OBJECTIVE: We examined the impact of Alzheimer caregiver transitions (i.e., placement and bereavement) on psychological outcomes and on plasma D-dimer levels, an end product of the coagulation cascade associated with increased cardiovascular risk. METHODS: This was a prospective study in which 126 spousal caregivers of Alzheimer's patients were assessed each year for 5 years. We used random regression models to evaluate discontinuous change in our outcomes over time, with emphasis on the impact of caregiver transitions on psychological and physical well-being. RESULTS: Caregivers experienced immediate improvement in overload and mastery following transitions, and these improvements were maintained over time. There was also a significant drop in depressive symptoms immediately following placement of spouses. D-dimer rose significantly over time but began to significantly decline at 6-months posttransitions. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver transitions appear to produce immediate and long-term "normalization" of psychological health in caregivers. This normalization also appears related to "downstream" reductions in D-dimer.
OBJECTIVE: We examined the impact of Alzheimer caregiver transitions (i.e., placement and bereavement) on psychological outcomes and on plasma D-dimer levels, an end product of the coagulation cascade associated with increased cardiovascular risk. METHODS: This was a prospective study in which 126 spousal caregivers of Alzheimer'spatients were assessed each year for 5 years. We used random regression models to evaluate discontinuous change in our outcomes over time, with emphasis on the impact of caregiver transitions on psychological and physical well-being. RESULTS: Caregivers experienced immediate improvement in overload and mastery following transitions, and these improvements were maintained over time. There was also a significant drop in depressive symptoms immediately following placement of spouses. D-dimer rose significantly over time but began to significantly decline at 6-months posttransitions. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver transitions appear to produce immediate and long-term "normalization" of psychological health in caregivers. This normalization also appears related to "downstream" reductions in D-dimer.
Authors: Roland von Känel; Paul J Mills; Brent T Mausbach; Joel E Dimsdale; Thomas L Patterson; Michael G Ziegler; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Matthew Allison; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Igor Grant Journal: Gerontology Date: 2011-11-29 Impact factor: 5.140
Authors: Roland von Känel; Brent T Mausbach; Joel E Dimsdale; Paul J Mills; Thomas L Patterson; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Michael G Ziegler; Susan K Roepke; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Matthew Allison; Igor Grant Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2011-09-21 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Roland von Känel; Brent T Mausbach; Joel E Dimsdale; Paul J Mills; Thomas L Patterson; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Michael G Ziegler; Susan K Roepke; Matthew Allison; Igor Grant Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2010-05-19 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Scott A Irwin; Brent T Mausbach; Derek Koo; Nathan Fairman; Susan K Roepke-Buehler; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Joel E Dimsdale; Thomas L Patterson; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Paul J Mills; Roland von Känel; Michael G Ziegler; Igor Grant Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2013-10-05 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Brent T Mausbach; Kirstin Aschbacher; Paul J Mills; Susan K Roepke; Roland von Känel; Thomas L Patterson; Joel E Dimsdale; Michael G Ziegler; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Igor Grant Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2008-08-16 Impact factor: 3.222