ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In the absence of cure for age-related neurodegenerative diseases, non-drug interventions (NDIs) represent useful options. Quality of life (QOL) is a multidimensional concept progressively affected by cognitive decline. How single or multiple NDIs impact QOL is unknown. RESULTS: We found no significant effect of multiple over single NDI on QOL. Socio-demographic variables influenced patients' (age, gender, caregivers' occupational status, management of patients' financial affairs) and caregivers' (gender, occupational status, patients' severity of cognitive decline) QOL. When dyads interrupted interventions after 6 months, their QOL was lower and caregivers' anxiety, depression and physical symptoms were higher at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: While the type and number of interventions do not appear to be critical, the continuity of adapted interventions in the long-term might be important for maintaining QOL of patients and caregivers. METHODS: This is a multicenter (7 Swiss Memory Clinics), quasi-experimental, one-year follow-up study including 148 subjects (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia patients and their caregivers). Primary outcome was the effect of multiple vs single NDIs on QOL. Secondary outcome included NDIs effect on patients' cognitive impairment and functional autonomy, caregivers' burden, severity of patients' neuropsychiatric symptoms and dyads' anxiety and depression.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy , Dementia/therapy , Quality of Life , Aged , Female , Humans , Linear Models , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Psychotherapy , SwitzerlandABSTRACT
In the absence of curative pharmaceutical treatment for evolving cognitive impairment, non-drug interventions are key components in patients' and caregivers' care. These interventions, when combined and adapted to the needs of the patient and the caregiver, allow for maintaining functional autonomy, decreasing caregiver burden and, possibly, slowing down cognitive decline. An on-going study in Suisse Romande (INDID-MCI-QOL) assesses the effect of the number and type of interventions conducted over a year on the evolution of physical, psychological and cognitive health in this population.
Les interventions non médicamenteuses sont des outils clés dans la prise en charge des patients atteints de troubles cognitifs évolutifs et de leurs proches aidants, en l'absence de traitement médicamenteux curatif. Ces interventions, lorsqu'elles sont combinées et adaptées aux besoins du patient et du proche aidant, permettent un meilleur maintien de l'autonomie, une diminution du sentiment de fardeau et pourraient même aider à ralentir le déclin cognitif. Une étude en cours en Suisse romande (INDID-MCI-QOL) évalue l'effet à un an du nombre et du type d'interventions non médicamenteuses effectuées sur l'évolution de la santé physique, cognitive et psychologique de cette population.
