Open AccessConsequences of isolation in elderly with and without dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a literature review
Author(s) -
Ana Carolina Pereira Garcia,
Alice Campos Meneses,
Ana Karolinne Cruz Cavalcante,
Caroline Rodrigues de Morais,
Gabriel Dias Henz,
Gabriela Rodrigues Pessôa,
Liana Lisboa Fernandez
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
DOI - 10.5327/1516-3180.642
Subject(s) - social isolation , apathy , irritability , dementia , psychiatry , mood , anxiety , medicine , depression (economics) , isolation (microbiology) , cognitive decline , pandemic , psychology , clinical psychology , cognition , disease , covid-19 , pathology , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , microbiology and biotechnology , economics , macroeconomics
Background: Elderly patients with and without dementia are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 infection due to their disease status, age and comorbidities, needing to face measures of social restrictions. However, it is known that social isolation is a risk factor for decline of cognitive functions. Objectives: Gather information about consequences of isolation in elderly patients with and without dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Narrative literature review through active search for publications on the topic on the PubMed platform, resulting in 17 articles for evaluation. Results: Apathy has shown to be the most common neuropsychiatric symptom of social isolation in the elderly, followed by irritability, agitation, aggression and depression. In institutionalized patients with dementia, there was an increased burden of neuropsychiatric symptoms by 60%, the main symptoms being anxiety, depression, sleep disorder, behavior aberrant motor and changes in appetite. In addition, limitation of outdoor activity and absence of direct social contact required an increased dosage of antipsychotic drugs and mood stabilizers. In a sample of individuals with mild cognitive decline, had decreased physical activity, reduced adherence to Mediterranean diet, and more than 35% had weight gain. Conclusions: Isolation has mental, physical and social consequences for the elderly with and without dementia, enhancing their fragility and vulnerability. Hence, it is necessary a follow up by the health system and family members, as well as the development of strategies to minimize such losses.