Life events and cognition in dementia

Abstract

Stresses such as relocation and life events can lead to deterioration in dementia. However it is not known how the severity of dementia influences the occurrence or impact of such stress. This study investigated the relationship between severity of dementia, life events in the preceding six months, and hospital admission. Seventy elderly patients with senile dementia admitted to a geriatric psychiatry unit were compared with 50 dementia sufferers in the community. In general, mild dementia sufferers tended to have a higher frequency of severe threat independent life events. Life events appeared to increase the relative risk of admission for people with less severe dementia, but only when the relatives' accounts of cognitive impairment were used (CAPE & ADS) rather than GMSS rated cognitive impairment. Logistic regression suggested that sensitivity to the effects of threatening life events may be inversely related to the severity of cognitive deficit, but only for the CAPE rating. Clinician's should be aware that dementia sufferers may be particularly sensitive to the effects of psychosocial stress.