Delfino Lais Lopes, Komatsu Ricardo Shoiti, Komatsu Caroline, Neri Anita Liberalesso, Cachioni Meire
School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Geriatrics and Gerontology Discipline, Faculdade de Medicina de Marília - Marília, SP, Brazil.
Dement Neuropsychol. 2021 Jan-Mar;15(1):128-135. doi: 10.1590/1980-57642021dn15-010014.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and degenerative condition affecting several cognitive areas, with a decline in functional abilities and behavioral changes.
To investigate the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with AD and caregiver burden and depression.
A total of 134 family caregivers of older people diagnosed with AD answered a questionnaire with sociodemographic data and questions concerning the care context, neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms.
Results revealed that 95% of older adults had at least one neuropsychiatric symptom, with the most common being: apathy, anxiety, and depression. Among the 12 neuropsychiatric symptoms investigated, 10 were significantly associated with caregiver burden, while 8 showed significant correlations with depressive symptoms.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms were related to caregiver burden and depressive symptoms. In addition to the older adult with AD, the caregiver should receive care and guidance from the health team to continue performing quality work.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种进行性退行性疾病，影响多个认知领域，伴有功能能力下降和行为改变。
探讨患有AD的老年人的神经精神症状与照顾者负担及抑郁之间的关联。
134名被诊断患有AD的老年人的家庭照顾者回答了一份包含社会人口学数据以及关于照顾情况、神经精神症状、照顾者负担和抑郁症状问题的问卷。
结果显示，95%的老年人至少有一种神经精神症状，最常见的是：冷漠、焦虑和抑郁。在所调查的12种神经精神症状中，10种与照顾者负担显著相关，而8种与抑郁症状显著相关。
神经精神症状与照顾者负担和抑郁症状相关。除了患有AD的老年人外，照顾者也应接受健康团队的护理和指导，以便继续提供高质量的照顾。
