The course of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia in primary care

Neuropsychiatric Symptom Profile in Alzheimer's Disease and Their Relationship With Functional Decline

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the course of individual neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and their relationship with function is important for planning targeted interventions for preventing and delaying functional decline. This study aims to disentangle relative contributions of individual NPS on functional decline.

METHODS

Longitudinal study of 9,358 well-characterized participants with baseline diagnoses of Mild Cognitive Impairment or AD in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set. Function was measured using the Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ). Clinician judgment of seven common behavioral symptoms were examined simultaneously: apathy-withdrawal, depressed mood, visual or auditory hallucinations, delusions, disinhibition, irritability, and agitation.

RESULTS

Apathy was the most common NPS at baseline (33.7%) and throughout follow-up, endorsed by clinicians in 63.7% of visits. Apathy was the most persistent with 36.7% of participants having clinician-endorsed apathy in ≥50% of their visits. Apathy strongly correlated with faster rate of functional decline. Compared to those who never had apathy, baseline FAQ was worse in those with intermittent or persistent/always apathy (intermittent: estimated coefficient ±SE=1.228±0.210, 95% CI=[0.817, 1.639]; persistent/always: 2.354±0.244 (95% CI=[1.876, 2.832], both p <0.001). Over time, rate of functional decline was faster in those with intermittent and persistent/always apathy (intermittent: 0.454±0.091, 95% CI=[0.276, 0.632]; persistent/always: 0.635±0.102, 95% CI=[0.436, 0.835], both p <0.001). Worse agitation, delusions, and hallucinations also correlated with functional decline, but magnitudes of the estimates were smaller.

CONCLUSION

Individual NPS may be sensitive targets for tracking longitudinal change in function. The study raises awareness of the need for more comprehensive assessment of functional decline in AD patients with noncognitive symptoms.

Effect of a multimodal non-pharmacological intervention on older people with dementia: a single-case experimental design study

BACKGROUND

Older people with dementia (PWD) in nursing homes (NHs) tend to have decreased cognitive function, which may cause behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) and hinder activities of daily living (ADLs). Therefore, taking measures against the cognitive decline of PWD in NH and, in turn, the decline of BPSDs and ADLs is crucial. The purpose of this study was to test whether a multimodal non-pharmacological intervention (MNPI) is effective in maintaining and improving global cognitive function, BPSDs, and ADLs in PWD in NHs.

METHODS

An intervention study using a single-case AB design was conducted in three subjects in NHs. During the non-intervention phase, participants underwent follow-up assessments, and during the intervention phase, they participated in an MNPI. The ABC Dementia Scale (which concurrently assesses ADLs ["A"], BPSDs ["B"], and cognitive function ["C"]) was used for the assessment.

RESULTS

One of the three patients showed improvement in dementia severity, global cognitive function, ADLs, and BPSDs. However, the other two participants showed no improvement following the MNPI, although the possibility of a maintenance effect remained.

CONCLUSION

Although there is room for improvement of the MNPI, it may be effective in maintaining and improving cognitive function, ADLs, and BPSD, in PWD in NHs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry ( http://www.umin.ac.jp/ , No. UMIN000045858, registration date: November 1, 2021).

Targeted Interdisciplinary Model for Evaluation and Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (TIME) in home care services: a cluster randomized feasibility trial

Background

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur frequently in people with dementia and can contribute to an increased need for help and a reduced quality of life, but also predict early institutionalization. The Targeted Interdisciplinary Model for Evaluation and Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (TIME) might be a useful personalized approach to BPSD in people with dementia. The main objective of this feasibility trial was to explore the trial design and methods along with the patients’ and the home care staff’s acceptance of the TIME intervention before developing a definitive trial. Additionally, we wanted to explore whether TIME could be appropriate for staff in home care services in their approach towards people with dementia with anxiety and depression.

Methods

This was a 18-month feasibility trial using a parallel cluster randomized controlled design. Nine municipalities from the eastern part of Norway (clusters) — 40 people with dementia and 37 of their next of kin— were randomized to the TIME intervention or to treatment as usual. In addition, qualitative data as field notes were collected and summarized.

Results

The staff in home care services experienced TIME as an appropriate method; in particular, the systematic approach to the patient’s BPSD was experienced as useful. However, the completion of the assessment phase was considered exhaustive and time-consuming, and some of the staff found it challenging to find time for the case conferences.

Conclusions

We consider that TIME, with some adjustments, could be useful for staff in home care services in cases where they face challenges in providing care and support to people with dementia. This feasibility trial indicates that we can move forward with a future definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the effect of TIME in people with dementia receiving home care services.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: SI0303150608.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and subsyndromes in patients with different stages of dementia in primary care follow-up (NeDEM project): a cross-sectional study

Background

The objective was to describe the prevalence and intensity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) isolated and grouped into subsyndromes in patients with dementia in primary care (PC) to analyse their distribution based on stages of dementia and the relationship between them and the intensity of symptoms.

Methods

Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting and population: Patients with dementia, not institutionalized, in a PC follow-up. Variables: Sociodemographic and clinical variables. Assessment instruments: The frequency and intensity of NPSs were measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and the stages of dementia with the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). Statistical analysis: The number of NPSs per patient, the mean NPI value, and the prevalence and intensity of NPSs isolated and grouped into subsyndromes were calculated, as were their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The analyses were performed on an overall basis and by GDS scores. To analyse the association between the NPI and GDS scores, multivariate analysis was performed with a generalized linear model.

Results

Overall, 98.4% (95% CI 94.5;99.8) of the patients presented some type of NPS, with an average of five symptoms per patient. The most frequent symptoms were apathy [69.8% (95% CI 61.1;77.5)], agitation [55.8% (95% CI 46.8;64.5)] and irritability [48.8% (95% CI 39.9;57.8)]. The more intense NPSs were apathy [NPI 3.2 (95% CI 2.5;3.8)] and agitation [NPI 3.2 (95% CI 2.5;4.0)]. For subsyndromes, hyperactivity predominated [86.0% (95% CI 78.8;91.5)], followed by apathy [77.5% (95% CI 69.3;84.4]). By phase of dementia, the most common isolated symptom was apathy (60.7–75.0%). Affective symptoms and irritability predominated in the initial stages, and psychotic symptoms predominated in advanced stages. The mean NPI score was 24.9 (95% CI 21.5;28.4) and increased from 15.6 (95% CI 8.2;23.1) for GDS 3 to 28.9 (95% CI 12.6;45.1) for GDS 7. Patients with in the most advanced stages of dementia presented an NPI score 7.6 (95% CI 6.8;8.3) points higher than the score for mild dementia with adjustment for the other variables.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of NPSs was found among patients with dementia treated in PC. Symptoms change and increase in intensity as the disease progresses. Scales such as the NPI allow these symptoms to be identified, which may facilitate more stage-appropriate management.

Age related weight loss in female 5xFAD mice from 3 to 12 months of age

In addition to cognitive decline, patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit sensory, motor, and neuropsychiatric deficits. Many AD patients also show weight loss, suggesting that AD may involve a metabolic syndrome. The 5xFAD mouse model shows age-related weight loss compared to wildtype controls, and thus may exhibit metabolic dysfunction. This longitudinal study measured age-related weight loss in female 5xFAD and B6SJL/JF2 wild-type mice from 3 to 12 months of age, and examines some of the behavioural and physiological phenotypes in these mice that have been proposed to contribute to this weight loss. Because some mice had to be singly housed during the study, we also examined genotype by housing interactions. The 5xFAD mice weighed less and ate less than WT littermates starting at 6 months of age, exhibited less home cage activity, had higher frailty scores, less white adipose tissue, and lower leptin expression. At 9 and 12 months of age, heavier 5xFAD mice performed better on the rotarod, suggesting that metabolic deficits which begin between 6 and 9 months of age may exacerbate the behavioural deficits in 5xFAD mice. These results indicate that the 5xFAD mouse is a useful model to study the behavioural and metabolic changes in AD.

Embarking on a memory assessment voices of older persons living with memory impairment

AIM

To describe older persons who had commenced a memory assessment, experiences of living with memory impairment and related symptoms.

BACKGROUND

Persons with subjective memory impairment are two times more likely to develop dementia over the years than their peers. Older persons seldom seek help from primary health care clinics solely for subjective memory impairment. Of those who seek help, it can take up to 35 months from the person experiencing initial symptoms to referral to a memory clinic. Further research is needed regarding how older persons live with memory impairment with related symptoms before they receive a memory diagnosis.

METHOD

A qualitative study with 23 participants who had commenced a memory assessment in primary care. Semi-structured interviews were held. During the interviews, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was completed and discussed with the participants. Interview data were analysed using Interpretive Description.

RESULTS

The results are presented under four themes: Conflicting views about the situation, Unveiling the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, Compensating with external and internal strategies to recall and Worrying about self and future. Persons with memory impairment were encouraged by family members or others to seek a memory assessment. Few persons were self-referred as memory impairment was often seen as a part of aging. Polarised viewpoints existed within the families regarding the impact of memory impairment on daily life. The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms appeared unexplored in the participants seeking a memory assessment. In this study, the majority of participants experienced neuropsychiatric symptoms at the time of contact for a memory assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

Memory problems experienced were often viewed by the person as being part of an aging process. The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was not acknowledged as being connected to memory impairment. Contextualising 'memory impairment' as a part of a 'cognitive process' may help the person in identifying the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms.