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1. Being the Family Caregiver of a Patient With Dementia During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown

Author

Zucca, M., Isella, V., Lorenzo, R. D., Marra, Camillo, Cagnin, A., Cupidi, C., Bonanni, L., Lagana, V., Rubino, E., Vanacore, N., Agosta, F., Caffarra, P., Sambati, R., Quaranta, Davide, Guglielmi, Valeria, Appollonio, I. M., Logroscino, G., Filippi, M., Tedeschi, G., Ferrarese, C., Rainero, I., Bruni, A. C., Gallo, E., Grassini, A., Marcinno, A., Roveta, F., Martino, P. D., Frangipane, F., Puccio, G., Colao, R., Mirabelli, M., Martellacci, N., Lino, F., Mozzetta, S., Busse, C., Camporese, G., Sacco, S., Lechiara, M. C., Carrarini, Claudia, Russo, M., Casalena, A., Sucapane, P., Tiraboschi, P., Caroppo, P., Redaelli, V., Fede, G. D., Coppa, D., Peluso, L., Insarda, P., Bartolo, M. D., Esposito, S., Iavarone, A., Orsini, A. V. M., Salvatore, E., Criscuolo, C., Sambati, L., Santoro, R., Gragnaniello, D., Pedriali, I., Ludovico, L., Chiari, A., Fabbo, A., Bevilacqua, P., Galli, C., Magarelli, S., Perini, M., Spalletta, G., Banaj, N., Porcari, D. E., Caruso, G., Cipollini, V., Casini, A. R., Ursini, F., Bruno, G., Rozzini, R., Brambilla, M., Magnani, G., Caso, F., Spinelli, E. G., Ramusino, M. C., Perini, G., Luzzi, S., Cacchio, G., Ciccola, A., Cionfrini, L., Giuli, C., Fabi, K., Guidi, M., Paci, C., Castellano, A., Petrucci, R., Accogli, M., Carapelle, E., Calabrese, G., Trevisi, G. N., Coluccia, B., Giuliano, A. V., Caggiula, M., Impagnatiello, V., Beretta, F., Milia, A., Pilia, G., Mascia, M. G., Putzu, V., Piccoli, T., Cuffaro, L., Monastero, R., Battaglia, A., Blandino, V., Lupo, F., Cumbo, E., Luca, A., Caravaglios, G., Vezzosi, A., Bessi, V., Tognoni, G., Calsolaro, V., Mossello, E., Amici, S., Trequattrini, A., Pezzuto, S., Mecocci, P., Fichera, G., Pradelli, S., Formilan, M., Coin, A., Togni, L. D., Sala, F., Nicolosi, V., Gallucci, M., Mazzarolo, A. P., Bergamelli, C., Zucca M., Isella V., Lorenzo R.D., Marra C., Cagnin A., Cupidi C., Bonanni L., Lagana V., Rubino E., Vanacore N., Agosta F., Caffarra P., Sambati R., Quaranta D., Guglielmi V., Appollonio I.M., Logroscino G., Filippi M., Tedeschi G., Ferrarese C., Rainero I., Bruni A.C., Gallo E., Grassini A., Marcinno A., Roveta F., Martino P.D., Frangipane F., Puccio G., Colao R., Mirabelli M., Martellacci N., Lino F., Mozzetta S., Busse C., Camporese G., Sacco S., Lechiara M.C., Carrarini C., Russo M., Casalena A., Sucapane P., Tiraboschi P., Caroppo P., Redaelli V., Fede G.D., Coppa D., Peluso L., Insarda P., Bartolo M.D., Esposito S., Iavarone A., Orsini A.V.M., Salvatore E., Criscuolo C., Sambati L., Santoro R., Gragnaniello D., Pedriali I., Ludovico L., Chiari A., Fabbo A., Bevilacqua P., Galli C., Magarelli S., Perini M., Spalletta G., Banaj N., Porcari D.E., Caruso G., Cipollini V., Casini A.R., Ursini F., Bruno G., Rozzini R., Brambilla M., Magnani G., Caso F., Spinelli E.G., Ramusino M.C., Perini G., Luzzi S., Cacchio G., Ciccola A., Cionfrini L., Giuli C., Fabi K., Guidi M., Paci C., Castellano A., Petrucci R., Accogli M., Carapelle E., Calabrese G., Trevisi G.N., Coluccia B., Giuliano A.V., Caggiula M., Impagnatiello V., Beretta F., Milia A., Pilia G., Mascia M.G., Putzu V., Piccoli T., Cuffaro L., Monastero R., Battaglia A., Blandino V., Lupo F., Cumbo E., Luca A., Caravaglios G., Vezzosi A., Bessi V., Tognoni G., Calsolaro V., Mossello E., Amici S., Trequattrini A., Pezzuto S., Mecocci P., Fichera G., Pradelli S., Formilan M., Coin A., Togni L.D., Sala F., Nicolosi V., Gallucci M., Mazzarolo A.P., Bergamelli C., Zucca, M, Isella, V, Di Lorenzo, R, Marra, C, Cagnin, A, Cupidi, C, Bonanni, L, Laganà, V, Rubino, E, Vanacore, N, Agosta, F, Caffarra, P, Sambati, R, Quaranta, D, Guglielmi, V, Appollonio, I, Logroscino, G, Filippi, M, Tedeschi, G, Ferrarese, C, Rainero, I, Bruni, A, Gallo, E, Grassini, A, Marcinnò, A, Roveta, F, De Martino, P, Frangipane, F, Puccio, G, Colao, R, Mirabelli, M, Martellacci, N, Lino, F, Mozzetta, S, Bussè, C, Camporese, G, Sacco, S, Lechiara, M, Carrarini, C, Russo, M, Casalena, A, Sucapane, P, Tiraboschi, P, Caroppo, P, Redaelli, V, Di Fede, G, Coppa, D, Peluso, L, Insarda, P, De Bartolo, M, Esposito, S, Iavarone, A, Orsini, A, Salvatore, E, Criscuolo, C, Sambati, L, Santoro, R, Gragnaniello, D, Pedriali, I, Ludovico, L, Chiari, A, Fabbo, A, Bevilacqua, P, Galli, C, Magarelli, S, Perini, M, Spalletta, G, Banaj, N, Porcari, D, Caruso, G, Cipollini, V, Casini, A, Ursini, F, Bruno, G, Rozzini, R, Brambilla, M, Magnani, G, Caso, F, Spinelli, E, Cotta Ramusino, M, Perini, G, Luzzi, S, Cacchiò, G, Ciccola, A, Cionfrini, L, Giuli, C, Fabi, K, Guidi, M, Paci, C, Castellano, A, Petrucci, R, Accogli, M, Carapelle, E, Calabrese, G, Trevisi, G, Coluccia, B, Vasquez Giuliano, A, Caggiula, M, Impagnatiello, V, Beretta, F, Milia, A, Pilia, G, Mascia, M, Putzu, V, Piccoli, T, Cuffaro, L, Monastero, R, Battaglia, A, Blandino, V, Lupo, F, Cumbo, E, Luca, A, Caravaglios, G, Vezzosi, A, Bessi, V, Tognoni, G, Calsolaro, V, Mossello, E, Amici, S, Trequattrini, A, Pezzuto, S, Mecocci, P, Fichera, G, Pradelli, S, Formilan, M, Coin, A, De Togni, L, Sala, F, Nicolosi, V, Gallucci, M, Mazzarolo, A, Bergamelli, C, Zucca, Milena, Isella, Valeria, Lorenzo, Raffaele Di, Marra, Camillo, Cagnin, Annachiara, Cupidi, Chiara, Bonanni, Laura, Laganà, Valentina, Rubino, Elisa, Vanacore, Nicola, Agosta, Federica, Caffarra, Paolo, Sambati, Renato, Quaranta, Davide, Guglielmi, Valeria, Appollonio, Ildebrando M., Logroscino, Giancarlo, Filippi, Massimo, Tedeschi, Gioacchino, Ferrarese, Carlo, Rainero, Innocenzo, and Bruni, Amalia C.

Subjects
Aging, medicine.medical_specialty, Cognitive Neuroscience, Population, Psychological intervention, Protective factor, Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, burden, 03 medical and health sciences, stress, 0302 clinical medicine, stre, medicine, Dementia, caregiver, COVID-19, dementia, Psychiatry, education, Original Research, MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, education.field_of_study, 030214 geriatrics, burden, caregiver, COVID-19, dementia, stress, Family caregivers, business.industry, medicine.disease, Mental health, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Anxiety, Caregiver stress, M-PSI/08 - PSICOLOGIA CLINICA, medicine.symptom, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Neuroscience, RC321-571
Abstract

Background: Family caregivers of patients with dementia are at high risk of stress and burden, and quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have increased the risk of psychological disturbances in this population. The current study was carried out during the national lockdown declared in March 2020 by the Italian government as a containment measure of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and is the first nationwide survey on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the mental health of dementia informal caregivers.Methods: Eighty-seven dementia centers evenly distributed on the Italian territory enrolled 4,710 caregiver–patient pairs. Caregivers underwent a telephone interview assessing classical symptoms of caregiver stress and concern for the consequences of COVID-19 infection on patient’s health. We calculated prevalence of symptoms and regressed them on various potential stress risk factors: caregivers’ sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle, patients’ clinical features, and lockdown-related elements, like discontinuity in medical care.Results: Approximately 90% of caregivers reported at least one symptom of stress, and nearly 30% reported four or more symptoms. The most prevalent symptoms were concern for consequences of COVID-19 on patient’s health (75%) and anxiety (46%). The main risk factors for stress were identified as a conflicting relationship with the patient and discontinuity in assistance, but caregiver’s female sex, younger age, lower education, and cohabitation with the patient also had an impact. Availability of help from institutions or private individuals showed a protective effect against sense of abandonment but a detrimental effect on concern about the risk for the patient to contract COVID-19. The only protective factor was mild dementia severity, which was associated with a lower risk of feeling isolated and abandoned; type of dementia, on the other hand, did not affect stress risk.Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the large prevalence of stress in family caregivers of patients with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic and have identified both caregivers and situations at a higher risk of stress, which should be taken into account in the planning of interventions in support of quarantined families and patients.

Published
2021

2. The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Patients With Dementia and Family Caregivers: A Nation-Wide Survey

Author

Rainero, I, Bruni, A, Marra, C, Cagnin, A, Bonanni, L, Cupidi, C, Lagana, V, Rubino, E, Vacca, A, Di Lorenzo, R, Provero, P, Isella, V, Vanacore, N, Agosta, F, Appollonio, I, Caffarra, P, Busse, C, Sambati, R, Quaranta, D, Guglielmi, V, Logroscino, G, Filippi, M, Tedeschi, G, Ferrarese, C, Gallo, E, Grassini, A, Marcinnò, A, Roveta, F, De Martino, P, Frangipane, F, Puccio, G, Colao, R, Mirabelli, M, Terracciano, C, Lino, F, Mozzetta, S, Gazzola, G, Camporese, G, Sacco, S, Lechiara, M, Carrarini, C, Russo, M, Casa Lena, A, Sucapane, P, Tiraboschi, P, Caroppo, P, Redaelli, V, Di Fede, G, Coppa, D, Peluso, L, Insarda, P, De Bartolo, M, Esposito, S, Iavarone, A, Fuschillo, C, Salvatore, E, Criscuolo, C, Sambati, L, Santoro, R, Gragnaniello, D, Pedriali, I, Ludovico, L, Chiari, A, Fabbo, A, Bevilacqua, P, Galli, C, Magarelli, S, Spalletta, G, Banaj, N, Caruso, G, Porcari, E, Giubilei, F, Casini, A, Ursini, F, Bruno, G, Boffelli, S, Brambilla, M, Magnani, G, Caso, F, Spinelli, E, Sinforiani, E, Costa, A, Luzzi, S, Cacchiò, G, Perini, M, Angeloni, R, Giuli, C, Fabi, K, Guidi, M, Paci, C, Castellano, A, Carapelle, E, Petrucci, R, Accogli, M, Trevisi, G, Renna, S, Vasquez Giuliano, A, Da Re, F, Milia, A, Pilia, G, Mascia, M, Putzu, V, Piccoli, T, Cuffaro, L, Monastero, R, Battaglia, A, Blandino, V, Lupo, F, Cumbo, E, Luca, A, Caravaglios, G, Vezzosi, A, Bessi, V, Tognoni, G, Calsolaro, V, Lucarelli, G, Amici, S, Trequattrini, A, Pezzuto, S, Mecocci, P, Caironi, G, Boselli, B, Formilan, M, Coin, A, De Togni, L, Sala, F, Sandri, G, Gallucci, M, Mazzarolo, A, Bergamelli, C, Passoni, S, Bruni, AC, Lechiara, MC, Porcari, ED, Casini, AR, Spinelli, EG, Trevisi, GN, Mascia, MG, Mazzarolo, AP, Rainero, I, Bruni, A, Marra, C, Cagnin, A, Bonanni, L, Cupidi, C, Lagana, V, Rubino, E, Vacca, A, Di Lorenzo, R, Provero, P, Isella, V, Vanacore, N, Agosta, F, Appollonio, I, Caffarra, P, Busse, C, Sambati, R, Quaranta, D, Guglielmi, V, Logroscino, G, Filippi, M, Tedeschi, G, Ferrarese, C, Gallo, E, Grassini, A, Marcinnò, A, Roveta, F, De Martino, P, Frangipane, F, Puccio, G, Colao, R, Mirabelli, M, Terracciano, C, Lino, F, Mozzetta, S, Gazzola, G, Camporese, G, Sacco, S, Lechiara, M, Carrarini, C, Russo, M, Casa Lena, A, Sucapane, P, Tiraboschi, P, Caroppo, P, Redaelli, V, Di Fede, G, Coppa, D, Peluso, L, Insarda, P, De Bartolo, M, Esposito, S, Iavarone, A, Fuschillo, C, Salvatore, E, Criscuolo, C, Sambati, L, Santoro, R, Gragnaniello, D, Pedriali, I, Ludovico, L, Chiari, A, Fabbo, A, Bevilacqua, P, Galli, C, Magarelli, S, Spalletta, G, Banaj, N, Caruso, G, Porcari, E, Giubilei, F, Casini, A, Ursini, F, Bruno, G, Boffelli, S, Brambilla, M, Magnani, G, Caso, F, Spinelli, E, Sinforiani, E, Costa, A, Luzzi, S, Cacchiò, G, Perini, M, Angeloni, R, Giuli, C, Fabi, K, Guidi, M, Paci, C, Castellano, A, Carapelle, E, Petrucci, R, Accogli, M, Trevisi, G, Renna, S, Vasquez Giuliano, A, Da Re, F, Milia, A, Pilia, G, Mascia, M, Putzu, V, Piccoli, T, Cuffaro, L, Monastero, R, Battaglia, A, Blandino, V, Lupo, F, Cumbo, E, Luca, A, Caravaglios, G, Vezzosi, A, Bessi, V, Tognoni, G, Calsolaro, V, Lucarelli, G, Amici, S, Trequattrini, A, Pezzuto, S, Mecocci, P, Caironi, G, Boselli, B, Formilan, M, Coin, A, De Togni, L, Sala, F, Sandri, G, Gallucci, M, Mazzarolo, A, Bergamelli, C, Passoni, S, Bruni, AC, Lechiara, MC, Porcari, ED, Casini, AR, Spinelli, EG, Trevisi, GN, Mascia, MG, and Mazzarolo, AP

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies showed that quarantine for pandemic diseases is associated with several psychological and medical effects. The consequences of quarantine for COVID-19 pandemic in patients with dementia are unknown. We investigated the clinical changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and evaluated caregivers’ distress during COVID-19 quarantine. Methods: The study involved 87 Italian Dementia Centers. Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), and Vascular Dementia (VD) were eligible for the study. Family caregivers of patients with dementia were interviewed by phone in April 2020, 45 days after quarantine declaration. Main outcomes were patients’ changes in cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms. Secondary outcomes were effects on caregivers’ psychological features. Results: 4913 patients (2934 females, 1979 males) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Caregivers reported a worsening in cognitive functions in 55.1% of patients, mainly in subjects with DLB and AD. Aggravation of behavioral symptoms was observed in 51.9% of patients. In logistic regression analysis, previous physical independence was associated with both cognitive and behavioral worsening (odds ratio 1.85 [95% CI 1.42–2.39], 1.84 [95% CI 1.43–2.38], respectively). On the contrary, pandemic awareness was a protective factor for the worsening of cognitive and behavioral symptoms (odds ratio 0.74 [95% CI 0.65–0.85]; and 0.72 [95% CI 0.63–0.82], respectively). Approximately 25.9% of patients showed the onset of new behavioral symptoms. A worsening in motor function was reported by 36.7% of patients. Finally, caregivers reported a high increase in anxiety, depression, and distress. Conclusion: Our study shows that quarantine for COVID-19 is associated with an acute worsening of clinical symptoms in patients with dementia as well as increase of caregivers’ burden. Our findings emphasize the importance to imp

Published
2021

3. Being the Family Caregiver of a Patient With Dementia During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown

Author

Zucca, M, Isella, V, Di Lorenzo, R, Marra, C, Cagnin, A, Cupidi, C, Bonanni, L, Laganà, V, Rubino, E, Vanacore, N, Agosta, F, Caffarra, P, Sambati, R, Quaranta, D, Guglielmi, V, Appollonio, I, Logroscino, G, Filippi, M, Tedeschi, G, Ferrarese, C, Rainero, I, Bruni, A, Gallo, E, Grassini, A, Marcinnò, A, Roveta, F, De Martino, P, Frangipane, F, Puccio, G, Colao, R, Mirabelli, M, Martellacci, N, Lino, F, Mozzetta, S, Bussè, C, Camporese, G, Sacco, S, Lechiara, M, Carrarini, C, Russo, M, Casalena, A, Sucapane, P, Tiraboschi, P, Caroppo, P, Redaelli, V, Di Fede, G, Coppa, D, Peluso, L, Insarda, P, De Bartolo, M, Esposito, S, Iavarone, A, Orsini, A, Salvatore, E, Criscuolo, C, Sambati, L, Santoro, R, Gragnaniello, D, Pedriali, I, Ludovico, L, Chiari, A, Fabbo, A, Bevilacqua, P, Galli, C, Magarelli, S, Perini, M, Spalletta, G, Banaj, N, Porcari, D, Caruso, G, Cipollini, V, Casini, A, Ursini, F, Bruno, G, Rozzini, R, Brambilla, M, Magnani, G, Caso, F, Spinelli, E, Cotta Ramusino, M, Perini, G, Luzzi, S, Cacchiò, G, Ciccola, A, Cionfrini, L, Giuli, C, Fabi, K, Guidi, M, Paci, C, Castellano, A, Petrucci, R, Accogli, M, Carapelle, E, Calabrese, G, Trevisi, G, Coluccia, B, Vasquez Giuliano, A, Caggiula, M, Impagnatiello, V, Beretta, F, Milia, A, Pilia, G, Mascia, M, Putzu, V, Piccoli, T, Cuffaro, L, Monastero, R, Battaglia, A, Blandino, V, Lupo, F, Cumbo, E, Luca, A, Caravaglios, G, Vezzosi, A, Bessi, V, Tognoni, G, Calsolaro, V, Mossello, E, Amici, S, Trequattrini, A, Pezzuto, S, Mecocci, P, Fichera, G, Pradelli, S, Formilan, M, Coin, A, De Togni, L, Sala, F, Nicolosi, V, Gallucci, M, Mazzarolo, A, Bergamelli, C, Bruni, AC, Lechiara, MC, Orsini, AVM, Porcari, DE, Casini, AR, Spinelli, EG, Trevisi, GN, Mascia, MG, Mazzarolo, AP, Zucca, M, Isella, V, Di Lorenzo, R, Marra, C, Cagnin, A, Cupidi, C, Bonanni, L, Laganà, V, Rubino, E, Vanacore, N, Agosta, F, Caffarra, P, Sambati, R, Quaranta, D, Guglielmi, V, Appollonio, I, Logroscino, G, Filippi, M, Tedeschi, G, Ferrarese, C, Rainero, I, Bruni, A, Gallo, E, Grassini, A, Marcinnò, A, Roveta, F, De Martino, P, Frangipane, F, Puccio, G, Colao, R, Mirabelli, M, Martellacci, N, Lino, F, Mozzetta, S, Bussè, C, Camporese, G, Sacco, S, Lechiara, M, Carrarini, C, Russo, M, Casalena, A, Sucapane, P, Tiraboschi, P, Caroppo, P, Redaelli, V, Di Fede, G, Coppa, D, Peluso, L, Insarda, P, De Bartolo, M, Esposito, S, Iavarone, A, Orsini, A, Salvatore, E, Criscuolo, C, Sambati, L, Santoro, R, Gragnaniello, D, Pedriali, I, Ludovico, L, Chiari, A, Fabbo, A, Bevilacqua, P, Galli, C, Magarelli, S, Perini, M, Spalletta, G, Banaj, N, Porcari, D, Caruso, G, Cipollini, V, Casini, A, Ursini, F, Bruno, G, Rozzini, R, Brambilla, M, Magnani, G, Caso, F, Spinelli, E, Cotta Ramusino, M, Perini, G, Luzzi, S, Cacchiò, G, Ciccola, A, Cionfrini, L, Giuli, C, Fabi, K, Guidi, M, Paci, C, Castellano, A, Petrucci, R, Accogli, M, Carapelle, E, Calabrese, G, Trevisi, G, Coluccia, B, Vasquez Giuliano, A, Caggiula, M, Impagnatiello, V, Beretta, F, Milia, A, Pilia, G, Mascia, M, Putzu, V, Piccoli, T, Cuffaro, L, Monastero, R, Battaglia, A, Blandino, V, Lupo, F, Cumbo, E, Luca, A, Caravaglios, G, Vezzosi, A, Bessi, V, Tognoni, G, Calsolaro, V, Mossello, E, Amici, S, Trequattrini, A, Pezzuto, S, Mecocci, P, Fichera, G, Pradelli, S, Formilan, M, Coin, A, De Togni, L, Sala, F, Nicolosi, V, Gallucci, M, Mazzarolo, A, Bergamelli, C, Bruni, AC, Lechiara, MC, Orsini, AVM, Porcari, DE, Casini, AR, Spinelli, EG, Trevisi, GN, Mascia, MG, and Mazzarolo, AP

Abstract

Background: Family caregivers of patients with dementia are at high risk of stress and burden, and quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have increased the risk of psychological disturbances in this population. The current study was carried out during the national lockdown declared in March 2020 by the Italian government as a containment measure of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and is the first nationwide survey on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the mental health of dementia informal caregivers. Methods: Eighty-seven dementia centers evenly distributed on the Italian territory enrolled 4,710 caregiver-patient pairs. Caregivers underwent a telephone interview assessing classical symptoms of caregiver stress and concern for the consequences of COVID-19 infection on patient's health. We calculated prevalence of symptoms and regressed them on various potential stress risk factors: caregivers' sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle, patients' clinical features, and lockdown-related elements, like discontinuity in medical care. Results: Approximately 90% of caregivers reported at least one symptom of stress, and nearly 30% reported four or more symptoms. The most prevalent symptoms were concern for consequences of COVID-19 on patient's health (75%) and anxiety (46%). The main risk factors for stress were identified as a conflicting relationship with the patient and discontinuity in assistance, but caregiver's female sex, younger age, lower education, and cohabitation with the patient also had an impact. Availability of help from institutions or private individuals showed a protective effect against sense of abandonment but a detrimental effect on concern about the risk for the patient to contract COVID-19. The only protective factor was mild dementia severity, which was associated with a lower risk of feeling isolated and abandoned; type of dementia, on the other hand, did not affect stress risk. Conclusion: Our re

Published
2021

4. The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Patients With Dementia and Family Caregivers: A Nation-Wide Survey

Author

Rainero, I., Bruni, A. C., Marra, Camillo, Cagnin, A., Bonanni, L., Cupidi, C., Lagana, V., Rubino, E., Vacca, A., Lorenzo, R. D., Provero, P., Isella, V., Vanacore, N., Agosta, F., Appollonio, I., Caffarra, P., Busse, C., Sambati, R., Quaranta, D., Guglielmi, Valeria, Logroscino, G., Filippi, M., Tedeschi, G., Ferrarese, C., Gallo, E., Grassini, A., Marcinno, A., Roveta, F., De Martino, P., Frangipane, F., Puccio, G., Colao, R., Mirabelli, M., Terracciano, C., Lino, F., Mozzetta, S., Gazzola, G., Camporese, G., Sacco, S., Lechiara, M. C., Carrarini, C., Russo, M., Casa Lena, A., Sucapane, P., Tiraboschi, P., Caroppo, P., Redaelli, V., Di Fede, G., Coppa, D., Peluso, L., Insarda, P., De Bartolo, M., Esposito, S., Iavarone, A., Fuschillo, C., Salvatore, E., Criscuolo, C., Sambati, L., Santoro, R., Gragnaniello, D., Pedriali, I., Ludovico, L., Chiari, A., Fabbo, A., Bevilacqua, P., Galli, C., Magarelli, S., Spalletta, G., Banaj, N., Caruso, G., Estela Porcari, D., Giubilei, F., Casini, A. R., Ursini, F., Bruno, G., Boffelli, S., Brambilla, M., Magnani, G., Caso, F., Spinelli, E. G., Sinforiani, E., Costa, A., Luzzi, S., Cacchio, G., Perini, M., Angeloni, R., Giuli, C., Fabi, K., Guidi, M., Paci, C., Castellano, A., Carapelle, E., Petrucci, R., Accogli, M., Nicoletta Trevisi, G., Renna, S., Giuliano, A. V., Da Re, F., Milia, A., Pilia, G., Mascia, M. G., Putzu, V., Piccoli, T., Cuffaro, L., Monastero, R., Battaglia, A., Blandino, V., Lupo, F., Cumbo, E., Luca, A., Caravaglios, G., Vezzosi, A., Bessi, V., Tognoni, G., Calsolaro, V., Lucarelli, G., Amici, S., Trequattrini, A., Pezzuto, S., Mecocci, P., Caironi, G., Boselli, B., Formilan, M., Coin, A., De Togni, L., Sala, F., Sandri, G., Gallucci, M., Mazzarolo, A. P., Bergamelli, C., Passoni, S., Marra C. (ORCID:0000-0003-3994-4044), Guglielmi V., Rainero, I., Bruni, A. C., Marra, Camillo, Cagnin, A., Bonanni, L., Cupidi, C., Lagana, V., Rubino, E., Vacca, A., Lorenzo, R. D., Provero, P., Isella, V., Vanacore, N., Agosta, F., Appollonio, I., Caffarra, P., Busse, C., Sambati, R., Quaranta, D., Guglielmi, Valeria, Logroscino, G., Filippi, M., Tedeschi, G., Ferrarese, C., Gallo, E., Grassini, A., Marcinno, A., Roveta, F., De Martino, P., Frangipane, F., Puccio, G., Colao, R., Mirabelli, M., Terracciano, C., Lino, F., Mozzetta, S., Gazzola, G., Camporese, G., Sacco, S., Lechiara, M. C., Carrarini, C., Russo, M., Casa Lena, A., Sucapane, P., Tiraboschi, P., Caroppo, P., Redaelli, V., Di Fede, G., Coppa, D., Peluso, L., Insarda, P., De Bartolo, M., Esposito, S., Iavarone, A., Fuschillo, C., Salvatore, E., Criscuolo, C., Sambati, L., Santoro, R., Gragnaniello, D., Pedriali, I., Ludovico, L., Chiari, A., Fabbo, A., Bevilacqua, P., Galli, C., Magarelli, S., Spalletta, G., Banaj, N., Caruso, G., Estela Porcari, D., Giubilei, F., Casini, A. R., Ursini, F., Bruno, G., Boffelli, S., Brambilla, M., Magnani, G., Caso, F., Spinelli, E. G., Sinforiani, E., Costa, A., Luzzi, S., Cacchio, G., Perini, M., Angeloni, R., Giuli, C., Fabi, K., Guidi, M., Paci, C., Castellano, A., Carapelle, E., Petrucci, R., Accogli, M., Nicoletta Trevisi, G., Renna, S., Giuliano, A. V., Da Re, F., Milia, A., Pilia, G., Mascia, M. G., Putzu, V., Piccoli, T., Cuffaro, L., Monastero, R., Battaglia, A., Blandino, V., Lupo, F., Cumbo, E., Luca, A., Caravaglios, G., Vezzosi, A., Bessi, V., Tognoni, G., Calsolaro, V., Lucarelli, G., Amici, S., Trequattrini, A., Pezzuto, S., Mecocci, P., Caironi, G., Boselli, B., Formilan, M., Coin, A., De Togni, L., Sala, F., Sandri, G., Gallucci, M., Mazzarolo, A. P., Bergamelli, C., Passoni, S., Marra C. (ORCID:0000-0003-3994-4044), and Guglielmi V.

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies showed that quarantine for pandemic diseases is associated with several psychological and medical effects. The consequences of quarantine for COVID-19 pandemic in patients with dementia are unknown. We investigated the clinical changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and evaluated caregivers’ distress during COVID-19 quarantine. Methods: The study involved 87 Italian Dementia Centers. Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), and Vascular Dementia (VD) were eligible for the study. Family caregivers of patients with dementia were interviewed by phone in April 2020, 45 days after quarantine declaration. Main outcomes were patients’ changes in cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms. Secondary outcomes were effects on caregivers’ psychological features. Results: 4913 patients (2934 females, 1979 males) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Caregivers reported a worsening in cognitive functions in 55.1% of patients, mainly in subjects with DLB and AD. Aggravation of behavioral symptoms was observed in 51.9% of patients. In logistic regression analysis, previous physical independence was associated with both cognitive and behavioral worsening (odds ratio 1.85 [95% CI 1.42–2.39], 1.84 [95% CI 1.43–2.38], respectively). On the contrary, pandemic awareness was a protective factor for the worsening of cognitive and behavioral symptoms (odds ratio 0.74 [95% CI 0.65–0.85]; and 0.72 [95% CI 0.63–0.82], respectively). Approximately 25.9% of patients showed the onset of new behavioral symptoms. A worsening in motor function was reported by 36.7% of patients. Finally, caregivers reported a high increase in anxiety, depression, and distress. Conclusion: Our study shows that quarantine for COVID-19 is associated with an acute worsening of clinical symptoms in patients with dementia as well as increase of caregivers’ burden. Our findings emphasize the importance to imp

Published
2021

5. Behavioral and psychological effects of coronavirus disease-19 quarantine in patients with dementia

Author

Cagnin, A., Di Lorenzo, R., Marra, C., Bonanni, L., Cupidi, C., Lagana, V., Rubino, E., Vacca, A., Provero, P., Isella, V., Vanacore, N., Agosta, F., Appollonio, I., Caffarra, P., Pettenuzzo, I., Sambati, R., Quaranta, D., Guglielmi, V., Logroscino, G., Filippi, M., Tedeschi, G., Ferrarese, C., Rainero, I., Bruni, A. C., Gallo, E., Grassini, A., Marcinno, A., Roveta, F., De Martino, P., Frangipane, F., Puccio, G., Colao, R., Mirabelli, M., Martellacci, N., Lino, F., Mozzetta, S., Busse, C., Camporese, G., Sacco, S., Lechiara, M. C., Carrarini, C., Russo, M., Casalena, A., Sucapane, P., Tiraboschi, P., Caroppo, P., Redaelli, V., Di Fede, G., Coppa, D., Peluso, L., Insarda, P., De Bartolo, M., Esposito, S., Iavarone, A., Orsini, A. V. M., Salvatore, E., Criscuolo, C., Sambati, L., Santoro, R., Gragnaniello, D., Pedriali, I., Ludovico, L., Chiari, A., Fabbo, A., Bevilacqua, P., Galli, C., Magarelli, S., Perini, M., Spalletta, G., Banaj, N., Porcari, D. E., Caruso, G., Cipollini, V., Casini, A. R., Ursini, F., Bruno, G., Rozzini, R., Brambilla, M., Magnani, G., Caso, F., Spinelli, E. G., Ramusino, M. C., Perini, G., Luzzi, S., Cacchio, G., Angeloni, R., Giuli, C., Fabi, K., Guidi, M., Paci, C., Castellano, A., Carapelle, E., Petrucci, R., Accogli, M., Calabrese, G., Trevisi, G. N., Coluccia, B., Giuliano, A. V., Caggiula, M., Da Re, F., Milia, A., Pilia, G., Mascia, M. G., Putzu, V., Piccoli, T., Cuffaro, L., Monastero, R., Battaglia, A., Blandino, V., Lupo, F., Cumbo, E., Antonina, L., Caravaglios, G., Vezzosi, A., Bessi, V., Tognoni, G., Calsolaro, V., Mossello, E., Amici, S., Trequattrini, A., Pezzuto, S., Mecocci, P., Fichera, G., Pradelli, S., Formilan, M., Coin, A., Detogni, L., Sala, F., Sandri, G., Gallucci, M., Mazzarolo, A. P., Bergamelli, C., Marra C. (ORCID:0000-0003-3994-4044), Cagnin, A., Di Lorenzo, R., Marra, C., Bonanni, L., Cupidi, C., Lagana, V., Rubino, E., Vacca, A., Provero, P., Isella, V., Vanacore, N., Agosta, F., Appollonio, I., Caffarra, P., Pettenuzzo, I., Sambati, R., Quaranta, D., Guglielmi, V., Logroscino, G., Filippi, M., Tedeschi, G., Ferrarese, C., Rainero, I., Bruni, A. C., Gallo, E., Grassini, A., Marcinno, A., Roveta, F., De Martino, P., Frangipane, F., Puccio, G., Colao, R., Mirabelli, M., Martellacci, N., Lino, F., Mozzetta, S., Busse, C., Camporese, G., Sacco, S., Lechiara, M. C., Carrarini, C., Russo, M., Casalena, A., Sucapane, P., Tiraboschi, P., Caroppo, P., Redaelli, V., Di Fede, G., Coppa, D., Peluso, L., Insarda, P., De Bartolo, M., Esposito, S., Iavarone, A., Orsini, A. V. M., Salvatore, E., Criscuolo, C., Sambati, L., Santoro, R., Gragnaniello, D., Pedriali, I., Ludovico, L., Chiari, A., Fabbo, A., Bevilacqua, P., Galli, C., Magarelli, S., Perini, M., Spalletta, G., Banaj, N., Porcari, D. E., Caruso, G., Cipollini, V., Casini, A. R., Ursini, F., Bruno, G., Rozzini, R., Brambilla, M., Magnani, G., Caso, F., Spinelli, E. G., Ramusino, M. C., Perini, G., Luzzi, S., Cacchio, G., Angeloni, R., Giuli, C., Fabi, K., Guidi, M., Paci, C., Castellano, A., Carapelle, E., Petrucci, R., Accogli, M., Calabrese, G., Trevisi, G. N., Coluccia, B., Giuliano, A. V., Caggiula, M., Da Re, F., Milia, A., Pilia, G., Mascia, M. G., Putzu, V., Piccoli, T., Cuffaro, L., Monastero, R., Battaglia, A., Blandino, V., Lupo, F., Cumbo, E., Antonina, L., Caravaglios, G., Vezzosi, A., Bessi, V., Tognoni, G., Calsolaro, V., Mossello, E., Amici, S., Trequattrini, A., Pezzuto, S., Mecocci, P., Fichera, G., Pradelli, S., Formilan, M., Coin, A., Detogni, L., Sala, F., Sandri, G., Gallucci, M., Mazzarolo, A. P., Bergamelli, C., and Marra C. (ORCID:0000-0003-3994-4044)

Abstract

Background: In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and several governments planned a national quarantine in order to control the virus spread. Acute psychological effects of quarantine in frail elderly subjects with special needs, such as patients with dementia, have been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess modifications of neuropsychiatric symptoms during quarantine in patients with dementia and their caregivers. Methods: This is a sub-study of a multicenter nation-wide survey. A structured telephone interview was delivered to family caregivers of patients with diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia (VD), followed regularly at 87 Italian memory clinics. Variations in behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) were collected after 1 month since quarantine declaration and associations with disease type, severity, gender, and caregiver’s stress burden were analyzed. Results: A total of 4,913 caregivers participated in the survey. Increased BPSD was reported in 59.6% of patients as worsening of preexisting symptoms (51.9%) or as new onset (26%), and requested drug modifications in 27.6% of these cases. Irritability, apathy, agitation, and anxiety were the most frequently reported worsening symptoms and sleep disorder and irritability the most frequent new symptoms. Profile of BPSD varied according to dementia type, disease severity, and patients’ gender. Anxiety and depression were associated with a diagnosis of AD (OR 1.35, CI: 1.12–1.62), mild to moderate disease severity and female gender. DLB was significantly associated with a higher risk of worsening hallucinations (OR 5.29, CI 3.66–7.64) and sleep disorder (OR 1.69, CI 1.25–2.29), FTD with wandering (OR 1.62, CI 1.12–2.35), and change of appetite (OR 1.52, CI 1.03–2.25). Stress-related symptoms were experienced by two-thirds of caregiv

Published
2020

6. How legislation on decisional capacity can negatively affect the feasibility of clinical trials in patients with dementia

Author

Galeotti, F, Vanacore, N, Gainotti, S, Izzicupo, F, Menniti Ippolito, F, Petrini, C, Chiarotti, F, Chattat, R, Raschetti, R, AdCare Study Group: Popoli, P, Potenza, R, Tebano, Mt, Giubilei, F, Locuratolo, N, Bruno, G, Piacentini, E, Talarico, G, Gasparini, M, Del Re ML, Bruni, A, Colao, R, Puccio, G, Curcio, S, Clodimiro, A, Caffarra, P, Messa, G, Concari, L, Pagliara, B, Fabbo, A, Zucchi, P, Bonora, A, Veschi, M, Carbone, G, Ursino, R, Fatica, L, De Bonis, C, Gainotti, G, Marra, C, Quaranta, D, Zinno, M, Rodriguez, Guido, Nobili, FLAVIO MARIANO, Barbieri, Mp, Dessi, B, Mazzei, D, Arnaldi, Dario, Brugnolo, Andrea, Clerici, F, Mariani, C, Maggiore, L, Pomati, S, Padovani, A, Rozzini, L, Zanetti, M, Conti, M, Chinaglia, C, Engaddi, I, De Domenico, D, Savorgnan, G, Scarpino, O, Civerchia, P, Raccichini, A, Specchio, Lm, Goffredo, R, Biancardi, Me, Putzu, V, Araujo, Y, Ballisai, A, Piras, Mr, Cherchi, R, Bagella, Cf, Deiana, E, Giordano, M, Pineo, A, Catania, Tm, Bracco, L, Piccini, C, Mecocci, P, Feliziani, Ft, Cornacchiola, V, Gambina, G, Broggio, E, Sala, F., Galeotti F, Vanacore N, Gainotti S, Izzicupo F, Menniti-Ippolito F, Petrini C, Chiarotti F, Chattat R, Raschetti R, and AdCare Study Group

Subjects
Olanzapine, medicine.medical_specialty, medicine.drug_class, medicine.medical_treatment, Decision Making, Atypical antipsychotic, law.invention, Randomized controlled trial, Informed consent, law, Humans, Medicine, Mental Competency, Pharmacology (medical), Antipsychotic, Psychiatry, legal, Clinical Trials as Topic, Risperidone, business.industry, Patient Selection, CAPACITY, BPSD, antipsychotic, Clinical trial, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Feasibility Studies, Quetiapine, Dementia, Geriatrics and Gerontology, business, medicine.drug
Abstract

Antipsychotic drugs are widely used to treat behavioural and psychological disturbances associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), although only modest evidence from randomized controlled trials supports their efficacy, and increasing evidence from post-marketing surveillance shows serious adverse events associated with their use, including increased mortality. The AdCare study, a non-profit, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre, pragmatic trial coordinated by the Italian National Institute of Health, aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy profiles of three atypical antipsychotic drugs (risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine) and one conventional antipsychotic drug (haloperidol) in treating psychosis, aggression and agitation in outpatients with AD. The study was planned to be carried out in 19 clinical centres and to enrol 1000 outpatients. According to Italian law, in the case where a patient is considered unable to give informed consent, a legal representative designated by the court has to provide it. Because of difficulties in the informed consent procedure, the study had to be prematurely interrupted. From February 2009 to April 2010, 83 patients gave informed consent to participate in the trial. Fifty-six patients (68%) were included with consent given by a legal representative, while 27 patients (32%) were considered to provide personal informed consent on the basis of the results from a specifically built procedure. Patients and caregivers were offered the opportunity to participate in the trial before the occurrence of behavioural disturbances, in order to provide them with enough time to consider their participation in the study. Twenty-three patients experienced behavioural, clinically relevant symptoms and were randomized to the study drug; all randomized patients except one had consent for inclusion in the study given by legal representatives. After trial interruption, all patients taking an active drug continued treatment with the same molecule in clinical practice. Randomized controlled trials are acknowledged as the gold standard source of evidence on drug safety and efficacy. The AdCare study showed that an excessively rigid regulation can become a major obstacle while carrying out therapeutic research with incapacitated persons.

Published
2012

7. The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Patients With Dementia and Family Caregivers: A Nation-Wide Survey

Author

Innocenzo Rainero, Amalia C. Bruni, Camillo Marra, Annachiara Cagnin, Laura Bonanni, Chiara Cupidi, Valentina Laganà, Elisa Rubino, Alessandro Vacca, Raffaele Di Lorenzo, Paolo Provero, Valeria Isella, Nicola Vanacore, Federica Agosta, Ildebrando Appollonio, Paolo Caffarra, Cinzia Bussè, Renato Sambati, Davide Quaranta, Valeria Guglielmi, Giancarlo Logroscino, Massimo Filippi, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Carlo Ferrarese, the SINdem COVID-19 Study Group, Erica Gallo, Alberto Grassini, Andrea Marcinnò, Fausto Roveta, Paola De Martino, Francesca Frangipane, Gianfranco Puccio, Rosanna Colao, Maria Mirabelli, Chiara Terracciano, Federica Lino, Stefano Mozzetta, Gianmarco Gazzola, Giulia Camporese, Simona Sacco, Maria Carmela Lechiara, Claudia Carrarini, Mirella Russo, Alfonsina Casa lena, Patrizia Sucapane, Pietro Tiraboschi, Paola Caroppo, Veronica Redaelli, Giuseppe Di Fede, Daniela Coppa, Lenino Peluso, Pasqualina Insarda, Matteo De Bartolo, Sabrina Esposito, Alessandro Iavarone, Carmine Fuschillo, Elena Salvatore, Chiara Criscuolo, Luisa Sambati, Rossella Santoro, Daniela Gragnaniello, Ilaria Pedriali, Livia Ludovico, Annalisa Chiari, Andrea Fabbo, Petra Bevilacqua, Chiara Galli, Silvia Magarelli, Gianfranco Spalletta, Nerisa Banaj, Giulia Caruso, Desirée Estela Porcari, Franco Giubilei, Anna Rosa Casini, Francesca Ursini, Giuseppe Bruno, Stefano Boffelli, Michela Brambilla, Giuseppe Magnani, Francesca Caso, Edoardo G. Spinelli, Elena Sinforiani, Alfredo Costa, Simona Luzzi, Gabriella Cacchiò, A.I.M.A. –sez Parma, Marta Perini, Rossano Angeloni, Cinzia Giuli, Katia Fabi, Marco Guidi, Cristina Paci, Annaelisa Castellano, Elena Carapelle, Rossella Petrucci, Miriam Accogli, Giovanna Nicoletta Trevisi, Serena Renna, Antonella Vasquez Giuliano, Fulvio Da Re, Antonio Milia, Giuseppina Pilia, Maria Giuseppina Mascia, Valeria Putzu, Tommaso Piccoli, Luca Cuffaro, Roberto Monastero, Antonella Battaglia, Valeria Blandino, Federica Lupo, Eduardo Cumbo, Antonina Luca, Giuseppe Caravaglios, Annalisa Vezzosi, Valentina Bessi, Gloria Tognoni, Valeria Calsolaro, Giulia Lucarelli, Serena Amici, Alberto Trequattrini, Salvatore Pezzuto, Patrizia Mecocci, Giulia Caironi, Barbara Boselli, Marino Formilan, Alessandra Coin, Laura De Togni, Francesca Sala, Giulia Sandri, Maurizio Gallucci, Anna Paola Mazzarolo, Cristina Bergamelli, Serena Passoni, Rainero, I., Bruni, A. C., Marra, C., Cagnin, A., Bonanni, L., Cupidi, C., Lagana, V., Rubino, E., Vacca, A., Di Lorenzo, R., Provero, P., Isella, V., Vanacore, N., Agosta, F., Appollonio, I., Caffarra, P., Busse, C., Sambati, R., Quaranta, D., Guglielmi, V., Logroscino, G., Filippi, M., Tedeschi, G., Ferrarese, C., Rainero, I, Bruni, A, Marra, C, Cagnin, A, Bonanni, L, Cupidi, C, Lagana, V, Rubino, E, Vacca, A, Di Lorenzo, R, Provero, P, Isella, V, Vanacore, N, Agosta, F, Appollonio, I, Caffarra, P, Busse, C, Sambati, R, Quaranta, D, Guglielmi, V, Logroscino, G, Filippi, M, Tedeschi, G, Ferrarese, C, Gallo, E, Grassini, A, Marcinnò, A, Roveta, F, De Martino, P, Frangipane, F, Puccio, G, Colao, R, Mirabelli, M, Terracciano, C, Lino, F, Mozzetta, S, Gazzola, G, Camporese, G, Sacco, S, Lechiara, M, Carrarini, C, Russo, M, Casa Lena, A, Sucapane, P, Tiraboschi, P, Caroppo, P, Redaelli, V, Di Fede, G, Coppa, D, Peluso, L, Insarda, P, De Bartolo, M, Esposito, S, Iavarone, A, Fuschillo, C, Salvatore, E, Criscuolo, C, Sambati, L, Santoro, R, Gragnaniello, D, Pedriali, I, Ludovico, L, Chiari, A, Fabbo, A, Bevilacqua, P, Galli, C, Magarelli, S, Spalletta, G, Banaj, N, Caruso, G, Porcari, E, Giubilei, F, Casini, A, Ursini, F, Bruno, G, Boffelli, S, Brambilla, M, Magnani, G, Caso, F, Spinelli, E, Sinforiani, E, Costa, A, Luzzi, S, Cacchiò, G, Perini, M, Angeloni, R, Giuli, C, Fabi, K, Guidi, M, Paci, C, Castellano, A, Carapelle, E, Petrucci, R, Accogli, M, Trevisi, G, Renna, S, Vasquez Giuliano, A, Da Re, F, Milia, A, Pilia, G, Mascia, M, Putzu, V, Piccoli, T, Cuffaro, L, Monastero, R, Battaglia, A, Blandino, V, Lupo, F, Cumbo, E, Luca, A, Caravaglios, G, Vezzosi, A, Bessi, V, Tognoni, G, Calsolaro, V, Lucarelli, G, Amici, S, Trequattrini, A, Pezzuto, S, Mecocci, P, Caironi, G, Boselli, B, Formilan, M, Coin, A, De Togni, L, Sala, F, Sandri, G, Gallucci, M, Mazzarolo, A, Bergamelli, C, Passoni, S, Rainero I., Bruni A.C., Marra C., Cagnin A., Bonanni L., Cupidi C., Lagana V., Rubino E., Vacca A., Lorenzo R.D., Provero P., Isella V., Vanacore N., Agosta F., Appollonio I., Caffarra P., Busse C., Sambati R., Quaranta D., Guglielmi V., Logroscino G., Filippi M., Tedeschi G., Ferrarese C., Gallo E., Grassini A., Marcinno A., Roveta F., De Martino P., Frangipane F., Puccio G., Colao R., Mirabelli M., Terracciano C., Lino F., Mozzetta S., Gazzola G., Camporese G., Sacco S., Lechiara M.C., Carrarini C., Russo M., Casa Lena A., Sucapane P., Tiraboschi P., Caroppo P., Redaelli V., Di Fede G., Coppa D., Peluso L., Insarda P., De Bartolo M., Esposito S., Iavarone A., Fuschillo C., Salvatore E., Criscuolo C., Sambati L., Santoro R., Gragnaniello D., Pedriali I., Ludovico L., Chiari A., Fabbo A., Bevilacqua P., Galli C., Magarelli S., Spalletta G., Banaj N., Caruso G., Estela Porcari D., Giubilei F., Casini A.R., Ursini F., Bruno G., Boffelli S., Brambilla M., Magnani G., Caso F., Spinelli E.G., Sinforiani E., Costa A., Luzzi S., Cacchio G., Perini M., Angeloni R., Giuli C., Fabi K., Guidi M., Paci C., Castellano A., Carapelle E., Petrucci R., Accogli M., Nicoletta Trevisi G., Renna S., Giuliano A.V., Da Re F., Milia A., Pilia G., Mascia M.G., Putzu V., Piccoli T., Cuffaro L., Monastero R., Battaglia A., Blandino V., Lupo F., Cumbo E., Luca A., Caravaglios G., Vezzosi A., Bessi V., Tognoni G., Calsolaro V., Lucarelli G., Amici S., Trequattrini A., Pezzuto S., Mecocci P., Caironi G., Boselli B., Formilan M., Coin A., De Togni L., Sala F., Sandri G., Gallucci M., Mazzarolo A.P., Bergamelli C., Passoni S., Lorenzo, R. D., Gallo, E., Grassini, A., Marcinno, A., Roveta, F., De Martino, P., Frangipane, F., Puccio, G., Colao, R., Mirabelli, M., Terracciano, C., Lino, F., Mozzetta, S., Gazzola, G., Camporese, G., Sacco, S., Lechiara, M. C., Carrarini, C., Russo, M., Casa Lena, A., Sucapane, P., Tiraboschi, P., Caroppo, P., Redaelli, V., Di Fede, G., Coppa, D., Peluso, L., Insarda, P., De Bartolo, M., Esposito, S., Iavarone, A., Fuschillo, C., Salvatore, E., Criscuolo, C., Sambati, L., Santoro, R., Gragnaniello, D., Pedriali, I., Ludovico, L., Chiari, A., Fabbo, A., Bevilacqua, P., Galli, C., Magarelli, S., Spalletta, G., Banaj, N., Caruso, G., Estela Porcari, D., Giubilei, F., Casini, A. R., Ursini, F., Bruno, G., Boffelli, S., Brambilla, M., Magnani, G., Caso, F., Spinelli, E. G., Sinforiani, E., Costa, A., Luzzi, S., Cacchio, G., Perini, M., Angeloni, R., Giuli, C., Fabi, K., Guidi, M., Paci, C., Castellano, A., Carapelle, E., Petrucci, R., Accogli, M., Nicoletta Trevisi, G., Renna, S., Giuliano, A. V., Da Re, F., Milia, A., Pilia, G., Mascia, M. G., Putzu, V., Piccoli, T., Cuffaro, L., Monastero, R., Battaglia, A., Blandino, V., Lupo, F., Cumbo, E., Luca, A., Caravaglios, G., Vezzosi, A., Bessi, V., Tognoni, G., Calsolaro, V., Lucarelli, G., Amici, S., Trequattrini, A., Pezzuto, S., Mecocci, P., Caironi, G., Boselli, B., Formilan, M., Coin, A., De Togni, L., Sala, F., Sandri, G., Gallucci, M., Mazzarolo, A. P., Bergamelli, C., and Passoni, S.

Subjects
Aging, Pediatrics, medicine.medical_specialty, Cognitive Neuroscience, lcsh:RC321-571, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, mental disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, BPSD, caregiver burden, COVID-19, dementia, quarantine, medicine, Dementia, BPSD, 030212 general & internal medicine, Vascular dementia, lcsh:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, Alzheimer’s disease, caregiver burden, COVID-19, dementia, quarantine, Depression (differential diagnoses), Original Research, M-PSI/05 - PSICOLOGIA SOCIALE, MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Family caregivers, business.industry, Odds ratio, medicine.disease, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Distress, MED/17 - MALATTIE INFETTIVE, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Neuroscience, Frontotemporal dementia
Abstract

IntroductionPrevious studies showed that quarantine for pandemic diseases is associated with several psychological and medical effects. The consequences of quarantine for COVID-19 pandemic in patients with dementia are unknown. We investigated the clinical changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and evaluated caregivers’ distress during COVID-19 quarantine.MethodsThe study involved 87 Italian Dementia Centers. Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), and Vascular Dementia (VD) were eligible for the study. Family caregivers of patients with dementia were interviewed by phone in April 2020, 45 days after quarantine declaration. Main outcomes were patients’ changes in cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms. Secondary outcomes were effects on caregivers’ psychological features.Results4913 patients (2934 females, 1979 males) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Caregivers reported a worsening in cognitive functions in 55.1% of patients, mainly in subjects with DLB and AD. Aggravation of behavioral symptoms was observed in 51.9% of patients. In logistic regression analysis, previous physical independence was associated with both cognitive and behavioral worsening (odds ratio 1.85 [95% CI 1.42–2.39], 1.84 [95% CI 1.43–2.38], respectively). On the contrary, pandemic awareness was a protective factor for the worsening of cognitive and behavioral symptoms (odds ratio 0.74 [95% CI 0.65–0.85]; and 0.72 [95% CI 0.63–0.82], respectively). Approximately 25.9% of patients showed the onset of new behavioral symptoms. A worsening in motor function was reported by 36.7% of patients. Finally, caregivers reported a high increase in anxiety, depression, and distress.ConclusionOur study shows that quarantine for COVID-19 is associated with an acute worsening of clinical symptoms in patients with dementia as well as increase of caregivers’ burden. Our findings emphasize the importance to implement new strategies to mitigate the effects of quarantine in patients with dementia.

Published
2021

8. Behavioral and psychological effects of coronavirus disease-19 quarantine in patients with dementia

Author

Annachiara Cagnin, Raffaele Di Lorenzo, Camillo Marra, Laura Bonanni, Chiara Cupidi, Valentina Laganà, Elisa Rubino, Alessandro Vacca, Paolo Provero, Valeria Isella, Nicola Vanacore, Federica Agosta, Ildebrando Appollonio, Paolo Caffarra, Ilaria Pettenuzzo, Renato Sambati, Davide Quaranta, Valeria Guglielmi, Giancarlo Logroscino, Massimo Filippi, Gioacchino Tedeschi, Carlo Ferrarese, Innocenzo Rainero, Amalia C. Bruni, SINdem COVID-19 Study Group, Erica Gallo, Alberto Grassini, Andrea Marcinnò, Fausto Roveta, Paola De Martino, Francesca Frangipane, Gianfranco Puccio, Rosanna Colao, Maria Mirabelli, Noemi Martellacci, Federica Lino, Stefano Mozzetta, Cinzia Bussè, Giulia Camporese, Simona Sacco, Maria Carmela Lechiara, Claudia Carrarini, Mirella Russo, Alfonsina Casalena, Patrizia Sucapane, Pietro Tiraboschi, Paola Caroppo, Veronica Redaelli, Giuseppe Di Fede, Daniela Coppa, Lenino Peluso, Pasqualina Insarda, Matteo De Bartolo, Sabrina Esposito, Alessandro Iavarone, Anna Vittoria Marta Orsini, Elena Salvatore, Chiara Criscuolo, Luisa Sambati, Rossella Santoro, Daniela Gragnaniello, Ilaria Pedriali, Livia Ludovico, Annalisa Chiari, Andrea Fabbo, Petra Bevilacqua, Chiara Galli, Silvia Magarelli, Marta Perini, Gianfranco Spalletta, Nerisa Banaj, Desirée Estela Porcari, Giulia Caruso, Virginia Cipollini, Anna Rosa Casini, Francesca Ursini, Giuseppe Bruno, Renzo Rozzini, Michela Brambilla, Giuseppe Magnani, Francesca Caso, Edoardo G. Spinelli, Matteo Cotta Ramusino, Giulia Perini, Simona Luzzi, Gabriella Cacchiò, Rossano Angeloni, Cinzia Giuli, Katia Fabi, Marco Guidi, Cristina Paci, Annaelisa Castellano, Elena Carapelle, Rossella Petrucci, Miriam Accogli, Gianluigi Calabrese, Giovanna Nicoletta Trevisi, Brigida Coluccia, Antonella Vasquez Giuliano, Marcella Caggiula, Fulvio Da Re, Antonio Milia, Giuseppina Pilia, Maria Giuseppina Mascia, Valeria Putzu, Tommaso Piccoli, Luca Cuffaro, Roberto Monastero, Antonella Battaglia, Valeria Blandino, Federica Lupo, Eduardo Cumbo, Luca Antonina, Giuseppe Caravaglios, Annalisa Vezzosi, Valentina Bessi, Gloria Tognoni, Valeria Calsolaro, Enrico Mossello, Serena Amici, Alberto Trequattrini, Salvatore Pezzuto, Patrizia Mecocci, Giulia Fichera, Samantha Pradelli, Marino Formilan, Alessandra Coin, Laura Detogni, Francesca Sala, Giulia Sandri, Maurizio Gallucci, Anna Paola Mazzarolo, Cristina Bergamelli, Cagnin, A., Di Lorenzo, R., Marra, C., Bonanni, L., Cupidi, C., Lagana, V., Rubino, E., Vacca, A., Provero, P., Isella, V., Vanacore, N., Agosta, F., Appollonio, I., Caffarra, P., Pettenuzzo, I., Sambati, R., Quaranta, D., Guglielmi, V., Logroscino, G., Filippi, M., Tedeschi, G., Ferrarese, C., Rainero, I., Bruni, A. C., Cagnin A., Di Lorenzo R., Marra C., Bonanni L., Cupidi C., Lagana V., Rubino E., Vacca A., Provero P., Isella V., Vanacore N., Agosta F., Appollonio I., Caffarra P., Pettenuzzo I., Sambati R., Quaranta D., Guglielmi V., Logroscino G., Filippi M., Tedeschi G., Ferrarese C., Rainero I., Bruni A.C., Gallo E., Grassini A., Marcinno A., Roveta F., De Martino P., Frangipane F., Puccio G., Colao R., Mirabelli M., Martellacci N., Lino F., Mozzetta S., Busse C., Camporese G., Sacco S., Lechiara M.C., Carrarini C., Russo M., Casalena A., Sucapane P., Tiraboschi P., Caroppo P., Redaelli V., Di Fede G., Coppa D., Peluso L., Insarda P., De Bartolo M., Esposito S., Iavarone A., Orsini A.V.M., Salvatore E., Criscuolo C., Sambati L., Santoro R., Gragnaniello D., Pedriali I., Ludovico L., Chiari A., Fabbo A., Bevilacqua P., Galli C., Magarelli S., Perini M., Spalletta G., Banaj N., Porcari D.E., Caruso G., Cipollini V., Casini A.R., Ursini F., Bruno G., Rozzini R., Brambilla M., Magnani G., Caso F., Spinelli E.G., Ramusino M.C., Perini G., Luzzi S., Cacchio G., Angeloni R., Giuli C., Fabi K., Guidi M., Paci C., Castellano A., Carapelle E., Petrucci R., Accogli M., Calabrese G., Trevisi G.N., Coluccia B., Giuliano A.V., Caggiula M., Da Re F., Milia A., Pilia G., Mascia M.G., Putzu V., Piccoli T., Cuffaro L., Monastero R., Battaglia A., Blandino V., Lupo F., Cumbo E., Antonina L., Caravaglios G., Vezzosi A., Bessi V., Tognoni G., Calsolaro V., Mossello E., Amici S., Trequattrini A., Pezzuto S., Mecocci P., Fichera G., Pradelli S., Formilan M., Coin A., Detogni L., Sala F., Sandri G., Gallucci M., Mazzarolo A.P., Bergamelli C., Gallo, E., Grassini, A., Marcinno, A., Roveta, F., De Martino, P., Frangipane, F., Puccio, G., Colao, R., Mirabelli, M., Martellacci, N., Lino, F., Mozzetta, S., Busse, C., Camporese, G., Sacco, S., Lechiara, M. C., Carrarini, C., Russo, M., Casalena, A., Sucapane, P., Tiraboschi, P., Caroppo, P., Redaelli, V., Di Fede, G., Coppa, D., Peluso, L., Insarda, P., De Bartolo, M., Esposito, S., Iavarone, A., Orsini, A. V. M., Salvatore, E., Criscuolo, C., Sambati, L., Santoro, R., Gragnaniello, D., Pedriali, I., Ludovico, L., Chiari, A., Fabbo, A., Bevilacqua, P., Galli, C., Magarelli, S., Perini, M., Spalletta, G., Banaj, N., Porcari, D. E., Caruso, G., Cipollini, V., Casini, A. R., Ursini, F., Bruno, G., Rozzini, R., Brambilla, M., Magnani, G., Caso, F., Spinelli, E. G., Ramusino, M. C., Perini, G., Luzzi, S., Cacchio, G., Angeloni, R., Giuli, C., Fabi, K., Guidi, M., Paci, C., Castellano, A., Carapelle, E., Petrucci, R., Accogli, M., Calabrese, G., Trevisi, G. N., Coluccia, B., Giuliano, A. V., Caggiula, M., Da Re, F., Milia, A., Pilia, G., Mascia, M. G., Putzu, V., Piccoli, T., Cuffaro, L., Monastero, R., Battaglia, A., Blandino, V., Lupo, F., Cumbo, E., Antonina, L., Caravaglios, G., Vezzosi, A., Bessi, V., Tognoni, G., Calsolaro, V., Mossello, E., Amici, S., Trequattrini, A., Pezzuto, S., Mecocci, P., Fichera, G., Pradelli, S., Formilan, M., Coin, A., Detogni, L., Sala, F., Sandri, G., Gallucci, M., Mazzarolo, A. P., Bergamelli, C., Cagnin, A, Di Lorenzo, R, Marra, C, Bonanni, L, Cupidi, C, Lagana, V, Rubino, E, Vacca, A, Provero, P, Isella, V, Vanacore, N, Agosta, F, Appollonio, I, Caffarra, P, Pettenuzzo, I, Sambati, R, Quaranta, D, Guglielmi, V, Logroscino, G, Filippi, M, Tedeschi, G, Ferrarese, C, Rainero, I, and Bruni, A

Subjects
Pediatrics, medicine.medical_specialty, lcsh:RC435-571, Irritability, Behavioral symptoms, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, lcsh:Psychiatry, Psychological symptoms, medicine, Dementia, Apathy, Vascular dementia, Behavioral and psychological symptoms, Behavioral symptoms, Caregiver, Coronavirus disease, Dementia, Gender, Psychological symptoms, Quarantine, Original Research, MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, Psychiatry, Behavioral symptom, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Family caregivers, business.industry, Behavioral and psychological symptoms, Gender, Behavioral and psychological symptom, Caregiver burden, medicine.disease, Multiinfarct dementia, Caregiver, 030227 psychiatry, Coronavirus disease, Quarantine, Psychiatry and Mental health, Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA, MED/17 - MALATTIE INFETTIVE, MED/25 - PSICHIATRIA, M-PSI/08 - PSICOLOGIA CLINICA, Psychological symptom, medicine.symptom, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Background: In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and several governments planned a national quarantine in order to control the virus spread. Acute psychological effects of quarantine in frail elderly subjects with special needs, such as patients with dementia, have been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess modifications of neuropsychiatric symptoms during quarantine in patients with dementia and their caregivers. Methods: This is a sub-study of a multicenter nation-wide survey. A structured telephone interview was delivered to family caregivers of patients with diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia (VD), followed regularly at 87 Italian memory clinics. Variations in behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) were collected after 1 month since quarantine declaration and associations with disease type, severity, gender, and caregiver’s stress burden were analyzed. Results: A total of 4,913 caregivers participated in the survey. Increased BPSD was reported in 59.6% of patients as worsening of preexisting symptoms (51.9%) or as new onset (26%), and requested drug modifications in 27.6% of these cases. Irritability, apathy, agitation, and anxiety were the most frequently reported worsening symptoms and sleep disorder and irritability the most frequent new symptoms. Profile of BPSD varied according to dementia type, disease severity, and patients’ gender. Anxiety and depression were associated with a diagnosis of AD (OR 1.35, CI: 1.12–1.62), mild to moderate disease severity and female gender. DLB was significantly associated with a higher risk of worsening hallucinations (OR 5.29, CI 3.66–7.64) and sleep disorder (OR 1.69, CI 1.25–2.29), FTD with wandering (OR 1.62, CI 1.12–2.35), and change of appetite (OR 1.52, CI 1.03–2.25). Stress-related symptoms were experienced by two-thirds of caregivers and were associated with increased patients’ neuropsychiatric burden (p

Published
2020

9. The efficiency of activities of daily living (ADLs) skills in late adulthood: A mediational approach.

Author

Fastame MC, Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, and Pau M

Subjects
Humans, Male, Female, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Cognitive Dysfunction physiopathology, Cognitive Dysfunction diagnosis, Cognitive Dysfunction etiology, Aging physiology, Independent Living, Neuropsychological Tests, Activities of Daily Living, Executive Function physiology, Hand Strength physiology
Abstract

The term "Activities of Daily Living" (ADLs) refers to a set of fundamental tasks (i.e., toileting, bathing, personal care, eating, grooming, and getting dressed) considered necessary for living and being autonomous in everyday life. Although in the clinical setting ADLs efficiency is a marker to diagnose dementia, limited evidence on the mechanism implicating muscular function and cognitive alterations in ADLs skills in late adulthood exists. This study primarily intended to determine the extent to which executive functions mediate between muscular strength, as assessed through handgrip strength (HGS) measurement, and ADLs skills of older community-dwellers. A further goal was to explore the impact of gender and cognitive status on ADLs and HGS scores, using education as a covariate. Three hundred and thirty-four older participants, 199 females and 135 males (M age = 77.5 years, SD = 5.6 years, age range = 63-93 years) completed a battery of tests assessing ADLs, HGS, and executive functions. The results showed that 34-56% of the variance in the ADLs condition was explained by HGS and executive functioning. Furthermore, cognitively healthy participants exhibited better ADLs skills, whereas cognitively impaired individuals, both males and females, exhibited poorer HGS efficiency. In conclusion, in clinical settings, the concurrent evaluation of ADLs skills, motor, and higher-order cognitive processes should be encouraged to detect individuals needing a person-tailored intervention to boost their quality of life.

Published
2024
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10. The contribution of motor efficiency to drawing performance of older people with and without signs of cognitive decline.

Author

Fastame MC, Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, and Pau M

Subjects
Humans, Aged, Adult, Postural Balance, Time and Motion Studies, Motor Skills, Hand Strength, Cognitive Dysfunction diagnosis
Abstract

In clinical practice, different drawing tests are used for the assessment of cognitive efficiency in the geriatric population. However, so far, the contribution of motor skills to drawing performance has not been sufficiently examined in the late adult life span. This study was aimed at disentangling the role played by motor functioning in three well-known drawing tests that in the clinical field are commonly used to detect some signs of cognitive impairment of older individuals. One hundred and forty-nine community dwellers ( M age = 77.4 years, SD  = 5.9 years) completed a battery of tests assessing global cognitive efficiency, drawing skills (i.e., Clock Drawing, Visuo-spatial Drawing ACE-R, Copy Figures Tests), handgrip muscular strength (HGS), and functional mobility (assessed through the Timed-Up-and-Go test). Significant relationships were found among those measures. Moreover, handgrip strength and functional mobility explained 12-19% of the variance in each drawing condition. Finally, participants exhibiting poorer HGS performed worse the drawing tasks and were successively recognized as cognitively deteriorated. In conclusion, these findings highlight that motor skills can significantly impact the assessment of cognitive efficiency in late adulthood. Therefore, in clinical practice, the concurrent assessment of basic motor functions (in terms of muscular strength and functional mobility) and cognitive efficiency of the geriatric population at risk for cognitive decline should be encouraged.

Published
2023
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11. Motor proficiency as a correlate of coping in late adult lifespan. An exploratory study.

Author

Fastame MC, Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, and Pau M

Subjects
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Postural Balance, Time and Motion Studies, Hand Strength, Longevity
Abstract

Background and Objectives: A body of studies suggests that coping resources may represent a protective factor against functional and cognitive losses associated with advanced ageing. This study intended to examine the contributions of global cognition, functional mobility, and muscular strength on self-reported coping strategies in late adulthood., Methods: One hundred and thirty-seven community-based older individuals (M age  = 77.2 years, SD = 5.8 years, age range: 63-92 years), 48 males and 89 females with and without signs of cognitive decline completed a battery of tools assessing global cognitive function, problem-focused coping, muscular strength (assessed by handgrip strength, HGS) and functional mobility (assessed using the instrumented Timed-Up-and-Go test)., Results: Significant associations were found between problem-focused coping, global cognitive function, HGS, functional mobility parameters, age, and education. Moreover, when the effects of education and gender were controlled for, HGS, functional mobility, and global cognitive function scores accounted for 44% of the variance in coping., Conclusions: In clinical practice, the use of functional mobility and muscular strength measures to screen the physical health of older individuals should be encouraged.

Published
2022
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12. Executive and Motor Functions in Older Individuals with Cognitive Impairment.

Author

Fastame MC, Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, and Pau M

Abstract

Background: A current research trend is the examination of the interplay between cognitive functioning, higher-order processes, and motor efficiency in late adulthood. However, the association between motor and cognitive functions when cognitive decline occurs has not been extensively explored. This study investigated whether gait features, functional mobility, and handgrip strength were associated with executive functions in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia., Methods: 127 older participants (M age = 77.9 years, SD = 5.8 years) who had received a diagnosis of MCI and dementia voluntarily took part in the study. A battery of tests assessing global cognitive function, executive functions, muscular strength, functional mobility, and spatio-temporal parameters of gait was completed by the participants., Results: Statistically significant correlations were obtained between global cognitive function, executive functions, and motor efficiency measures. Moreover, a series of regression analyses showed that 8-13% of the variance of several motor parameters was predicted by several executive functions. Additionally, walking, functional mobility, and global cognitive function predicted 53-71% of the variance relative to the occurrence of dementia. In conclusion, motor functioning is closely related to cognitive functioning in late adulthood., Conclusions: The assessment of muscular strength and functional mobility should be promoted in clinical settings.

Published
2022
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13. The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and its Lockdown Measures on the Mental and Functional Health of Older Individuals.

Author

Fastame MC, Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, and Pau M

Subjects
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Longitudinal Studies, Male, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 prevention & control, COVID-19 psychology, Cognitive Dysfunction epidemiology, Communicable Disease Control, Physical Functional Performance
Abstract

The effect of the COVID-19 on the physical and mental health of Italian older individuals displaying signs of cognitive deterioration has not been deeply investigated. This longitudinal study examined the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the psychological well-being and motor efficiency of a sample of Italian community-dwellers with and without cognitive decline. Forty-seven participants underwent instrumental gait analysis performed in ecological setting using wearable sensors, and completed a battery of tasks assessing cognitive functioning and psychological well-being, before and after the full lockdown due to the COVID-19 spreading. A series of Multivariate Analyses of Variance (MANOVAs) documented that the superior gait performance of the cognitively healthy participants exhibited before the COVID-19 spread, vanished when they were tested at the end of the lockdown period. Moreover, before the outbreak of the COVID-19, cognitively healthy participants and those with signs of cognitive decline reported similar levels of psychological well-being, whereas, after the lockdown, the former group reported better coping, emotional competencies, and general well-being than the participants displaying signs of cognitive decline. In conclusion, the full COVID-19 outbreak had a significant impact on the mental and motor functioning of older individuals with and without signs of cognitive deterioration living in Italy., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Published
2021
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14. Clinical assessment of gait and functional mobility in Italian healthy and cognitively impaired older persons using wearable inertial sensors.

Author

Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, and Pau M

Subjects
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Gait Analysis, Humans, Italy, Male, Gait, Wearable Electronic Devices
Abstract

Aim: The main purpose of the present study was to verify the feasibility of wearable inertial sensors (IMUs) in a clinical setting to screen gait and functional mobility in Italian older persons. In particular, we intended to verify the capability of IMUs to discriminate individuals with and without cognitive impairments and assess the existence of significant correlations between mobility parameters extracted by processing trunk accelerations and cognitive status., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study performed on 213 adults aged over 65 years (mean age 77.0 ± 5.4; 62% female) who underwent cognitive assessment (through Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised, ACE-R) instrumental gait analysis and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test carried out using a wearable IMU located in the lower back., Results: Individuals with cognitive impairments exhibit a peculiar gait pattern, characterized by significant reduction of speed (- 34% vs. healthy individuals), stride length (- 28%), cadence (- 9%), and increase in double support duration (+ 11%). Slight, but significant changes in stance and swing phase duration were also detected. Poorer performances in presence of cognitive impairment were observed in terms of functional mobility as overall and sub-phase TUG times resulted significantly higher with respect to healthy individuals (overall time, + 38%, sub-phases times ranging from + 22 to + 34%), although with some difference associated with age. The severity of mobility alterations was found moderately to strongly correlated with the ACE-R score (Spearman's rho = 0.58 vs. gait speed, 0.54 vs. stride length, 0.66 vs. overall TUG time)., Conclusion: The findings obtained in the present study suggest that wearable IMUs appear to be an effective solution for the clinical assessment of mobility parameters of older persons screened for cognitive impairments within a clinical setting. They may represent a useful tool for the clinician in verifying the effectiveness of interventions to alleviate the impact of mobility limitations on daily life in cognitively impaired individuals.

Published
2021
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15. Smoothness of Gait in Healthy and Cognitively Impaired Individuals: A Study on Italian Elderly Using Wearable Inertial Sensor.

Author

Pau M, Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, Leban B, and Allali G

Subjects
Acceleration, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Case-Control Studies, Female, Humans, Italy, Male, Walking Speed, Cognitive Dysfunction, Gait, Gait Analysis, Wearable Electronic Devices
Abstract

The main purpose of the present study was to compare the smoothness of gait in older adults with and without cognitive impairments, using the harmonic ratio (HR), a metric derived from trunk accelerations. Ninety older adults aged over 65 (age: 78.9 ± 4.8 years; 62% female) underwent instrumental gait analysis, performed using a wearable inertial sensor and cognitive assessment with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R). They were stratified into three groups based on their MMSE performance: healthy controls (HC), early and advanced cognitive decline (ECD, ACD). The spatio-temporal and smoothness of gait parameters, the latter expressed through HR in anteroposterior (AP), vertical (V) and mediolateral (ML) directions, were derived from trunk acceleration data. The existence of a relationship between gait parameters and degree of cognitive impairment was also explored. The results show that individuals with ECD and ACD exhibited significantly slower speed and shorter stride length, as well as reduced values of HR in the AP and V directions compared to HC, while no significant differences were found between ECD and ACD in any of the investigated parameters. Gait speed, stride length and HR in all directions were found to be moderately correlated with both MMSE and ACE-R scores. Such findings suggest that, in addition to the known changes in gait speed and stride length, important reductions in smoothness of gait are likely to occur in older adults, owing to early/prodromal stages of cognitive impairment. Given the peculiar nature of these metrics, which refers to overall body stability during gait, the calculation of HR may result in being useful in improving the characterization of gait patterns in older adults with cognitive impairments.

Published
2020
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16. Reversible Pisa syndrome (pleurothotonus) due to the cholinesterase inhibitor galantamine: case report.

Author

Cossu G, Melis M, Melis G, Maccioni E, Putzu V, Catte O, and Putzu PF

Subjects
Aged, Alzheimer Disease diagnosis, Botulinum Toxins, Type A therapeutic use, Cholinesterase Inhibitors therapeutic use, Cognition Disorders diagnosis, Cognition Disorders drug therapy, Dystonia drug therapy, Dystonia physiopathology, Female, Galantamine therapeutic use, Humans, Neuromuscular Agents therapeutic use, Neuropsychological Tests, Severity of Illness Index, Syndrome, Alzheimer Disease drug therapy, Cholinesterase Inhibitors adverse effects, Dystonia chemically induced, Galantamine adverse effects
Abstract

We report on a case of reversible Pisa syndrome developed after treatment with galantamine in a patient with Alzheimer's disease without previous exposure to neuroleptic or other cholinesterase inhibitors. Complete and persistent resolution of the syndrome was achieved several weeks after botulinum toxin type-A injection., ((c) 2004 Movement Disorder Society.)

Published
2004
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17. [Association between carotid lesions evaluated by Doppler color echocardiography and cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. Preliminary results].

Author

Binaghi F, Fronteddu PF, Putzu V, Cannas F, and Pitzus F

Subjects
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cardiovascular Diseases prevention & control, Female, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Diseases diagnostic imaging, Carotid Artery Diseases diagnostic imaging, Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
Abstract

Background: The valuation of the extracranial carotid by echo color-Doppler takes on an extraordinary importance for the prevention of cerebral ictus at geriatric age. In this "naturalistic" study a population of old people (> 65 yrs) of Cagliari's province was considered in order to: 1) discriminate the lesions of the carotid that are imputed to atherosclerotic disease by anatomic changes of the arterial wall caused by aging; 2) study relations between lesions of the carotid and cardiovascular risk factors., Methods: The carotids of 50 old subjects were studied by echo color-Doppler and the lesion classified in different classes of severity, according to the hemodynamic standard, comparing them with the presence of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. Hypercholesterolemia was the most frequent risk factor (76%), followed by hypertension (62%), over-weight (54%) and smoking (42%). Moreover a diffused intima-media thickening (IMT) was constant in all the subjects with values > 0.75 mm; athero-sclerotic plaques were even present in 39 subjects which only in 4 cases could be considered at risk of cerebral ischemia., Results: A significant correlation between the severity of the lesions and levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol for the male sex emerged, while for smoking only a trend of correlation has been obtained., Conclusions: Considering this experience it is suggested that in old subjects the presence of a diffused IMT with values > 0.75 mm must be considered as a marker of aging of the arterial wall of the carotid and not as a cardiovascular risk factor as reported in the literature for the middleaged.

Published
1998

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