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01-04-2022 | Dementia | Original Article

The patient–caregiver dyad: the impact of cognitive and functional impairment

Authors: Valeria Torlaschi, Marina Maffoni, Giulia Maltauro, Antonia Pierobon, Martina Vigorè, Roberto Maestri, Pierluigi Chimento, Michelangelo Buonocore, Gianluigi Mancardi, Cira Fundarò

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 4/2022

Abstract

This study evaluates the cognitive impairment impact on the caregiver’s burden and quality of life.

Patient–caregiver dyads admitted to dementia Diagnostic-Therapeutic Care Pathway underwent a psychological and neuropsychological assessment. Overall, 30 caregivers (age 58.97 ± 14.68) of patients with dementia and 28 caregivers (age 58.57 ± 12.22) of patients with MCI were recruited. Caregiver’s burden is positively correlated to the number (r = .37, p = .003) and severity (r = .37, p = .003) of neuropsychiatric patient’s symptoms and with the caregiver’s distress (r = .36, p = .004). It is also negatively related to good quality of life perception (r = − .52, p = < .0001), to lower cognitive impairment (r = − .26, p = .05), to higher patient’s residual functional abilities in daily living (r = − .32, p = .010) and to positive perception of the physician’s communication (r = − .28, p = .026). Moreover, the caregiver’s burden is significantly predicted by the patient’s low level of instrumental activity of daily living (β = − .74; p = .043) and by the number of neuropsychiatric symptoms (β = .74; p = .029). Thus, this study suggests that the autonomy and neuropsychiatric symptoms may determine the caregiver’s burden.

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Title: The patient–caregiver dyad: the impact of cognitive and functional impairment
Authors: Valeria Torlaschi
Marina Maffoni
Giulia Maltauro
Antonia Pierobon
Martina Vigorè
Roberto Maestri
Pierluigi Chimento
Michelangelo Buonocore
Gianluigi Mancardi
Cira Fundarò
Publication date: 01-04-2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Dementia
Dementia
Mild Neurocognitive Disorder
Published in: Neurological Sciences / Issue 4/2022
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05712-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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The patient–caregiver dyad: the impact of cognitive and functional impairment

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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

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