BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify key aspects of the impact of cognitive impairment on patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild probable Alzheimer disease (AD) and their informants, and identify overlap and differences between the groups. METHODS: Structured focus group discussions were conducted with MCI patients, AD patients, MCI informants, and AD informants. Participants were recruited from memory clinics in the U.K. and the U.S.A. A total of 20 AD and 20 MCI patients and 16 AD and 11 MCI informants participated. Sessions were content reviewed to identify key impacts of cognitive impairment; results were compared across diagnostic groups and for patients and informants. RESULTS: Seven key themes emerged: uncertainty of diagnosis, skill loss, change in social and family roles, embarrassment and shame, emotionality, insight, and burden. Patients were able to discuss the impact of cognitive impairment on their lives and reported frustration with recognized memory problems, diminished self-confidence, fear of embarrassment, concerns about changing family roles due to cognitive impairment, and anxiety. Informants reported more symptoms and more impairment than did patients and indicated increased dependence on others among patients. CONCLUSION: MCI and mild AD exert substantial burden on patients' lives and the lives of those close to them.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify key aspects of the impact of cognitive impairment on patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild probable Alzheimer disease (AD) and their informants, and identify overlap and differences between the groups. METHODS: Structured focus group discussions were conducted with MCI patients, ADpatients, MCI informants, and AD informants. Participants were recruited from memory clinics in the U.K. and the U.S.A. A total of 20 AD and 20 MCI patients and 16 AD and 11 MCI informants participated. Sessions were content reviewed to identify key impacts of cognitive impairment; results were compared across diagnostic groups and for patients and informants. RESULTS: Seven key themes emerged: uncertainty of diagnosis, skill loss, change in social and family roles, embarrassment and shame, emotionality, insight, and burden. Patients were able to discuss the impact of cognitive impairment on their lives and reported frustration with recognized memory problems, diminished self-confidence, fear of embarrassment, concerns about changing family roles due to cognitive impairment, and anxiety. Informants reported more symptoms and more impairment than did patients and indicated increased dependence on others among patients. CONCLUSION: MCI and mild AD exert substantial burden on patients' lives and the lives of those close to them.
Authors: J Wesson Ashford; Soo Borson; Ruth O'Hara; Paul Dash; Lori Frank; Philippe Robert; William R Shankle; Mary C Tierney; Henry Brodaty; Frederick A Schmitt; Helena C Kraemer; Herman Buschke; Howard Fillit Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: Ariel G Gildengers; Meryl A Butters; Steven M Albert; Stewart J Anderson; Mary Amanda Dew; Kirk Erickson; Linda Garand; Jordan F Karp; Michael H Lockovich; Jennifer Morse; Charles F Reynolds Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2015-11-18 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Piotr Lewczuk; Peter Riederer; Sid E O'Bryant; Marcel M Verbeek; Bruno Dubois; Pieter Jelle Visser; Kurt A Jellinger; Sebastiaan Engelborghs; Alfredo Ramirez; Lucilla Parnetti; Clifford R Jack; Charlotte E Teunissen; Harald Hampel; Alberto Lleó; Frank Jessen; Lidia Glodzik; Mony J de Leon; Anne M Fagan; José Luis Molinuevo; Willemijn J Jansen; Bengt Winblad; Leslie M Shaw; Ulf Andreasson; Markus Otto; Brit Mollenhauer; Jens Wiltfang; Martin R Turner; Inga Zerr; Ron Handels; Alexander G Thompson; Gunilla Johansson; Natalia Ermann; John Q Trojanowski; Ilker Karaca; Holger Wagner; Patrick Oeckl; Linda van Waalwijk van Doorn; Maria Bjerke; Dimitrios Kapogiannis; H Bea Kuiperij; Lucia Farotti; Yi Li; Brian A Gordon; Stéphane Epelbaum; Stephanie J B Vos; Catharina J M Klijn; William E Van Nostrand; Carolina Minguillon; Matthias Schmitz; Carla Gallo; Andrea Lopez Mato; Florence Thibaut; Simone Lista; Daniel Alcolea; Henrik Zetterberg; Kaj Blennow; Johannes Kornhuber Journal: World J Biol Psychiatry Date: 2017-10-27 Impact factor: 4.132
Authors: Frances Bunn; Claire Goodman; Katie Sworn; Greta Rait; Carol Brayne; Louise Robinson; Elaine McNeilly; Steve Iliffe Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2012-10-30 Impact factor: 11.069