorders. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11080746. [PMID: 34442390 PMCID: PMC8401453 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11080746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic has had many public health impacts, especially on vulnerable individuals including adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCD). With increasing literature, this systematic literature review aimed to address the mental health effects of COVID-19 on people with NCD in addition to examine the impact of the pandemic on treatments/resources for NCD. Methods. A literature search was conducted in the electronic databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Studies were included so long as they assessed the mental health or therapeutic effects of COVID-19 on NCD. Results. Among the retrieved articles, 59 met eligibility criteria. First, the pandemic and resulting self-isolation led to many detrimental effects on psychological well-being. Exacerbation and relapses of neurocognitive and behavioral symptoms were observed, as well as emergences of new psychological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety). Second, therapeutic and community services for individuals suffering from NCD, such as social support services and outpatient clinics, were disrupted or reduced leading to postponed appointments and evaluations, as well as reduced access to medications. These issues were somewhat palliated with the growth of telemedicine. Conclusions. This systematic review highlights the extent of the effects of the pandemic, and the topics addressed should be taken into consideration by healthcare practitioners, institutions, and policymakers to ensure that proper measures are employed to protect this population from additional harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dellazizzo
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada; (L.D.); (N.L.); (C.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Nayla Léveillé
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada; (L.D.); (N.L.); (C.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Clara Landry
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada; (L.D.); (N.L.); (C.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Alexandre Dumais
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada; (L.D.); (N.L.); (C.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institut National de Psychiatrie Légale Philippe-Pinel, 10905 Blvd Henri-Bourassa E, Montreal, QC H1C 1H1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Custodio N, Castro-Suárez S, Montesinos R, Failoc-Rojas VE, Cruz del Castillo R, Herrera-Perez E. Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease During SARS-COV-2 Pandemic in Peru. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2021; 36:15333175211039089. [PMID: 34416114 PMCID: PMC10581147 DOI: 10.1177/15333175211039089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their association with cognition and functionality during lockdown of the COVID-19's first wave. We included 91 patients and caregivers of people with AD from a memory clinic. The RUDAS, M@T, and CDR were administered to patients and NPI/ADCS-ADL to caregivers. Baseline and lockdown measurements scales were analyzed to compare the frequencies at baseline versus lockdown and conditional Odds Ratio (ORc) was calculated for the neuropsychiatric symptoms. During the pandemic, significant increase in the number of cases was observed in depression (23%), agitation (36.8%), aberrant motor activity (12%), sleep disorders (26.3%), and appetite change (12.1%). In worsening of pre-existing symptoms, the most frequent were delusions (75%), followed by sleep disorders (71.7%). Lockdown induces a rapid increase of neuropsychiatric symptoms affecting cognitive symptoms and functionality of Peruvian patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilton Custodio
- Servicio de Neurología, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Unidad de diagnóstico de deterioro cognitivo y prevención de demencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Departamento de Investigación y docencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
| | - Sheila Castro-Suárez
- Departamento de Investigación y docencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- CBI en Demencias y Enfermedades Desmielinizantes del Sistema Nervioso, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru
- Atlantic Senior Fellow of Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA. USA
| | - Rosa Montesinos
- Unidad de diagnóstico de deterioro cognitivo y prevención de demencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Departamento de Investigación y docencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Servicio de Rehabilitación, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
| | - Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas
- Unidad de diagnóstico de deterioro cognitivo y prevención de demencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Departamento de Investigación y docencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Unidad de Investigación para la Generación y Síntesis de Evidencias en Salud, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Lima, Perú
| | - Rossana Cruz del Castillo
- Unidad de diagnóstico de deterioro cognitivo y prevención de demencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Departamento de Investigación y docencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Servicio de Geriatría, Programa de Atención Domiciliaria-PADOMI, EsSalud, Lima, Perú
| | - Eder Herrera-Perez
- Unidad de diagnóstico de deterioro cognitivo y prevención de demencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- Departamento de Investigación y docencia, Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias, Lima, Perú
- CBI en Demencias y Enfermedades Desmielinizantes del Sistema Nervioso, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru
- Grupo de investigación Molident, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Perú
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Azevedo LVDS, Calandri IL, Slachevsky A, Graviotto HG, Vieira MCS, de Andrade CB, Rossetti AP, Generoso AB, Carmona KC, Pinto LAC, Sorbara M, Pinto A, Guajardo T, Olavarria L, Thumala D, Crivelli L, Vivas L, Allegri RF, Barbosa MT, Serrano CM, Miranda-Castillo C, Caramelli P. Impact of Social Isolation on People with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:607-617. [PMID: 33814446 PMCID: PMC11185189 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with dementia and their family caregivers may face a great burden through social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be manifested as various behavioral and clinical symptoms. OBJECTIVE To investigate the impacts of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with dementia and their family caregivers. METHODS Two semi-structured questionnaires were applied via telephone to family caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia in three cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, in order to assess clinical and behavioral changes in people with dementia and in their caregivers. RESULTS In general, 321 interviews were conducted. A significant decline in memory function has been reported among 53.0%of people with dementia. In addition, 31.2%of individuals with dementia felt sadder and 37.4%had increased anxiety symptoms. These symptoms of anxiety were greater in individuals with mild to moderate dementia, while symptoms of agitation were greater in individuals with severe dementia. Moreover, compulsive-obsessive behavior, hallucinations, increased forgetfulness, altered appetite, and increased difficulty in activities of daily living were reported more frequently among individuals with moderate to severe dementia. Caregivers reported feeling more tired and overwhelmed during this period and these symptoms were also influenced by the severity of dementia. CONCLUSION Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a series of negative behavioral repercussions, both for people with dementia and for their family caregivers in these three South American countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lílian Viana dos Santos Azevedo
- Behavioral and Cognitive Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Ismael Luis Calandri
- Department of Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychology and Neuropsychiatry, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopathology Department – ICBM, Neurocience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Servicio de Neuroloǵıa, Departamento de Medicina, Cĺınica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Héctor Gastón Graviotto
- Cognitive Neurology and Neuropsychology Department, César Milstein Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Carolina Santos Vieira
- Faculdade Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais/FELUMA, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
- Geriatric Medicine – Rede Mater Dei de Saúde e AURUS Ensino e Pesquisa do Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Caíssa Bezerra de Andrade
- Behavioral and Cognitive Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Adriana Peredo Rossetti
- Faculdade Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais/FELUMA, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
- Geriatric Medicine – Rede Mater Dei de Saúde e AURUS Ensino e Pesquisa do Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Alana Barroso Generoso
- Geriatric Medicine – Rede Mater Dei de Saúde e AURUS Ensino e Pesquisa do Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Karoline Carvalho Carmona
- Behavioral and Cognitive Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Ludmilla Aparecida Cardoso Pinto
- Behavioral and Cognitive Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Marcos Sorbara
- Cognitive Neurology and Neuropsychology Department, César Milstein Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Pinto
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tania Guajardo
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Loreto Olavarria
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Thumala
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile
- Department of Psychology, Social Sciences Faculty, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lucía Crivelli
- Department of Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychology and Neuropsychiatry, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ludmila Vivas
- Department of Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychology and Neuropsychiatry, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Francisco Allegri
- Department of Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychology and Neuropsychiatry, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maira Tonidandel Barbosa
- Behavioral and Cognitive Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
- Faculdade Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais/FELUMA, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Cecilia M. Serrano
- Cognitive Neurology and Neuropsychology Department, César Milstein Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia Miranda-Castillo
- Faculty of Nursing, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulo Caramelli
- Behavioral and Cognitive Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
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