@article {7571, title = {Neuropsychiatric symptoms and the risk of institutionalization and death: the aging, demographics, and memory study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {59}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Mar}, pages = {473-81}, publisher = {59}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms and risk of institutionalization and death.

DESIGN: Analysis of longitudinal data.

SETTING: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS).

PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred thirty-seven adults aged 71 and older with cognitive impairment drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

MEASUREMENTS: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, agitation, depression, apathy, elation, anxiety, disinhibition, irritation, and aberrant motor behaviors) and caregiver distress were identified using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. A consensus panel in the ADAMS assigned cognitive category. Date of nursing home placement and information on death, functional limitations, medical comorbidity, and sociodemographic characteristics were obtained from the HRS and ADAMS.

RESULTS: Overall, the presence of one or more neuropsychiatric symptoms was not associated with a significantly higher risk for institutionalization or death during the 5-year study period, although when assessing each symptom individually, depression, delusions, and agitation were each associated with a significantly higher risk of institutionalization (hazard rate (HR)=3.06, 95\% confidence interval (CI)=1.09-8.59 for depression; HR=5.74, 95\% CI=1.94-16.96 for clinically significant delusions; HR=4.70, 95\% CI=1.07-20.70 for clinically significant agitation). Caregiver distress mediated the association between delusions and agitation and institutionalization. Depression and hallucinations were associated with significantly higher mortality (HR=1.56, 95\% CI=1.08-2.26 for depression; HR=2.59, 95\% CI=1.09-6.16 for clinically significant hallucinations).

CONCLUSION: Some, but not all, neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with a higher risk of institutionalization and death in people with cognitive impairment, and caregiver distress also influences institutionalization. Interventions that better target and treat depression, delusions, agitation, and hallucinations, as well as caregiver distress, may help delay or prevent these negative clinical outcomes.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Behavioral Symptoms, Caregivers, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Institutionalization, Male, Neuropsychological tests, Proportional Hazards Models}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03314.x}, author = {Okura, Toru and Brenda L Plassman and David C Steffens and David J Llewellyn and Guy G Potter and Kenneth M. Langa} } @article {7441, title = {Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms and their association with functional limitations in older adults in the United States: the aging, demographics, and memory study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {58}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Feb}, pages = {330-7}, publisher = {58}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms and examine their association with functional limitations.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS).

PARTICIPANTS: A sample of adults aged 71 and older (N=856) drawn from Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults aged 51 and older.

MEASUREMENTS: The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, agitation, depression, apathy, elation, anxiety, disinhibition, irritation, and aberrant motor behaviors) was identified using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. A consensus panel in the ADAMS assigned a cognitive category (normal cognition; cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND); mild, moderate, or severe dementia). Functional limitations, chronic medical conditions, and sociodemographic information were obtained from the HRS and ADAMS.

RESULTS: Forty-three percent of individuals with CIND and 58\% of those with dementia exhibited at least one neuropsychiatric symptom. Depression was the most common individual symptom in those with normal cognition (12\%), CIND (30\%), and mild dementia (25\%), whereas apathy (42\%) and agitation (41\%) were most common in those with severe dementia. Individuals with three or more symptoms and one or more clinically significant symptoms had significantly higher odds of having functional limitations. Those with clinically significant depression had higher odds of activity of daily living limitations, and those with clinically significant depression, anxiety, or aberrant motor behaviors had significantly higher odds of instrumental activity of daily living limitations.

CONCLUSION: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are highly prevalent in older adults with CIND and dementia. Of those with cognitive impairment, a greater number of total neuropsychiatric symptoms and some specific individual symptoms are strongly associated with functional limitations.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Behavioral Symptoms, Cognition Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders, Prevalence, United States}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02680.x}, author = {Okura, Toru and Brenda L Plassman and David C Steffens and David J Llewellyn and Guy G Potter and Kenneth M. Langa} }