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P3‐268: Decision making concerning brain donation in Alzheimer's research among research participants and their families
Author(s) -
Sewell Margaret,
Neugroschl Judith,
Li Clara,
Sano Mary
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.06.1641
Subject(s) - feeling , donation , ceremony , psychology , conversation , social psychology , medicine , law , communication , philosophy , theology , political science
public health threats. As such, several Alzheimer’s plans throughout the world call for increased ability to track and monitor trends related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) provides an opportunity to learn about self-reported increased confusion or memory loss (ICML) at the state level. The BRFSS consists of annual state-based telephone surveys of randomly selected noninstitutionalized US adults aged 18 years or older regarding health practices and risk behaviors linked to chronic diseases, injuries, and preventable infectious diseases. Methods:Data from 21 states in the US that added the Cognitive Impairment module to their BRFSS in 2012 were used to assess self-reported ICML and its impact on functional status and daily activities. Further analyses were conducted to explore associations between ICML and selected health behaviors and conditions. The analyses included adult respondents aged 45 years or older (n1⁄495,889). Results:12.5% of respondents reported increased confusion or memory loss in the past 12 months. Of these adults, 40.4% reported that ICML sometimes, usually or always interfered with work or social activities or caused them to give up household chores (defined as “functional difficulties”), and only 23% reported discussing their symptoms with a health care provider. Over half (50.1%) of adults with ICML reported fair or poor health, 80.3% had at least one other chronic condition. Conclusions: Adults aged 45 or older reported increased confusion or memory loss that was associated with decreased functioning, decreased health, and potential gaps in getting care. Understanding a population perspective of self-reported ICML is critical for anticipating needs and developing plans and strategies to provide accurate information and target needed services.