P2‐336: Social isolation and quality of life in Alzheimer's dementia patients with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Background: Caring for someonewith dementia has been strongly linked to negative outcomes for caregivers such as burden or distress.However, little is known about whether Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can also be linked to negative outcomes for co-habiting familymembers.Moreover, risk factors of poorpsychologicalwell-beingarenotwell established for this group.Examination of family supporters before they assume caregiving responsibilities may assist in identification of those vulnerable to psychological distress. Methods: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of psychological distress over time in co-habiting relatives of elders with and without MCI. Data from a large, population-based longitudinal study of people aged 70 to 90without dementia at baselinewere collected at baseline and after two years as regards participants’ socio-demographics, cognition, function and behavior, and family members’ psychological distress as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). On the K10, scores of 20 out of 50 indicate significant psychological distress. Linear regression analysis with K10 change scores as dependent variable was performed.Results:Of 1037 participants recruited, 327 (32%) had co-habiting family members who provided information about them. At baseline MCI prevalence in this subsample was 33%. Dementia incidence in participants with MCI in the two years following baseline was 2.8%. Rates of family members’ psychological distress were low at baseline and at 2-year follow-up (4.6 and 6.4%, respectively). After controlling for baseline K10 scores, worsening psychological distress was associated with family members’ greater physical disability at 2-year follow-up (b 1⁄4 -.0461, P<.001) as well as worse functional (ADLs) and cognitive (language) performance of the older person at baseline (b 1⁄4 -.162, P1⁄4 .004 and b1⁄4 -.123, P1⁄4 .023, respectively). The overall model accounted for 43% of variance (adjusted R 2.429).Conclusions:Characteristics of older people and their family members or a change thereof may influence family member’s psychological well-being over time. Longitudinal analyses of factors that contribute most toworsening of psychological distress in caring family members will allow identification of risk factors and of family members prone to negative outcomes from early in their caregiving career and provide opportunity for early intervention.