Premium
P2‐177: Sensory Loss in Older Adults at Risk of Cognitive Impairment Predicts Neuropsychiatric Symptom–Related Distress among their Immediate Family Members
Author(s) -
Kiely Kim M.,
Mortby Moyra E.,
Anstey Kaarin J.
Publication year - 2016
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.2016.06.1344
Subject(s) - neurocognitive , distress , dementia , spouse , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychology , cognition , medicine , disease , sociology , anthropology , pathology
Background:Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) have been associated with cognitive decline in persons with MCI or normal cognition. Recently, Mild Behavioural Impairment (MBI) has been proposed as a syndrome by an Alzheimer’s Association consensus group , which defines later-life acquired NPS as possible harbingers of neurodegeneration. These NPS are described in the domains of apathy, mood, impulse control, social appropriateness, and psychosis. However, there are few data on the prevalence of NPS and the affected domains in symptomatic patients with MCI or subjective cognitive decline. Methods:We report the prevalence and characteristics of NPS in a memory clinic population, grouped by MBI domains. We analyzed neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaires (NPI-Q) from 282 consecutive patients with subjective cognitive decline or MCI, recruited from 1 January 2010 to 30 September 2015. Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (15 item) was used to determine caregiver burden (n1⁄4245, 87%). Descriptive statistics were performed to identify frequency of NPS (present or absent) by domain, with Chi square tests performed when appropriate. Results: Mean age was 60.7 with 13.8 years of education. The prevalence of any NPS was 81.6% (n1⁄4230). For MBI domains frequencies of NPS were: 1) mood 77.8%; 2) impulse control 64.4%; 3) apathy 51.7%; 4) social appropriateness 27.8%; and 5) psychosis 8.7%. Any NPS were reported in 76.5% of SCD and 83.5% of MCI participants. There was no gender or age difference in NPS prevalence (p1⁄4.63; p1⁄4.56). Mean MoCA (23.5) and MMSE (27.8) scores in participants with NPS were not significantly different than participants without NPS (p1⁄4.25; p1⁄4.18). However, mean caregiver burden scores were significantly greater in MBI (19.1 vs. 5.4; p<.001). Conclusions:NPS are very common in pre-dementia clinical states, with similar frequency in subjective cognitive decline and MCI. NPS were clinically relevant because they were associated with greater caregiver burden. These data suggest that MBI may be a common and clinically relevant syndrome. Because the NPI-Q was designed for use in a dementia population, new research is needed to develop MBI-specific questionnaires that may be more appropriate for use in younger and non-demented persons.