Longitudinal factors associated with living well in people with mild‐to‐moderate dementia: initial findings from the IDEAL and IDEAL‐2 cohorts over 6 years

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding the factors associated with quality of life can help us become more effective in optimizing the potential for people with mild‐to‐moderate dementia to ‘live well’ with the condition. Identifying individuals at risk of declining could help to target support more appropriately.MethodsWe used longitudinal data from 1749 individuals with mild‐to‐moderate dementia participating in the IDEAL and IDEAL‐2 studies. Assessments took place on entry and followed up at 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 months. Using mixed effects modelling we examined change in quality of life since time of diagnosis, and looked at time‐invariant and time‐varying measures and their association with decline in quality of life.ResultsThere was no change in mean quality of life in the years following diagnosis. However, we were able to identify some individuals whose quality of life declined by varying amounts and found that a larger decline was associated with being male and older, and that those with a decline in quality of life had worsening cognitive function and increasing depression in the years following diagnosis.ConclusionsQuality of life does not decline for the majority of people following a diagnosis of dementia. However, for those that did decline we were able to identify some factors associated with this decline. This model allows us to investigate further factors that may influence living well in people with dementia, helping to identify potential factors for intervention.