Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease During SARS-COV-2 Pandemic in Peru

Nilton Custodio*, Sheila Castro-Suárez, Rosa Montesinos, Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas, Rossana Cruz del Castillo, Eder Herrera-Perez

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

To evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their association with cognition and functionality during lockdown of the COVID-19’s first wave. We included 91 patients and caregivers of people with AD from a memory clinic. The RUDAS, M@T, and CDR were administered to patients and NPI/ADCS-ADL to caregivers. Baseline and lockdown measurements scales were analyzed to compare the frequencies at baseline versus lockdown and conditional Odds Ratio (ORc) was calculated for the neuropsychiatric symptoms. During the pandemic, significant increase in the number of cases was observed in depression (23%), agitation (36.8%), aberrant motor activity (12%), sleep disorders (26.3%), and appetite change (12.1%). In worsening of pre-existing symptoms, the most frequent were delusions (75%), followed by sleep disorders (71.7%). Lockdown induces a rapid increase of neuropsychiatric symptoms affecting cognitive symptoms and functionality of Peruvian patients with AD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)153331752110390
JournalAmerican Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias
Volume36
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • COVID-19
  • caregiver
  • dementia
  • quarantine

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