Burden in carers of dementia patients: higher levels in carers of younger sufferers.

A comparative study of the clinical characteristics of early onset dementia (onset before the age of 65) and late onset dementia sufferers was conducted. The level of carer burden among carers of both groups was measured. Carer burden was significantly higher among carers of younger sufferers, although there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of clinical features such as severity of dementia or behavioural disturbance. Higher carer burden showed an inverse relationship to patient's age. Our results have implications in terms of encouraging community care for dementia sufferers, and suggest that further exploration to identify factors associated with burden in younger carers is required. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.