Impact of informal caregiving on cognitive function and well-being in Canada

Optimizing Older Adult Mental Health in Support of Healthy Ageing: A Pluralistic Framework to Inform Transformative Change across Community and Healthcare Domains

This paper describes a pluralistic framework to inform transformative change across community and healthcare domains to optimize the mental health of older adults in support of healthy ageing. An extensive review and analysis of the literature informed the creation of a framework that contextualizes the priority areas of the WHO Decade of Health Ageing (ageism, age-friendly environments, long-term care, and integrated care) with respect to older adult mental health. The framework additionally identifies barriers, facilitators, and strategies for action at macro (social/system), meso (services/supports), and micro (older adults) levels of influence. This conceptual (analytical) framework is intended as a tool to inform planning and decision-making across policy, practice, education and training, research, and knowledge mobilization arenas. The framework described in this paper can be used by countries around the globe to build evidence, set priorities, and scale up promising practices (both nationally and sub-nationally) to optimize the mental health and healthy ageing trajectories of older adults as a population.

Affective Impact on Informal Caregivers over 70 Years of Age: A Qualitative Study

Given today's rapidly ageing society, family members providing informal care to dependent older adults face ever-increasing challenges. The aim of this study was to describe the affective impact on older adults over 70 years of age caring for a dependent older person at home. A qualitative study was designed from a phenomenological perspective. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers aged 70 or older. A content analysis of the interviews was carried out in five stages. Three themes were identified: "Emotions", "Feelings", and "Looking to the future". Caregivers express negative emotions (sadness, anger, and fear) and feelings of social and emotional isolation, and they feel abandoned by health professionals, family, and friends. In conclusion, prolonged caregiving by older adults has a negative affective impact and creates uncertainty about the future. There is a need to devise social and healthcare policies and actions, creating social support networks to improve their health and emotional wellbeing.

Factors associated with memory of informal caregivers: A scoping review protocol

The ability to retain and remember information (memory) is essential to caregiving tasks. There is evidence that caregivers are at greater risk for experiencing deteriorations in cognitive status than non-caregivers, especially memory; however, we have a limited understanding of factors that are related to changes in caregiver memory. This scoping review intends to comprehensively map factors related to caregiver memory reported in the literature within the chronic caregiving context. Specific aims include (1) identifying factors related to caregiver memory; (2) examining how caregiver memory has been measured; and (3) describing changes in caregiver memory during their caregiving period. This review will be conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework and reported using the PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies will be included if (1) the studies focus on home-based unpaid long term family caregiving; (2) study participants (patients), of any age, have one (or more) chronic illness or disability and receive care from a caregiver for 6 months or more; (3) caregivers are adults (> = 18 years of age). Any chronic disease or condition will be included. The search will encompass gray literature and peer-reviewed literature in MEDLINE (via Ovid), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (via EBSCOhost), Embase (via Elsevier), APA PsycINFO (via EBSCOhost), Sociology Source Ultimate (via EBSCOhost), and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Data extraction will include specific details about the participants, concept, context, study methods, and key caregiver-related findings. The Caregiver Health Model will provide a framework to categorize factors that impact caregivers' memory including caregiver health promotion activities, caregiver attitudes and beliefs, caregiver task, and caregiver needs. Factors that do not fall into the Caregiver Health Model domains will be organized by emerging themes.

Protective roles of meditation practice and self-esteem on cognitive functions over time: findings from the Midlife in the United States study

BACKGROUND

Cognitive function is an important component of healthy ageing. However, it is unclear whether relaxation/meditation practices provide cognitive benefits, particularly in midlife and early late life. Meditative practices are associated with higher self-esteem, and self-esteem serves as a general protective factor for many health outcomes. The current study examines associations between meditation practice, self-esteem, and change over 10 years in midlife cognitive performance.

METHODS

Data were from waves 2 (2003-2004) and 3 (2013-2014) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. We used structural equation modelling to examine whether persistent meditation practice at both waves or episodic practice at one wave is associated with better cognitive function over 10 years, compared to no meditation practice, while controlling for prior cognitive function and covariates (baseline socio-demographics, health, and functional status). Additionally, we assessed if self-esteem mediates the above associations.

RESULTS

We included 2168 individuals (Mage  = 65 ± 11). After controlling for covariates, the findings revealed that persistent meditation practice in both waves was associated with significantly less decline in episodic memory; however, no such effects were found for executive function. Further, although participants' higher self-esteem was significantly associated with less decline in executive function and episodic memory, it did not mediate the associations between meditation practice and cognitive functions.

CONCLUSIONS

While both persistent meditation practice and self-esteem have associations with cognitive outcomes for middle-aged and older adults in MIDUS, self-esteem as a mediator was not supported. Thus, future investigations should examine mechanisms that underlie these protective factors on cognitive performances across adulthood.

Predictors of Sleep Quality in Spouse Caregivers of Community-Dwelling People With Dementia Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis

BACKGROUND

Many family caregivers of people with dementia (PwDs) have sleep problems and poor sleep quality. Sleep may be negatively affected by caring for a family member with dementia, especially a spouse.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to assess sleep quality in spouse caregivers of PwDs and determine the impact of care provision on their sleep quality.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of 58,050 participants in the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey was conducted. To prevent selection bias, a propensity score matching analysis was performed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the predictors of sleep quality.

RESULTS

After obtaining a propensity score matching threshold of 3:1, the percentage of poor sleepers was 24.2% in the control group and 33.3% in the spouse-caregiver group, which indicates a significant difference (χ 2 = 11.79, p = .001). After adjusting for depressive symptoms in the multiple logistic analyses, no intergroup difference was found in terms of risk of poor sleep quality (odds ratio = 1.12, 95% CI [0.90, 1.61]).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The findings of this study support that spouse caregivers of PwDs have poorer sleep quality than their nonspouse peers and that management of depressive symptoms is important to improving the sleep quality of spouses providing care to PwDs. Nursing interventions such as light therapy and exposure to sunlight during daytime hours to both improve sleep quality and reduce depressive symptoms can improve sleep quality in this vulnerable caregiver group.

Impact of Caregiving on Cognitive Functioning: Evidence From the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVES

Few studies have examined the association between caregiving and the cognitive functioning of caregivers. This study explored the association between caring for family members and cognition and how the link differs by caregiving intensity and caregiving types. Furthermore, rural-urban and gender heterogeneity were investigated.

METHODS

This study analyzed Waves 2011, 2013, and 2018 of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, with cognitive functioning assessed in 3 dimensions: memory, executive function, and orientation function. The cognition trajectories between caregivers and noncaregivers were compared with the growth curve model.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated a positive association between caregiving and cognitive functioning (β = 0.249, p < .001). Considering caregiving intensity, the positive association was only found in low (β = 0.335, p < .001) and moderate-intensity caregivers (β = 0.250, p < .05) but not in high-intensity caregivers. Moreover, grandparents, adult children, and multiple caregivers had a higher average cognition level at age 60 than noncaregivers (all β > 0, all p < .05), and adult child caregivers exhibited a significantly slower rate of decline in cognition across age (β = 0.040, p < .01). However, spousal caregivers showed no significant disparities with noncaregivers. Moreover, the impact of caregiving on memory function is more apparent among urban adults.

DISCUSSION

Results indicate that caregiving can benefit cognitive function. This study proposes considering caregiving intensity and caregiving types when exploring caregiving and cognition. Based on these findings, policy-makers may overcome the challenges involved in establishing and developing a supportive informal care system in China.

The Healthy Caregiver? A Positive Impact of Informal Caregiving Status on Cognitive Functions Over Time From the Midlife in the United States Study

OBJECTIVES

The current study examined whether informal caregivers performed worse, better, or similar to non-caregivers on cognitive tests of executive functioning and episodic memory over 10 years. Methods: Data were from waves 2 (2003-04) and 3 (2013-14) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (N = 2086). Multiple linear regression models examined whether caregiving at both waves 2 and 3 predicted better cognitive functioning at wave 3, than caregiving at only one time point or no caregiving (reference) while controlling for baseline covariates (i.e., sociodemographic, health, and functional status).

RESULTS

After controlling for covariates, caregiving at both waves was independently associated with better performance in episodic memory (b = .24, SE = .10, p = .013) but not executive function (b = -.06, SE = .05, p = .246). Discussion:The findings partially supported both healthy caregiver and stress process models, indicating caregiving may be associated with better episodic memory but not executive functioning over time among the middle-aged and older adults.

The impact of anxiety on the cognitive function of informal Parkinson's disease caregiver: Evidence from task-based and resting-state fNIRS

Informal Parkinson's disease (PD) caregivers are considered to experience high levels of caregiver burden, negatively affecting the health of caregivers. However, few studies explored the relationship between anxiety in caregiver burden and cognitive function in informal PD caregivers. Although, no study has even investigated the neural mechanisms underlying this connection. This study aimed to conduct comprehensive cognitive and clinical assessments and evaluate brain activity from task-based state and resting-state using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). A total of ten informal PD caregivers and 15 matched, healthy, non-caregivers were recruited. Comprehensive cognitive and clinical assessments were conducted to evaluate five cognitive domains and mental states. Neural activity induced by verbal fluency task (VFT) and brain connectivity during resting state were monitored, and their correlations with the neuropsychological and clinical tests were explored. Our results showed that compared to non-caregiver, an informal PD caregiver exhibited no difference in most cognitive domains of function but performed better in attentional function, along with higher levels of anxiety. Decreased activation over prefrontal regions during VFT and hypo-connectivity within the frontoparietal network (FPN) and between default mode network (DMN) and FPN in the resting state were confirmed in this study as a result of the negative effects of anxiety on the brain. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation found that neural activity in FPN during task-based state and resting state was negatively correlated with the severity of anxiety. These findings indicate that despite normal or even better cognitive function, informal PD caregivers have impaired brain function, and this deficit in neural activity was related to anxiety.

Caregiver self-efficacy and associated factors among caregivers of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms, which can be distressing to caregivers. However, little is known about their subjective distress in terms of caregiver self-efficacy. Thus, we examined the differences in caregiver self-efficacy and their associated factors between DLB and Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive questionnaire for DLB and AD caregivers. Caregiver self-efficacy was evaluated using three domains (Self-Efficacy for Obtaining Respite: SE-OR, Self-Efficacy for Responding to Disruptive Patient Behaviours: SE-RDPB, Self-Efficacy for Controlling Upsetting Thoughts about Caregiving: SE-CUT) of the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RSCSE). In addition, data on the following features of caregivers were assessed: depression, sleep disturbance, caregiver burden, executive function, loneliness, social support, and distress associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. The patients were assessed for general cognitive tasks, executive function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

RESULTS

Compared with AD caregivers, DLB caregivers experienced a significantly higher burden in terms of not only various clinical factors, but also all three domains of caregiver self-efficacy. Among the caregiver-associated factors, different domains were predictors of self-efficacy in DLB and AD caregivers (distress due to sleep disturbances in DLB patients; distress due to delusions in AD patients). Among the patient-associated factors, different domains were also predictors of self-efficacy in DLB and AD caregivers (sleep disturbances in DLB patients; delusions in AD patients). Among both the caregivers and the patients, executive function was a significant predictor of one RSCSE domain (SE-CUT).

CONCLUSIONS

A reduction in caregiver self-efficacy may contribute to a severe subjective burden among DLB caregivers. Furthermore, two neuropsychiatric symptoms (delusions and sleep disturbances) affected caregiver self-efficacy differently depending on whether care was being provided to a DLB or AD patient. Understanding the association between specific neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver self-efficacy may be useful for conducting interventions for DLB patients.

Personality and psychological health in caregivers of older relatives: a case-control study

OBJECTIVES

Being a caregiver of an older adult is often associated with poor psychological outcomes and stress. Individual differences, such as personality, may moderate responses to caregiving. In this study, we examined (a) personality and psychological health of family caregivers compared to non-caregivers and (b) tested interactions between caregiver status and personality (both domains and facets) in predicting psychological outcomes.

METHODS

Data were from an online sample of caregivers of older relatives (N = 491; 71.9% females) and matched controls (N = 491). Participants completed the Big Five Inventory-2 and a comprehensive set of psychological health and well-being measures.

RESULTS

Compared to non-caregivers, caregivers had higher neuroticism, lower energy level (extraversion facet) and higher compassion (agreeableness facet). They also reported higher depression, anxiety, loneliness, and lower well-being and life satisfaction. Personality traits and facets had strong associations with psychological outcomes, and these associations were similar across the two groups. Only a few significant interactions between caregiver status and personality were found: For instance, higher neuroticism (in particular, higher scores on anxiety and depression facets) exacerbated anxiety among caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Personality is a relevant correlate of psychological health. In the context of caregiving, its assessment may help to identify caregivers at risk of poor outcomes and inform intervention programs. Further research is needed to replicate the findings and investigate longitudinal interrelations among variables.

Cognitive Function and Sleep in Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia

Poor sleep is prevalent among caregivers of persons living with dementia and increases their risk for cognitive impairment and decline. In this cross-sectional, correlational study, we compared the cognitive function scores of caregivers with poor sleep with the demographically adjusted normed scores of the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Caregivers completed a 14-day sleep diary. On average, caregivers (n = 28) were 65.14 (±10.08) years, female, and White. Their average crystallized cognitive function composite score was significantly higher and their average fluid cognitive function composite score was significantly lower than the normative scores. Caregivers performed significantly worse on the processing speed domain measure. Poor sleep may affect how caregivers, including highly educated caregivers, process and respond to information, thus can influence how they safely perform complex caregiving tasks. Health care providers should consistently assess caregivers' sleep and cognitive abilities to promptly identify changes and provide timely interventions.

Informal Caregiving, Poor Mental Health, and Subjective Cognitive Decline: Results From a Population-Based Sample

The current study examined potential gender differences in the associations between informal caregiving, poor mental health, and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Data were obtained from the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 16,042; 9,410 women, 6,632 men). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to obtain adjusted βs and odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) depicting the association between informal caregiving, poor mental health, and SCD overall and by gender. Caregiving was positively associated with poor mental health among men (adjusted β = 2.60; 95% CI [2.59, 2.62]) and women (adjusted β = 0.40; 95% CI [0.23, 0.57]). Poor mental health was positively associated with SCD among men (adjusted OR = 1.05; 95% CI [1.02, 1.08]) and women (adjusted OR = 1.07; 95% CI [1.04, 1.10]). Poor mental health may be associated with SCD, irrespective of gender, and additional studies are needed that will identify key variables influencing SCD among male and female informal caregivers. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 46(12), 31-41.].

Episodic memory and executive functioning in informal dementia caregivers

Objectives: Informal dementia caregivers are thought to experience high levels of depression and burden, which can contribute to worse cognitive functioning. However, poorer cognitive functioning in caregivers is not always found. The current study explored whether caregivers perform better, worse, or similar to non-caregivers on tasks for executive functioning and memory. Whether sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics are associated with caregivers' performance was also assessed.Methods: One hundred forty-five caregivers completed the Letter Fluency and Category Fluency, the Logical Memory test from the WMS-III, and five questionnaires assessing psychological characteristics. Standardized z-scores (based on age, education, and sex) were calculated using data from a matched control group (187 non-caregivers). One sample z-tests were executed to examine if the caregivers' standardized mean z-score significantly deviated from the population mean of z = 0. The z-scores were used as dependent variables in multivariable regression analyses.Results: The caregivers performed significantly better on Logical Memory - Immediate Recall than non-caregivers (z = 2.92, p = .004). The obtained z-scores on the other tasks did not deviate significantly from 0. Male sex and social reliance predicted higher scores on Category Fluency, but the F-test was non-significant, and the explained variance was low (adjusted R² = .068).Conclusions: We found no evidence for poorer cognitive performance among informal caregivers compared to non-caregivers. Our results suggest that caregiving for a loved one with dementia does not impair the caregivers' episodic memory or executive functioning when measured cross-sectionally.

Neuropsychological consequences of chronic stress: the case of informal caregivers

Introduction: Caring for a family member with a long-term illness is a significant source of chronic stress that might significantly accelerate the cognitive ageing of informal caregivers. Nevertheless, the absence of a defined theoretical body of literature on the neuropsychology of this population makes it difficult to understand what the characteristic neuropsychological deficits of these caregivers are.Aims: The main aim of this study is to carry out a systematic review of studies of cognitive deficits present in informal caregivers of people with several chronic pathologies, and analyse the effects of cognitive-behavioural interventions on caregivers' cognition.Methods: The scientific literature was reviewed following the PRISMA quality criteria for reviews using the following digital databases: PubMEd, PsycINFO, and Dialnet.Results: Identification of 2046 abstracts and retrieval of 211 full texts led to the inclusion of 38 papers. The studies showed heterogeneous results, but most of the cross-sectional studies reviewed that employed neuropsychological assessments concluded that informal caregivers reported a generalized cognitive deterioration, especially memory dysfunctions (i.e. learning verbal, visuospatial, and digit information). Moreover, they also presented low selective attention and capacity for inhibition, along with slow processing speed. Longitudinal studies confirmed that caregivers whose care situation was more prolonged showed a marked deterioration in their overall cognitive state, memory, processing speed, and vocabulary richness. However, although the patient's death does not seem to reverse the neuropsychological alterations in caregivers, cognitive-behavioural interventions that employ techniques to reduce stress levels, cognitive biases, and inadequate adaptation schemas seem to improve some of the aforementioned cognitive abilities.Conclusions: Results from this synthesis and critical analysis of neuropsychological deficits in informal caregivers offer guidelines for diagnosing caregivers' cognitive status by including a test battery covering all the domains considered relevant. Finally, given the ability of cognitive behavioural interventions to improve cognition in caregivers, further studies on their long-term effects on caregivers are warranted.Chronic stress entails an acceleration of the cognitive ageingCross-sectional studies concluded that informal caregivers reported a generalized cognitive deteriorationCognitive-behavioural interventions seem to improve cognitive abilities of caregivers.

Self-esteem, self-efficacy, and optimism as psychological resources among caregivers of people with dementia: findings from the IDEAL study

OBJECTIVES

Being a family caregiver, and in particular giving care to someone with dementia, impacts mental and physical health and potentially reduces the ability of caregivers to "live well." This paper examines whether three key psychological resources-self-efficacy, optimism, and self-esteem-are associated with better outcomes for caregivers of people with dementia.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Caregivers of 1,283 people with mild-to-moderate dementia in the Improving the Experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) project responded to measures of self-efficacy, optimism, and self-esteem, and "living well" (quality of life, life satisfaction, and well-being). Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the association between psychological resources and "living well".

RESULTS

Self-efficacy, optimism, and self-esteem were all independently associated with better capability to "live well" for caregivers. This association persisted when accounting for a number of potential confounding variables (age group, sex, and hours of caregiving per day).

CONCLUSIONS

Low self-efficacy, optimism, and self-esteem might present a risk of poor outcomes for caregivers of people with dementia. These findings encourage us to consider how new or established interventions might increase the psychological resilience of caregivers.