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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2011 Mar;26(2):110–114. doi: 10.1177/1533317510394649

Dependence and Caregiver Burden in Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Damien Gallagher 1, Aine Ni Mhaolain 2, Lisa Crosby 3, Deirdre Ryan 4, Loretto Lacey 5, Robert F Coen 6, Cathal Walsh 7, Davis Coakley 8, J Bernard Walsh 9, Conal Cunningham 10, Brian A Lawlor 11
PMCID: PMC10845468  PMID: 21233138

Abstract

The dependence scale has been designed to be sensitive to the overall care needs of the patient and is considered distinct from standard measures of functional ability in this regard. Little is known regarding the relationship between patient dependence and caregiver burden. We recruited 100 patients with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers through a memory clinic. Patient function, dependence, hours of care, cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and caregiver burden were assessed. Dependence was significantly correlated with caregiver burden. Functional decline and dependence were most predictive of caregiver burden in patients with mild impairment while behavioral symptoms were most predictive in patients with moderate to severe disease. The dependence scale demonstrated good utility as a predictor of caregiver burden. Interventions to reduce caregiver burden should address patient dependence, functional decline, and behavioral symptoms while successful management of the latter becomes more critical with disease progression.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dependence, caregiver burden

Full Text

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Contributor Information

Damien Gallagher, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, gallagherdamien@hotmail.com .

Aine Ni Mhaolain, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Lisa Crosby, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Deirdre Ryan, Mercers Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Loretto Lacey, Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, Lower Grand Canal St, Dublin, Ireland.

Robert F. Coen, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Cathal Walsh, Department of Statistics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Davis Coakley, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

J. Bernard Walsh, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Conal Cunningham, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Brian A. Lawlor, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

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