[Psychoneuroimmunological predictors for burden in older caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease]. / Los predictores psiconeuroinmunológicos de la sobrecarga de cuidado en ancianos cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer.

INTRODUCTION: The responsibility of giving care to patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may result in health changes in the older caregiver. It is important to explore the factors which influence the presence of care burden and to create strategies to face this condition. In this context, the aims of present study were to investigate the relationships between psychoneuroimmunological parameters and determine the predictors to burden in older caregivers of patients with AD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 30 AD older caregivers participating in the «Cognitive and Functional Kinesiotherapy Program in Elderly with Alzheimer's disease«(PRO-CDA)¼, de Rio Claro, SP-Brazil, were submitted to an assessment protocol to evaluate the psychoneuroimmunological parameters. A descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regressions were performed. RESULTS: The mean age of caregivers was 71.3 (±9.3), and predominantly are first-grade relatives. The caregiver burden was associated with depressive symptoms (r=0.60, P<.001), caregiver distress (r=0.68, P<.001), and neuropsychiatric disorders of AD patients (r=0.53, P<.001). The multiple regression analysis confirmed depressive symptoms and neuropsychiatric disturbances as predictors of caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: Caregiver burden is associated with, and influenced by parameters related to the caregiver psychological suffering and to characteristics inherent to AD. Thus, it is important to find strategies and implement non-pharmacological programs to provide support to older caregivers, and to assist in the treatment of patients with AD, in order to improve the integral health of this population.

Los predictores psiconeuroinmunológicos de la sobrecarga de cuidado en ancianos cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer / Psychoneuroimmunological predictors for burden in older caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Introducción. La responsabilidad de cuidar de un paciente con enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) puede generar alteraciones en la salud del anciano cuidador. Es importante investigar los factores que influyen en la presencia de sobrecarga para crear estrategias de enfrentamiento. En este contexto, los objetivos del presente estudio fueron investigar las relaciones entre parámetros psiconeuroinmunológicos y determinar los predictores de la sobrecarga de cuidado en ancianos cuidadores de pacientes con EA. Material y métodos. Un total de 30 cuidadores de pacientes con EA, participantes del Programa de Cinesioterapia Funcional e Cognitiva em Idosos com Doença de Alzheimer (PRO-CDA), de Rio Claro (SP, Brasil) fueron evaluados para estimar los parámetros psiconeuroinmunológicos. Se utilizó el análisis estadístico descriptivo, correlación de Pearson y regresión lineal múltiple. Resultados. Los cuidadores presentaron un promedio de edad de 71,3 (± 9,3) años, y la gran mayoría eran parientes de primer grado. La sobrecarga de cuidado se relacionó con los síntomas depresivos (r = 0,60; p < 0,001), desgaste del cuidador (r = 0,68; p < 0,001) y perturbaciones neuropsiquiátricas del paciente con EA (r = 0,53; p < 0,001). El análisis de regresión apuntó los síntomas depresivos y perturbaciones neuropsiquiátricas como predictores de la sobrecarga de cuidado. Conclusión. La sobrecarga de cuidado es asociada e influida por parámetros relacionados con el sufrimiento psíquico del cuidador y características inherentes a la EA. Así, es importante buscar estrategias e implementar programas de carácter no farmacológico para ofrecer soporte a los ancianos cuidadores, para que puedan auxiliar en el tratamiento del paciente con EA, buscando mejorar la salud holística de esta población (AU)

Introduction. The responsibility of giving care to patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may result in health changes in the older caregiver. It is important to explore the factors which influence the presence of care burden and to create strategies to face this condition. In this context, the aims of present study were to investigate the relationships between psychoneuroimmunological parameters and determine the predictors to burden in older caregivers of patients with AD. Material and methods. A total of 30 AD older caregivers participating in the «Cognitive and Functional Kinesiotherapy Program in Elderly with Alzheimer's disease«(PRO-CDA)», de Rio Claro, SP-Brazil, were submitted to an assessment protocol to evaluate the psychoneuroimmunological parameters. A descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regressions were performed. Results. The mean age of caregivers was 71.3 (± 9.3), and predominantly are first-grade relatives. The caregiver burden was associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.60, P<.001), caregiver distress (r = 0.68, P<.001), and neuropsychiatric disorders of AD patients (r = 0.53, P<.001). The multiple regression analysis confirmed depressive symptoms and neuropsychiatric disturbances as predictors of caregiver burden. Conclusion. Caregiver burden is associated with, and influenced by parameters related to the caregiver psychological suffering and to characteristics inherent to AD. Thus, it is important to find strategies and implement non-pharmacological programs to provide support to older caregivers, and to assist in the treatment of patients with AD, in order to improve the integral health of this population (AU)