Functionality on mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease: a cros-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the functionality of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) living in a community, in the city of Guarapuava PR, South of Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with patients with AD living in the community. Participants were classified according to Clinical Dementia Rating as CDR 1 (mild AD), CDR 2 (moderate AD) and CDR 3 (severe AD). The mental state was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination; the basic activities of daily living (ADLs) was determined by the Barthel Index and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) via by Lowton and Brody Index. Results: 49 elderly patients with AD diagnosis were evaluated, 14 (24.1%) of which were classified as CDR 1, 21 (36.2%) as CDR 2, and 23 (39.7%) as CDR 3. There was a significant difference between the levels of dependence for the performance of the basic ADLs and IADLs among all phases of AD (p <0.001). The dependence was higher in both CDR 2 and CDR 3. Conclusion: Functional dependence for basic activities of daily living becomes more frequent in the most advanced stages of AD, whereas dependence for IADLs is onset since early stages of AD, even more noticeable than dependence for basic ADLs, what suggests a progressive loss of functionality.