Irina Fonareva1, Barry S Oken2. 1. Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. 2. Departments of Neurology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic stress negatively affects health and well-being. A growing population of informal dementia caregivers experience chronic stress associated with extraordinary demands of caring for a relative with dementia. This review summarizes physiological and functional changes due to chronic dementia caregiver stress. METHODS: A literature search for papers assessing effects of dementia caregiving was conducted focusing on publications evaluating differences between caregivers and non-caregivers in objective measures of health and cognition. RESULTS: The review identified 37 studies describing data from 4,145 participants including 749 dementia caregivers and 3,396 non-caregiver peers. Objective outcome measures affected in dementia caregivers included markers of dyscoagulation, inflammation, and cell aging as well as measures of immune function, sleep, and cognition. Though diverse in designs, samples, and study quality, the majority of the studies indicated increased vulnerability of dementia caregivers to detrimental changes in health and cognition. Demographic and personality characteristics moderating or mediating effects of chronic stress in caregivers were also reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: There is accumulating evidence that chronic dementia caregiver stress increases their vulnerability to disease and diminishes their ability to provide optimal care. Clinicians and society need to appreciate the extent of deleterious effects of chronic stress on dementia caregiver health.
BACKGROUND: Chronic stress negatively affects health and well-being. A growing population of informal dementia caregivers experience chronic stress associated with extraordinary demands of caring for a relative with dementia. This review summarizes physiological and functional changes due to chronic dementia caregiver stress. METHODS: A literature search for papers assessing effects of dementia caregiving was conducted focusing on publications evaluating differences between caregivers and non-caregivers in objective measures of health and cognition. RESULTS: The review identified 37 studies describing data from 4,145 participants including 749 dementia caregivers and 3,396 non-caregiver peers. Objective outcome measures affected in dementia caregivers included markers of dyscoagulation, inflammation, and cell aging as well as measures of immune function, sleep, and cognition. Though diverse in designs, samples, and study quality, the majority of the studies indicated increased vulnerability of dementia caregivers to detrimental changes in health and cognition. Demographic and personality characteristics moderating or mediating effects of chronic stress in caregivers were also reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: There is accumulating evidence that chronic dementia caregiver stress increases their vulnerability to disease and diminishes their ability to provide optimal care. Clinicians and society need to appreciate the extent of deleterious effects of chronic stress on dementia caregiver health.
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; Alexandrea L Harmell; Matthew Allison; Igor Grant Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2011-01 Impact factor: 5.411
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: Psychosom Med Date: 2012-01-27 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Susan K Roepke; Matthew Allison; Roland Von Känel; Brent T Mausbach; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Alexandrea L Harmell; Thomas L Patterson; Joel E Dimsdale; Paul J Mills; Michael G Ziegler; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Igor Grant Journal: Stress Date: 2011-07-26 Impact factor: 3.493
Authors: Susan K Roepke; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Roland von Känel; Matthew Allison; Michael G Ziegler; Joel E Dimsdale; Paul J Mills; Thomas L Patterson; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Susan Calleran; Alexandrea L Harmell; Igor Grant Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2011-01-07 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser; Jean-Philippe Gouin; Nan-Ping Weng; William B Malarkey; David Q Beversdorf; Ronald Glaser Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2010-12-10 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Irina Fonareva; Alexandra M Amen; Daniel P Zajdel; Roger M Ellingson; Barry S Oken Journal: J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 2.680
Authors: Lauren T Ptomey; Eric D Vidoni; Esteban Montenegro-Montenegro; Michael A Thompson; Joseph R Sherman; Anna M Gorczyca; Jerry L Greene; Richard A Washburn; Joseph E Donnelly Journal: J Aging Phys Act Date: 2019-09-01 Impact factor: 1.961
Authors: Geoffrey Tremont; Jennifer D Davis; Brian R Ott; Rachel Galioto; Cara Crook; George D Papandonatos; Richard H Fortinsky; Pedro Gozalo; Duane S Bishop Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2016-12-23 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Mariya A Kovaleva; Elizabeth Bilsborough; Patricia C Griffiths; Joe Nocera; Melinda Higgins; Fayron Epps; Katie Kilgore; Allison Lindauer; Darby Morhardt; Raj C Shah; Kenneth Hepburn Journal: Res Nurs Health Date: 2018-02-05 Impact factor: 2.228
Authors: Elissa S Epel; Alexandra D Crosswell; Stefanie E Mayer; Aric A Prather; George M Slavich; Eli Puterman; Wendy Berry Mendes Journal: Front Neuroendocrinol Date: 2018-03-15 Impact factor: 8.606