Correlates of daily functioning in older adults with autism spectrum disorder

Objectives: Studies of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have demonstrated poor outcomes related to independence and everyday living skills compared to the general population. In a sample of 74 adults with ASD who require a high level of support we sought to identify correlates of daily functioning.Methods: We administered questionnaires to residential staff and identified participants' independence level in basic and instrumental activities of daily living.Results: There was no association of age with daily functioning. Higher daily functioning was associated with a better general medical health rating. Functional independence was greater in participants with IQ range of 55 to 65 compared to those with IQ below 55. Language difficulties and behavioral disturbances were not significantly correlated with independence in daily living skills. In this sample, individual had held a median of three different types of jobs in supported employment.Conclusion: Daily functioning in adults with autism generally does not decline with age, but because this was cross-sectional data, this requires further confirmation. Community programs designed for adults with ASD who require a high level of support should focus on overall medical health and promotion of daily living skill building.

Dementia

Alzheimer disease (AD) and other dementia syndromes are becoming more common; an estimated 5.5 million adults aged 65 years or older are living with AD in the United States. It is important for primary care physicians to gain knowledge in this field because most community-dwelling older adults receive their care from them. This article discusses the latest findings in approaches to prevent cognitive decline as well as dementia screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Approaches to address quality of life for persons with dementia and their caregivers are also discussed.

Neuropathologic, genetic, and longitudinal cognitive profiles in primary age-related tauopathy (PART) and Alzheimer's disease

INTRODUCTION

Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is a recently described entity that can cause cognitive impairment in the absence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we compared neuropathological features, tau haplotypes, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes, and cognitive profiles in age-matched subjects with PART and AD pathology.

METHODS

Brain autopsies (n = 183) were conducted on participants 85 years and older from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Participants, normal at enrollment, were followed with periodic cognitive evaluations until death.

RESULTS

Compared with AD, PART subjects showed significantly slower rates of decline on measures of memory, language, and visuospatial performance. They also showed lower APOE ε4 allele frequency (4.1% vs. 17.6%, P = .0046).

DISCUSSION

Our observations suggest that PART is separate from AD and its distinction will be important for the clinical management of patients with cognitive impairment and for public health care planning.

Health Services Utilization in Older Adults with Dementia Receiving Care Coordination: The MIND at Home Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate effects of a novel dementia care coordination program on health services utilization.

DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING

A total of 303 community-dwelling adults aged ≥70 with a cognitive disorder in Baltimore, Maryland (2008-2011).

STUDY DESIGN

Single-blind RCT evaluating efficacy of an 18-month care coordination intervention delivered through community-based nonclinical care coordinators, supported by an interdisciplinary clinical team.

DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS

Study partners reported acute care/inpatient, outpatient, and home- and community-based service utilization at baseline, 9, and 18 months.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

From baseline to 18 months, there were no significant group differences in acute care/inpatient or total outpatient services use, although intervention participants had significantly increased outpatient dementia/mental health visits from 9 to 18 months (p = .04) relative to controls. Home and community-based support service use significantly increased from baseline to 18 months in the intervention compared to control (p = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

While this dementia care coordination program did not impact acute care/inpatient services utilization, it increased use of dementia-related outpatient medical care and nonmedical supportive community services, a combination that may have helped participants remain at home longer. Future care model modifications that emphasize delirium, falls prevention, and behavior management may be needed to influence inpatient service use.

Guideline Watch (October 2014): Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias

(Reprinted with permission from American Psychiatric Association, http://psychiatryonline.org/guidelines).

Survival in Frontotemporal Dementia Phenotypes: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Survival in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is not well understood. We conducted a mixed effects meta-analysis of survival in FTD to examine phenotype differences and contributory factors.

METHODS

The PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases were searched for studies describing survival or natural history of behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD), progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA), semantic dementia (SD), FTD with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD-ALS), progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. There were no language restrictions.

RESULTS

We included 27 studies (2,462 subjects). Aggregate mean and median survival were derived for each phenotype and, for comparison, Alzheimer's disease (AD) (using data from the selected studies). Survival was shortest in FTD-ALS (2.5 years). Mean survival was longest in bvFTD and PNFA (8 years) and median survival in SD (12 years). AD was comparable in survival to all except FTD-ALS. Age and sex did not affect survival; the education effect was equivocal. Heterogeneity in FTD survival was largely, but not wholly, explained by phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival differs for FTD phenotypes but, except for FTD-ALS, compares well to AD survival. Elucidating the potential causes of within-phenotype heterogeneity in survival (such as complicating features and comorbidities) may open up opportunities for tailored interventions.

Study partners perform essential tasks in dementia research and can experience burdens and benefits in this role

Most studies that enroll individuals with dementia require a study partner for each participant. Study partners-usually family members-perform several key roles: accompanying the participant to visits, providing information about the participant, and assisting with procedures such as taking medication. Little is known, however, about their experiences when performing these roles. Dementia researchers and institutional review boards need to know these experiences because the study partner role is one key factor in a study's success. This prospective qualitative study, using up to three semi-structured interviews with 62 study partners involved in a range of dementia studies, documented their subjective experiences. Content analysis demonstrates that study partners perform a range of tasks-often within the context of being a caregiver-that enable cognitively impaired individuals to participate in dementia research. These tasks present study partners with unique burdens and benefits, some of which dementia researchers and institutional review boards can address.

Heterogeneity of Treatment Response to Citalopram for Patients With Alzheimer's Disease With Aggression or Agitation: The CitAD Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

Pharmacological treatments for agitation and aggression in patients with Alzheimer's disease have shown limited efficacy. The authors assessed the heterogeneity of response to citalopram in the Citalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer Disease (CitAD) study to identify individuals who may be helped or harmed.

METHOD

In this double-blind parallel-group multicenter trial of 186 patients with Alzheimer's disease and clinically significant agitation, participants were randomly assigned to receive citalopram or placebo for 9 weeks, with the dosage titrated to 30 mg/day over the first 3 weeks. Five planned potential predictors of treatment outcome were assessed, along with six additional predictors. The authors then used a two-stage multivariate method to select the most likely predictors; grouped participants into 10 subgroups by their index scores; and estimated the citalopram treatment effect for each.

RESULTS

Five covariates were likely predictors, and treatment effect was heterogeneous across the subgroups. Patients for whom citalopram was more effective were more likely to be outpatients, have the least cognitive impairment, have moderate agitation, and be within the middle age range (76-82 years). Patients for whom placebo was more effective were more likely to be in long-term care, have more severe cognitive impairment, have more severe agitation, and be treated with lorazepam.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering several covariates together allowed the identification of responders. Those with moderate agitation and with lower levels of cognitive impairment were more likely to benefit from citalopram, and those with more severe agitation and greater cognitive impairment were at greater risk for adverse responses. Considering the dosages used and the association of citalopram with cardiac QT prolongation, use of this agent to treat agitation may be limited to a subgroup of people with dementia.

The longitudinal impact of depression on disability in Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVE

Depression in Parkinson disease (PD) is a common problem that worsens quality of life and causes disability. However, little is known about the longitudinal impact of depression on disability in PD. This study examined the association between disability and DSM-IV-TR depression status across six years.

METHODS

Longitudinal cohort study with assessments at study entry, year two, four, and six conducted in the Morris K. Udall Parkinson Disease Research Center. Recruitment totaled 137 adult men and women with idiopathic PD in which up to six years of data on demographic, motor, and non-motor variables was collected. Movement disorder specialists used the structured interview for DSM-IV-TR depressive disorders and the Northwestern Disability Scale to assess depression and disability. A generalized linear mixed model was fitted with Northwestern Disability Scale score as the dependent variable to determine the effect of baseline depression status on disability.

RESULTS

A total of 43 participants were depressed at baseline compared to 94 without depression. Depressed participants were more likely to be female, were less educated, were less likely to take dopamine agonists, and more likely to have motor fluctuations. Controlling for these variables, symptomatic depression predicted greater disability compared to both never depressed (p = 0.0133) and remitted depression (p = 0.0009). Disability associated with symptomatic depression at baseline was greater over the entire six-year period compared to participants with remitted depressive episodes or who were never depressed.

CONCLUSIONS

Persisting depression is associated with a long-term adverse impact on daily functioning in PD. Adequate treatment or spontaneous remission of depression improves ADL function.

Time to Response to Citalopram Treatment for Agitation in Alzheimer Disease

OBJECTIVE

Agitation is a common and significant problem in Alzheimer disease (AD). In the recent Citalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer's Disease (CitAD) study, citalopram was efficacious for the treatment of AD agitation. Here we examined the time course and predictors of response to treatment.

METHODS

Response in CitAD was defined as a modified Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Study Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) score of 1 or 2 or a Neurobehavioral Rating Scale agitation subscale (NBRS-A) score reduction ≥ 50% from baseline. "Stable early response" was defined as meeting the aforementioned criteria at both weeks 3 and 9, "late response" was response at week 9 but not at week 3, and "unstable response" was response at week 3 but not at week 9.

RESULTS

In the primary analyses, citalopram was superior to placebo on both the CGIC and the NBRS-A response measures. Little between-group differences were found in response rates in the first 3 weeks of the study (21% versus 19% on the CGIC). Citalopram patients were more likely than placebo patients to be a late responder (18% versus 8% on CGIC, Fisher's exact p = 0.09; 31% versus 15% on NBRS-A, Fisher's exact p = 0.02). Approximately half of citalopram responders (45%-56%) at end of study achieved response later in the study compared with 30%-44% of placebo responders.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with citalopram for agitation in AD needs to be at least 9 weeks in duration to allow sufficient time for full response. Study duration is an important factor to consider in the design of clinical trials for agitation in AD.

Latent classes of course in Alzheimer's disease and predictors: the Cache County Dementia Progression Study

OBJECTIVE

Several longitudinal studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) report heterogeneity in progression. We sought to identify groups (classes) of progression trajectories in the population-based Cache County Dementia Progression Study (N = 328) and to identify baseline predictors of membership for each group.

METHODS

We used parallel-process growth mixture models to identify latent classes of trajectories on the basis of Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes scores over time. We then used bias-corrected multinomial logistic regression to model baseline predictors of latent class membership. We constructed receiver operating characteristic curves to demonstrate relative predictive utility of successive sets of predictors.

RESULTS

We fit four latent classes; class 1 was the largest (72%) and had the slowest progression. Classes 2 (8%), 3 (11%), and 4 (8%) had more rapid worsening. In univariate analyses, longer dementia duration, presence of psychosis, and worse baseline MMSE and Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes were associated with membership in class 2, relative to class 1. Lower education was associated with membership in class 3. In the multivariate model, only MMSE remained a statistically significant predictor of class membership. Receiver operating characteristic areas under the curve were 0.98, 0.88, and 0.67, for classes 2, 3, and 4 relative to class 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Heterogeneity in AD course can be usefully characterized using growth mixture models. The majority belonged to a class characterized by slower decline than is typically reported in clinical samples. Class membership could be predicted using baseline covariates. Further study may advance our prediction of AD course at the population level and in turn shed light on the pathophysiology of progression.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms as predictors of progression to severe Alzheimer's dementia and death: the Cache County Dementia Progression Study

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about factors influencing the rate of progression of Alzheimer's dementia. Using data from the Cache County Dementia Progression Study, the authors examined the link between clinically significant neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild Alzheimer's dementia and progression to severe dementia or death.

METHOD

The Cache County Dementia Progression Study is a longitudinal study of dementia progression in incident cases of this condition. Survival analyses included unadjusted Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. Hazard ratio estimates controlled for age at dementia onset, dementia duration at baseline, gender, education level, General Medical Health Rating, and apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 genotype.

RESULTS

Three hundred thirty-five patients with incident Alzheimer's dementia were studied. Sixty-eight (20%) developed severe dementia over the follow-up period. Psychosis (hazard ratio=2.007), agitation/aggression (hazard ratio=2.946), and any one clinically significant neuropsychiatric symptom (domain score ≥4, hazard ratio=2.682) were associated with more rapid progression to severe dementia. Psychosis (hazard ratio=1.537), affective symptoms (hazard ratio=1.510), agitation/aggression (hazard ratio=1.942), mildly symptomatic neuropsychiatric symptoms (domain score of 1-3, hazard ratio=1.448), and clinically significant neuropsychiatric symptoms (hazard ratio=1.951) were associated with earlier death.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with shorter survival time from mild Alzheimer's dementia to severe dementia and/or death. The treatment of specific neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild Alzheimer's dementia should be examined for its potential to delay time to severe dementia or death.

A randomized controlled trial of a community-based dementia care coordination intervention: effects of MIND at Home on caregiver outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether MIND at Home, a community-based, multicomponent, care coordination intervention, reduces unmet caregiving needs and burden in informal caregivers of persons with memory disorders.

METHODS

An 18-month randomized controlled trial of 289 community-living care recipient (CR)-caregiver (informal caregivers, i.e., unpaid individuals who regularly assisted the CR) dyads from 28 postal code areas of Baltimore, Maryland was conducted. All dyads and the CR's primary care physician received the written needs assessment results and intervention recommendations. Intervention dyads then received an 18-month care coordination intervention delivered by nonclinical community workers to address unmet care needs through individualized care planning, referral and linkage to dementia services, provision of caregiver dementia education and skill-building strategies, and care progress monitoring by an interdisciplinary team. Primary outcome was total percent of unmet caregiver needs at 18 months. Secondary outcomes included objective and subjective caregiver burden measures, quality of life (QOL), and depression.

RESULTS

Total percent of unmet caregiver needs declined in both groups from baseline to 18 months, with no statistically significant between-group difference. No significant group differences occurred in most caregiver burden measures, depression, or QOL. There was a potentially clinically relevant reduction in self-reported number of hours caregivers spent with the CR for MIND participants compared with control subjects.

CONCLUSION

No statistically significant impacts on caregiver outcomes were found after multiple comparison adjustments. However, MIND at Home appeared to have had a modest and clinically meaningful impact on informal caregiver time spent with CRs.

Dementia caregivers' coping strategies and their relationship to health and well-being: the Cache County Study

OBJECTIVES

Prior research identifies that psychological outcomes among dementia caregivers are associated with their use of coping strategies. Few studies have tested the association of coping and health longitudinally.

METHOD

This study examined factors associated with the use of coping strategies over time and their associations with physical and mental health outcomes in a population-based sample of 226 dementia caregivers in Cache County, Utah, USA. Caregivers annually completed the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and a health interview. Care-recipient cognitive and functional abilities were obtained using the Mini-Mental State Exam and the Clinical Dementia Rating. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

RESULTS

Caregivers most frequently identified providing care as a problem (37.6%). Linear mixed models of caregiver coping strategies found that the use of most strategies were stable except for increasing Avoidance among adult child caregivers (β = 0.14, p = 0.048). On average, increased Wishful Thinking (β = 2.48, p < 0.001) or Blames Self (β = 1.06, p = 0.002) was associated with higher anxiety scores. Increased use of Blames Others among males (interaction, β = 0.28, p = 0.02) and greater use of Wishful Thinking among younger caregivers (interaction, β = -0.01, p = 0.01) were associated with more caregiver health conditions. Coping strategies were not associated with change in anxiety or health conditions over time.

CONCLUSION

Our results emphasize the importance of caregiver coping strategies on caregiver health and well-being and may identify subgroups of persons at risk for worse outcomes.

In the Clinic. Dementia

This issue provides a clinical overview of dementia, focusing on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, practice improvement, and patient information. The content of In the Clinic is drawn from the clinical information and education resources of the American College of Physicians (ACP), including ACP Smart Medicine and MKSAP (Medical Knowledge and Self-Assessment Program). Annals of Internal Medicine editors develop In the Clinic from these primary sources in collaboration with the ACP's Medical Education and Publishing divisions and with the assistance of science writers and physician writers. Editorial consultants from ACP Smart Medicine and MKSAP provide expert review of the content. Readers who are interested in these primary resources for more detail can consult http://smartmedicine.acponline.org, https://mksap.acponline.org/, and other resources referenced in each issue of In the Clinic.

Effect of citalopram on agitation in Alzheimer disease: the CitAD randomized clinical trial

IMPORTANCE

Agitation is common, persistent, and associated with adverse consequences for patients with Alzheimer disease. Pharmacological treatment options, including antipsychotics are not satisfactory.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of citalopram for agitation in patients with Alzheimer disease. Key secondary objectives examined effects of citalopram on function, caregiver distress, safety, cognitive safety, and tolerability.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The Citalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer Disease Study (CitAD) was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group trial that enrolled 186 patients with probable Alzheimer disease and clinically significant agitation from 8 academic centers in the United States and Canada from August 2009 to January 2013.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants (n = 186) were randomized to receive a psychosocial intervention plus either citalopram (n = 94) or placebo (n = 92) for 9 weeks. Dosage began at 10 mg per day with planned titration to 30 mg per day over 3 weeks based on response and tolerability.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary outcome measures were based on scores from the 18-point Neurobehavioral Rating Scale agitation subscale (NBRS-A) and the modified Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change (mADCS-CGIC). Other outcomes were based on scores from the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), ability to complete activities of daily living (ADLs), caregiver distress, cognitive safety (based on scores from the 30-point Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]), and adverse events.

RESULTS

Participants who received citalopram showed significant improvement compared with those who received placebo on both primary outcome measures. The NBRS-A estimated treatment difference at week 9 (citalopram minus placebo) was -0.93 (95% CI, -1.80 to -0.06), P = .04. Results from the mADCS-CGIC showed 40% of citalopram participants having moderate or marked improvement from baseline compared with 26% of placebo recipients, with estimated treatment effect (odds ratio [OR] of being at or better than a given CGIC category) of 2.13 (95% CI, 1.23-3.69), P = .01. Participants who received citalopram showed significant improvement on the CMAI, total NPI, and caregiver distress scores but not on the NPI agitation subscale, ADLs, or in less use of rescue lorazepam. Worsening of cognition (-1.05 points; 95% CI, -1.97 to -0.13; P = .03) and QT interval prolongation (18.1 ms; 95% CI, 6.1-30.1; P = .01) were seen in the citalopram group.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients with probable Alzheimer disease and agitation who were receiving psychosocial intervention, the addition of citalopram compared with placebo significantly reduced agitation and caregiver distress; however, cognitive and cardiac adverse effects of citalopram may limit its practical application at the dosage of 30 mg per day.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00898807.

Unmet needs of community-residing persons with dementia and their informal caregivers: findings from the maximizing independence at home study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence and correlates of unmet needs in a sample of community-residing persons with dementia (PWD) and their informal caregivers.

DESIGN

Analysis of cross-sectional, baseline participant characteristics before randomization in a care coordination intervention trial.

SETTING

Baltimore, Maryland.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-residing PWD (n=254) and their informal caregivers (n=246).

MEASUREMENTS

In-home assessments of dementia-related needs based on the Johns Hopkins Dementia Care Needs Assessment. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to identify demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, functional, and quality-of-life correlates of unmet needs.

RESULTS

The mean number of unmet needs was 7.7±4.8 in PWD and 4.6±2.3 in caregivers, with almost all PWD (99%) and caregivers (97%) having one or more unmet needs. Unmet needs in PWD were significantly greater in those with higher cognitive function. Ninety percent of PWD had unmet safety needs, more than half had unmet needs for meaningful activities, and almost one-third had not received a prior evaluation or diagnosis. Higher unmet needs in PWD was significantly associated with nonwhite race, lower income, less impairment in activities of daily living, and more symptoms of depression. For caregivers, more than 85% had unmet needs for resource referrals and caregiver education. Higher unmet caregiver needs was significantly associated with nonwhite race, less education, and more symptoms of depression.

CONCLUSION

Many community-residing PWD and their caregivers have unmet dementia-related needs for care, services, and support. Providers should be aware that unmet needs may be higher in minority and low-income community residents, caregivers with lower education, and individuals with early-stage dementia. Identifying and treating symptoms of depression in PWD and caregivers may enable them to address their other unmet needs.

A tool to strengthen the older patient-companion partnership in primary care: results from a pilot study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the acceptability of a pre-consultation checklist for older adults who attend medical visits with an unpaid companion and to evaluate its effects on visit communication.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled pilot study.

SETTING

Academic geriatrics ambulatory clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-two individuals aged 65 and older and their unpaid companions.

INTERVENTION

A self-administered checklist was compared with usual care. The checklist was designed to elicit and align patient and companion perspectives regarding health concerns to discuss with the doctor and stimulate discussion about the companion's role in the visit.

MEASUREMENT

PRIMARY OUTCOME

ratio of patient-centered communication, coded from visit audiotapes.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

checklist acceptability; visit duration; patient-companion verbal activity; patient- and physician-reported perspectives of the visit.

RESULTS

All intervention patients and companions (n = 17) completed the checklist, and all participants (n = 32 dyads) completed the study. Patients and companions stated that the checklist was easy to complete (88%) and useful (91%), and they uniformly (100%) recommended it to other patients. Communication was significantly more patient-centered in intervention group visits (ratio of 1.22 vs 0.71; P = .03). Visit duration (35.0 and 30.6 minutes; P = .34) and percentage of total verbal activity contributed by patients and companions (58.2% and 56.3% of visit statements; P = .50) were comparable in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Physicians were more likely to indicate that intervention companions "helped them provide good care to the patient" (94% vs 60%; P = .02). Intervention patients were more likely to indicate that they "better understood their doctor's advice and explanations" because their companion was present (82% vs 47%; P = .03).

CONCLUSION

A checklist to elicit and align perspectives of older adults and their companions resulted in enhanced patient-centered medical visit communication.

Is sertraline treatment or depression remission in depressed Alzheimer patients associated with improved caregiver well being? Depression in Alzheimer's Disease Study 2

OBJECTIVE

We wanted to assess if sertraline treatment (versus placebo) or remission of depression at 12 weeks (versus nonremission) in Alzheimer patients is associated with improved caregiver well being.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of sertraline for the treatment of depression in individuals with Alzheimer disease in five clinical research sites across the United States. Participants were caregivers of patients enrolled in the Depression in Alzheimer's Disease Study 2 (N = 131). All caregivers received standardized psychosocial support throughout the study. Caregiver outcome measures included depression (Beck Depression Inventory), distress (Neuropsychiatric Inventory), burden (Zarit Burden Interview), and quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey).

RESULTS

Fifty-nine percent of caregivers were spouses, 63.4% were women, and 64.1% were white. Caregivers of patients in both treatment groups had significant reductions in distress scores over the 24-week study period, but there was not a greater benefit for caregivers of patients taking sertraline. However, caregivers of patients whose depression was in remission at week 12 had greater declines in distress scores over the 24 weeks than caregivers of patients whose depression did not remit by week 12.

CONCLUSION

Patient treatment with sertraline was not associated with significantly greater reductions in caregiver distress than placebo treatment. Distress but not level of depression or burden lessened for all caregivers regardless of remission status and even more so for those who cared for patients whose depression remitted. Results imply an interrelationship between caregiver distress and patient psychiatric outcomes.

Caregiver personality predicts rate of cognitive decline in a community sample of persons with Alzheimer's disease. The Cache County Dementia Progression Study

BACKGROUND

Environmental influences on the rate of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression have received little attention. Our objective was to test hypotheses concerning associations between caregiver personality traits and the rate of AD progression.

METHODS

Care receivers (CR) were 161 persons with AD from a population-based dementia progression study; 55 of their caregivers were spouses and 106 were adult children. Cognitive status of the CR was measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination every six months, over an average of 5.6 (range: 1-14) years. Linear mixed models tested rate of cognitive decline as a function of caregiver personality traits from the NEO Five-Factor Inventory.

RESULTS

Significantly faster cognitive decline was observed with higher caregiver Neuroticism overall; however, in stratified models, effects were significant for adult child but not spouse caregivers. Neuroticism facets of depression, anxiety, and vulnerability to stress were significantly associated with faster decline. Higher caregiver Extraversion was associated with slower decline in the CR when caregivers were adult children but not spouses.

CONCLUSIONS

For adult child caregivers, caregiver personality traits are associated with rate of cognitive decline in CRs with AD regardless of co-residency. Results suggest that dementia caregiver interventions promoting positive care management strategies and ways to react to caregiving challenges may eventually become an important complement to pharmacologic and other approaches aimed at slower rate of decline in dementia.

Pharmacologic treatment of anxiety disorders in Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVE

Neither best practices nor an evidence base for the pharmacologic treatment of anxiety in Parkinson disease (PD) has been established. This study investigated pharmacologic treatment of anxiety disorders in idiopathic PD and the associated clinical features.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Three community-based movement disorder neurology practices.

PARTICIPANTS

250 subjects with PD.

MEASUREMENTS

Anxiety disorder diagnoses were established by consensus using a panel of six psychiatrists with expertise in geriatric psychiatry and movement disorders. Current medications were provided by the treating neurologists at the time of interview.

RESULTS

Among subjects with anxiety disorders only, 53% were untreated with medications. When anxious subjects with comorbid depressive disorders were included, 70.8% were on medications effective for treatment of anxiety. Subjects with anxiety and comorbid depressive disorders were more likely to be treated for their psychiatric disturbances than subjects with anxiety disorders alone (odds ratio: 8.33), as were subjects with comorbid motor fluctuations (odds ratio: 3.65). There were no differences in the types of anti-anxiety medications used in regard to the presence of depression or motor fluctuations.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that over half of nondepressed PD patients with clinically significant anxiety are untreated with medication. A better understanding of the role of clinical features associated with anxiety in PD, such as depression and motor fluctuations, may improve the recognition and treatment of anxiety disorders in this population.

Hippocampal sclerosis dementia: An amnesic variant of frontotemporal degeneration

OBJECTIVE

To describe characteristics of hippocampal sclerosis dementia.

METHODS

Convenience sample of Hippocampal sclerosis dementia (HSD) recruited from the Johns Hopkins University Brain Resource Center. Twenty-four cases with post-mortem pathological diagnosis of hippocampal sclerosis dementia were reviewed for clinical characterization.

RESULTS

The cases showed atrophy and neuronal loss localized to the hippocampus, amygdala and entorrhinal cortex. The majority (79.2%) had amnesia at illness onset, and many (54.2%) showed abnormal conduct and psychiatric disorder. Nearly 42% presented with an amnesic state, and 37.5% presented with amnesia plus abnormal conduct and psychiatric disorder. All eventually developed a behavioral or psychiatric disorder. Disorientation, executive dysfunction, aphasia, agnosia and apraxia were uncommon at onset. Alzheimer disease (AD) was the initial clinical diagnosis in 89% and the final clinical diagnosis in 75%. Diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was uncommon (seen in 8%).

CONCLUSION

HSD shows pathological characteristics of FTD and clinical features that mimic AD and overlap with FTD. The findings, placed in the context of earlier work, support the proposition that HSD belongs to the FTD family, where it may be identified as an amnesic variant.

Predictors of dementia caregiver depressive symptoms in a population: the Cache County dementia progression study

OBJECTIVES

Previous research has consistently reported elevated rates of depressive symptoms in dementia caregivers, but mostly with convenience samples. This study examined rates and correlates of depression at the baseline visit of a population sample of dementia caregivers (N = 256).

METHOD

Using a modified version of Williams (Williams, I. C. [2005]. Emotional health of black and white dementia caregivers: A contextual examination. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60, P287-P295) ecological contextual model, we examined 5 contexts that have contributed to dementia caregiver depression. A series of linear regressions were performed to determine correlates of depression.

RESULTS

Rates of depressive symptoms were lower than those reported in most convenience studies. We found fewer depressive symptoms in caregivers with higher levels of education and larger social support networks, fewer health problems, greater likelihood of using problem-focused coping, and less likelihood of wishful thinking and with fewer behavioral disturbances in the persons with dementia.

DISCUSSION

These results suggest that depression may be less prevalent in populations of dementia caregivers than in clinic-based samples, but that the correlates of depression are similar for both population and convenience samples. Interventions targeting individuals with small support networks, emotion-focused coping styles, poorer health, low quality of life, and those caring for persons with higher numbers of behavioral problems need development and testing.

Predictors of progression to severe Alzheimer's disease in an incidence sample

BACKGROUND

Little is known about factors influencing time to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

Incident cases of AD in the cache county memory study were identified. Severe AD was defined as mini-mental state examination score of ≤10 or Clinical Dementia Rating Scale score of 3; cases with either mini-mental state examination score of ≥16 or clinical dementia rating <2 were not categorized as severe AD. Kaplan-Meier, log-rank tests, and Cox analyses were used to identify demographic, clinical, and genetic correlates of time to progression to severe AD.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight of 335 cases of incident AD developed severe dementia. In bivariate analyses, female gender, less than high school education, at least one clinically significant Neuropsychiatric Inventory domain at baseline, and the youngest and oldest ages exhibited shorter time to severe AD. In competing risk analysis, subjects with mild or at least one clinically significant neuropsychiatric inventory domain score, and subjects with worse health were more likely to progress to severe dementia or death.

CONCLUSIONS

Demographic and clinical variables predict progression to severe AD. Further study should examine whether these relationships are causal or correlational.

Serum ceramides increase the risk of Alzheimer disease: the Women's Health and Aging Study II

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have shown that high serum ceramides are associated with memory impairment and hippocampal volume loss, but have not examined dementia as an outcome. The aim of this study was to examine whether serum ceramides and sphingomyelins (SM) were associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD).

METHODS

Participants included 99 women without dementia aged 70-79, with baseline serum SM and ceramides, enrolled in a longitudinal population-based study and followed for up to 6 visits over 9 years. Baseline lipids, in tertiles, were examined in relation to all-cause dementia and AD using discrete time Cox proportional survival analysis. Lipids were analyzed using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven (27.3%) of the 99 women developed incident dementia. Of these, 18 (66.7%) were diagnosed with probable AD. Higher baseline serum ceramides, but not SM, were associated with an increased risk of AD; these relationships were stronger than with all-cause dementia. Compared to the lowest tertile, the middle and highest tertiles of ceramide d18:1-C16:0 were associated with a 10-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-85.1) and 7.6-fold increased risk of AD (95% CI 0.9-62.1), respectively. The highest tertiles of ceramide d18:1-C24:0 (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.1, 95% CI 1.1-23.6) and lactosylceramide (HR = 9.8, 95% CI 1.2-80.1) were also associated with risk of AD. Total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were not associated with dementia or AD.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this preliminary study suggest that particular species of serum ceramides are associated with incident AD and warrant continued examination in larger studies.

Citalopram for agitation in Alzheimer's disease: design and methods

BACKGROUND

Agitation is one of the most common neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and is associated with serious adverse consequences for patients and caregivers. Evidence-supported treatment options for agitation are limited. The citalopram for agitation in Alzheimer's disease (CitAD) study was designed to evaluate the potential of citalopram to ameliorate these symptoms.

METHODS

CitAD is a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial, with two parallel treatment groups assigned in a 1:1 ratio and randomization stratified by clinical center. The study included eight recruiting clinical centers, a chair's office, and a coordinating center located in university settings in the United States and Canada. A total of 200 individuals having probable AD with clinically significant agitation and without major depression were recruited for this study. Patients were randomized to receive citalopram (target dose of 30 mg/d) or matching placebo. Caregivers of patients in both treatment groups received a structured psychosocial therapy. Agitation was compared between treatment groups using the NeuroBehavioral Rating Scale and the AD Cooperative Study- Clinical Global Impression of Change, which are the primary outcomes. Functional performance, cognition, caregiver distress, and rates of adverse and serious adverse events were also measured.

CONCLUSION

The authors believe the design elements in CitAD are important features to be included in trials assessing the safety and efficacy of psychotropic medications for clinically significant agitation in AD.

Ethical issues raised in addressing the needs of people with serious mental disorders in complex emergencies

Recent manmade and natural disasters highlight weaknesses in the public health systems designed to protect populations from harm and minimize disruption of the social and built environments. Emergency planning and response efforts have, as a result, focused largely on ensuring populations' physical well-being during and after a disaster. Many public health authorities, including the World Health Organization, have recognized the importance of addressing both mental and physical health concerns in emergency plans. Individuals with mental disorders represent a notable proportion of the overall population, and anticipating their needs is critical to comprehensive emergency planning and response efforts. Because people with serious mental disorders historically have been stigmatized, and many individuals with mental disorders may be unable to care for themselves, ethical guidance may be of assistance to those engaged in emergency planning and response. This article considers several broad categories of ethical issues that arise during emergencies for people with serious mental disorders and offers recommendations for ways in which emergency planners and other stakeholders can begin to address these ethical challenges.

Race and cognitive decline among community-dwelling elders with mild cognitive impairment: findings from the Memory and Medical Care Study

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have reported conflicting findings on the relationship between race and cognitive decline in elders with dementia. Few studies have examined the role of race in cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We investigate the relationship between race and cognitive decline in participants with MCI in a community-based, longitudinal study of cognitively impaired elders.

METHOD

Based on a validated method utilizing a neuropsychiatric battery, 133 subjects [mean age: 78.7 years (SD = 6.5); female: 112 (76.7%); black: 59 (44.4%)] out of 512 participants in the Memory and Medical Care Study were diagnosed with MCI. The main outcome measure was the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) score over three years. Other baseline subject characteristics (demographics, health-related variables, behavioral, and psychiatric symptoms) were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, the three-year decline in mean TICS score was significantly higher among African Americans than non-African Americans [3.31 (SD: 7.5) versus 0.96 (SD: 3.0), t-value = 1.96, p-value = 0.05]. General estimating equation analyses revealed that African American race was associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline in all models.

CONCLUSION

The rate of cognitive decline in MCI appears to be faster in African Americans than non-African Americans in the community. Diagnosis of MCI among African American elders could lead to early interventions to prevent or delay cognitive decline in the future.

Sertraline for the treatment of depression in Alzheimer disease: genetic influences

OBJECTIVE

To assess the potential for genetic influences on sertraline treatment efficacy for depression of Alzheimer disease (dAD). Four functional genetic variants were studied: 2 serotonin receptors (HTR2A-T102C and HTR2C-Cys23Ser), the serotonin transporter (5HTT-LPR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF-Val66Met). Treatment response by genotype was measured by (1) the modified Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Clinical Global Impression of Change, (2) the Cornell scale for Depression in Dementia, and (3) remission of depression.

METHODS

We utilized data from the Depression in Alzheimer's Disease Study 2 (DIADS-2), a 24-week, randomized, multicenter trial showing no significant treatment effect of sertraline on dAD. Proportional odds logistic regression and mixed effects models were used to examine the above mentioned outcome measures.

RESULTS

No significant interactions were seen between any of the genetic polymorphisms and the selected outcomes above at 12 or 24 weeks.

DISCUSSION

Treatment outcomes in the DIADS-2 trial were not significantly influenced by genetic variation at the loci that were assessed. Future studies should continue to examine the interaction of depression-related genetic variants with antidepressant treatment in Alzheimer disease patients with depression.

Quality of life of community-residing persons with dementia based on self-rated and caregiver-rated measures

PURPOSE

To identify correlates of self-rated and caregiver-rated quality of life (QOL) in community-residing persons with dementia (PWD) for intervention development.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data of 254 PWD and their caregivers participating in a clinical trial were derived from in-home assessments. Self-rated QOL was measured with the Quality of Life-Alzheimer Disease (QOL-AD) scale, and caregiver-rated QOL was measured using the QOL-AD and Alzheimer Disease-Related Quality of Life (ADRQL) scales. Multivariate modeling identified correlates of the PWD' QOL.

RESULTS

Self-rated QOL was related significantly to participant race, unmet needs, depression, and total medications. Caregiver-rated QOL-AD scores were significantly associated with participant function, unmet needs, depression, and health problems and with caregiver burden and self-rated health. Significant correlates of ADRQL scores included neuropsychiatric symptom severity, functional and cognitive impairment, and caregiver burden and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Correlates of QOL in community-residing PWD depend on who rates the PWD's QOL and which measure is used. Addressing health problems, medication use, and dementia-related unmet needs, reducing functional dependency, and treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in PWD, while reducing caregiver burden and depression, may maximize QOL in those with dementia.

Medical Decisions Made by Surrogates for Persons with Advanced Dementia within Weeks or Months of Death

BACKGROUND

Surrogates make all medical decisions for persons with advanced dementia. This study describes the types of medical decisions that surrogates faced prior to the person's death and their perceived difficulty and satisfaction with those decisions.

METHODS

Seventy-six surrogates of nursing home residents meeting hospice criteria for dementia were followed longitudinally and interviewed following the death of the person with dementia.

RESULTS

The most common decisions made were related to transfer to hospital, diagnostic testing, and placement of a feeding tube. Surrogates perceived decisions to not treat to be more difficult than decisions to treat.

CONCLUSIONS

Surrogates frequently are faced with making medical decisions for persons with advanced dementia near the end of life. Clinicians can help surrogates by acknowledging the difficulty of making decisions to not treat.

Do treatment effects vary among differing baseline depression criteria in depression in Alzheimer's disease study ± 2 (DIADS-2)?

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the effect of sertraline in the depression in Alzheimer's disease study - 2 (DIADS-2) differed in subgroups of patients defined by baseline depression criteria.

METHODS

DIADS-2 was a randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sertraline (target dose of 100 mg/day) for the treatment of depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease. DIADS-2 enrolled 131 patients who met criteria for the depression of Alzheimer's disease (dAD). Analyses reported here examined if the effect of sertraline differed in various subgroups, including those meeting criteria for major depressive episode (MaD), minor depressive episode (MiD), and Alzheimer's-associated affective disorder (AAAD) at baseline.

RESULTS

At baseline, 52 of 131 participants (39.7%) met criteria for MaD, 54 (41.2%) for MiD, and 90 (68.7%) for AAAD. For the primary outcome of modified Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Clinical Global Impression of Change (mADCS-CGIC) scores at 12 weeks of follow-up, the odds of being at or better than a given mADCS-CGIC category did not significantly differ between the two treatment groups for those patients with MaD at baseline (OR(sertraline)  = 0.66 [95% CI: 0.24, 1.82], p = 0.42); tests for interactions between treatment group and baseline depression diagnostic subgroup were not significant for MaD versus MiD versus neither (χ(2)  = 1.05 (2df), p = 0.59) or AAAD versus no AAAD (χ(2)  = 0.06 (1df), p = 0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no evidence that sertraline treatment was more efficacious in those patients meeting baseline criteria for MaD compared to MiD or to neither.

Challenges for mental health services raised by disaster preparedness: mapping the ethical and therapeutic terrain

Identifying vulnerable groups and ensuring that their needs are met during disasters--whether naturally occurring or manmade--are vital aspects of preparedness planning. Developing preparedness strategies that are responsive to those at greatest risk is a moral mandate, justified by the principles of beneficence, justice, and respect for autonomy. Individuals with preexisting mental disorders and newly emergent psychological symptoms are particularly vulnerable to adverse outcomes during and after disasters. Without advance planning, these individuals might not benefit from necessary mental health services and treatments during and after disasters. In this commentary, we discuss ethical issues that arise in emergency preparedness planning for vulnerable individuals with psychological and psychiatric conditions and disorders.

Identification of community-residing individuals with dementia and their unmet needs for care

BACKGROUND

Innovative approaches to the widespread delivery of evidence-based dementia care are needed. The aims of this study were to determine whether a telephone screening method could efficiently identify individuals in the community in need of care for dementia and to develop a multidimensional needs assessment tool for identifying the type and frequency of unmet needs related to memory disorders in the home setting.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional evaluation of 292 community-residing individuals aged 70 and older in Maryland. Participants were given a brief cognitive telephone screen. A subsample (n=43) received a comprehensive in-home assessment for dementia and dementia-related needs. Cognitive, functional, behavioral, and clinical factors were assessed. The Johns Hopkins Dementia Care Needs Assessment (JHDCNA) was used to identify unmet needs related to dementia.

RESULTS

Telephone screening for the sample took 350 h, and 27% screened positive for dementia. Virtually all participants with dementia who received an in-home assessment had at least one unmet need, with the most frequent unmet needs being for a dementia workup, general medical care, environmental safety, assistance with ADL impairments, and access to meaningful activities. Caregivers, when present, also had a number of unmet needs, with the most common being caregiver education about dementia, knowledge of community resources, and caregiver mental health care.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective and efficient means for identifying community-residing individuals with dementia are needed so that dementia care interventions can be provided to address unmet care needs of patients and their caregivers.

Anxiety and self-perceived health status in Parkinson's disease

Both anxiety and depression are associated with lower self-perceived health status (HS) in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). Given the high co-morbidity with depression and other non-motor symptoms, it is unclear whether anxiety disorders, in general, versus specific anxiety subtypes have an independent effect on HS in PD. To examine this question, comprehensive assessments of motor and non-motor symptoms from 249 subjects with idiopathic PD followed in three community-based movement disorders neurology practices were analyzed. HS was measured using the 8-item PD Questionnaire (PDQ-8). Psychiatric diagnoses were established by consensus using a panel of six psychiatrists with expertise in geriatric psychiatry and movement disorders. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used, with the PDQ-8 score as the dependent variable, to identify independent predictors of HS among motor, psychiatric, and other non-motor variables. Among the anxiety disorders, only anxiety associated with motor fluctuations was an independent predictor of HS after accounting for co-morbid depression and other clinical features. In addition, depressive disorders were also an independent predictor of lower HS. Prevention or treatment of state-dependent anxiety may improve HS in persons with PD.

Familial aggregation of panic disturbances in Parkinson's disease

Panic disorder has an elevated prevalence in Parkinson's disease (PD). To explore the basis for this co-occurrence, the familial aggregation of panic disorder was examined in patients with PD. Probands and relatives of patients with PD and panic disorder (PD-PANIC; N=20, N=115) and control probands with PD and no active psychiatric illness (PD-NA; N=17, N=108) were interviewed by phone, using a structured interview to determine panic status. Lifetime prevalence of panic and "panic-like" disorders was higher in PD-PANIC than in PD-NA relatives. Panic and "panic-like" disorders are familial disorders in PD.

Estimating severity of illness and disability in Frontotemporal Dementia: Preliminary analysis of the Dementia Disability Rating (DDR)

BACKGROUND

Current measures of severity and disability do not stage or track the progression of disability in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) well. We investigated the reliability of the newly developed Dementia Disability Rating (DDR) in the measurement and staging of illness severity in FTD and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT).

MATERIAL/ METHODS

We studied 48 consecutive patients of the Johns Hopkins FTD and Young-Onset Dementias Clinic, with diagnoses of DAT, FTD, vascular dementia and "other" cognitive disorder (CDNOS). Cases were scored on the CDR and DDR by three trained raters, based on neuropsychiatric examinations performed at first visit and other assessments performed within the preceding year. Consensus ratings were assigned in conference.

RESULTS

Inter-rater correlations of DDR sum of ranks scores for DAT ranged from 0.88 to 0.91, for FTD 0.89-0.96 and for CDNOS 0.85-0.97. Similar correlations were observed of the CDR sum of rank scores for DAT and FTD. Correlations of DDR summary scores for DAT were 0.67-0.91 and for FTD 0.79-0.91, as compared to CDR data: 0.87-0.92 (p<0.0001) and 0.80-0.93 (p<0.0001) for DAT and FTD respectively. In DAT patients the correlation between CDR and DDR summary scores was higher than in FTD patients, whereas correlations based on sum of ranks scores were high in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary data indicate the DDR measures disability in DAT and FTD, with reliability comparable to the CDR. Convergent validity was demonstrated for the DDR.

Quality of life in nursing home residents with advanced dementia

OBJECTIVES

To examine quality of life (QOL) in nursing home (NH) residents with advanced dementia and identify correlates of QOL near the end of life.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional data derived from NH records, interviews with residents' surrogate decision-makers, QOL ratings by NH caregivers, and assessment of residents' cognitive function.

SETTING

Three NHs in Maryland.

PARTICIPANTS

A cohort of NH residents with dementia (n=119) who were receiving hospice or palliative care or met hospice criteria for dementia and their surrogates.

MEASUREMENTS

QOL based on the proxy-rated Alzheimer' Disease-Related Quality of Life (ADRQL) scale administered to NH staff and validated against a single-item surrogate-rated measure of QOL, the Severe Impairment Rating Scale, to measure cognitive function and dichotomous indicators of neuropsychiatric symptoms (behavior problems, mood disorders, psychosis, delusions).

RESULTS

Total ADRQL scores, ranging from 12.4 to 95.1 out of 100, were normally distributed and positively correlated (P<.001) with surrogate-rated QOL. Multiple regression analysis of ADRQL scores showed that residents with higher cognitive function (P<.001, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.97-1.65) and those receiving pain medication (P=.006, 95% CI=3.30-19.59) had higher QOL, whereas residents with behavior problems (P=.01, 95% CI=-11.60 to -1.30) had lower QOL.

CONCLUSION

The ADRQL is a valid indicator of QOL in NH residents with advanced dementia. QOL in this population may be improved near the end of life using appropriate assessment and treatment of pain and effective management of behavior problems.

Greater risk of dementia when spouse has dementia? The Cache County study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effects of caring for a spouse with dementia on the caregiver's risk for incident dementia.

DESIGN

Population-based study of incident dementia in spouses of persons with dementia.

SETTING

Rural county in northern Utah.

PARTICIPANTS

Two thousand four hundred forty-two subjects (1,221 married couples) aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS

Incident dementia was diagnosed in 255 subjects, with onset defined as age when subject met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised, criteria for dementia. Cox proportional hazards regression tested the effect of time-dependent exposure to dementia in one's spouse, adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

A subject whose spouse experienced incident dementia onset had a six times greater risk for incident dementia as subjects whose spouses were dementia free (hazard rate ratio (HRR)=6.0, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.2-16.2, P<.001). In sex-specific analyses, husbands had higher risks (HRR=11.9, 95% CI=1.7-85.5, P=.01) than wives (HRR=3.7, 95% CI=1.2-11.6, P=.03).

CONCLUSION

The chronic and often severe stress associated with dementia caregiving may exert substantial risk for the development of dementia in spouse caregivers. Additional (not mutually exclusive) explanations for findings are discussed.

Predictors of mortality in nursing home residents with advanced dementia

This analysis uses data from the Care of Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia (CareAD) study to investigate which factors increase the risk of death in patients who are in the advanced stages of dementia. The hypothesis of this analysis was that specific illnesses with known high mortality would be associated with increased risk of death in the population of nursing home residents with advanced dementia, after controlling for demographic variables and disease-stage variables. Baseline data on 123 end-stage dementia nursing home residents were analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards regression. Of the comorbidities studied, pneumonia was the only illness significantly associated with shortened survival. This information can help health care professionals assist surrogate decision makers in making medical decisions regarding the treatment of comorbid medical illness in persons with advanced dementia.

Anxiety symptoms among assisted living residents: implications of the "no difference" finding for participants with and without dementia

Anxiety is a distressing experience at any age but may be particularly disabling when coupled with dementia. Dementia-related anxiety is associated with a range of additional problems among community-dwelling older adults, but little is known about its occurrence in assisted living environments. The purpose of this article is to describe the prevalence of anxiety symptoms among older adults who participated in Phase I of the Maryland Assisted Living Study, a cross-sectional study of 198 participants who underwent comprehensive dementia evaluations. Participants with dementia diagnoses (n=134) were compared with those without dementia (n=64) using two measures of anxiety. Anxiety was common in both groups: 22% of each group were assessed to have one or more anxiety symptoms using proxyrated methods, and 45% had at least mild anxiety using direct observation and interview. Factors that contribute to variability in reports of dementia-related anxiety are reviewed.

Seeking assent and respecting dissent in dementia research

OBJECTIVES

Obtaining assent and respecting dissent are widely adopted safeguards when conducting dementia research involving individuals who lack consent capacity, but there is no consensus on how assent and dissent should be defined or what procedures should be used regarding them. Our objective was to provide recommendations on these issues based on the opinions of knowledgeable key informants.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional qualitative research.

SETTING

University research institutions.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty informants, including 1) nationally known experts on dementia and research ethics, 2) dementia researchers, and 3) dementia caregivers and advocates.

MEASUREMENTS

Semistructured individual and focus group interviews, audio recorded, and transcribed for content analysis.

RESULTS

Assent and dissent should be defined broadly and based on an assessment of how adults who lack consent capacity can express or indicate their preferences verbally, behaviorally, or emotionally. Assent requires the ability to indicate a meaningful choice and at least a minimal level of understanding. Assent should be required whenever an individual has the ability to assent, and dissent should be binding if it is unequivocal or sustained after an effort to relieve concerns and/or distress. Standards for seeking assent and respecting dissent should not be linked to the risks or potential benefits of a study. Lacking the ability to assent and/or dissent should not automatically preclude research participation.

CONCLUSIONS

Obtaining assent and respecting dissent from individuals who lack consent capacity for dementia research allows them to participate, to the extent possible, in the consent process. Assent and dissent are important independent ethical constructs.