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The contribution of behavioral features to caregiver burden in FTLD spectrum disorders
- Silverman, Hannah E;
- Ake, Jeannie M;
- Manoochehri, Masood;
- Appleby, Brian S;
- Brushaber, Danielle;
- Devick, Katrina L;
- Dickerson, Bradford C;
- Fields, Julie A;
- Forsberg, Leah K;
- Ghoshal, Nupur;
- Graff‐Radford, Neill R;
- Grossman, Murray;
- Heuer, Hilary W;
- Kornak, John;
- Lapid, Maria I;
- Litvan, Irene;
- Mackenzie, Ian R;
- Mendez, Mario F;
- Onyike, Chiadi U;
- Pascual, Belen;
- Tartaglia, Maria Carmela;
- Boeve, Bradley F;
- Boxer, Adam L;
- Rosen, Howard J;
- Cosentino, Stephanie;
- Huey, Edward D;
- Barker, Megan S;
- Goldman, Jill S;
- consortium, the ALLFTD
- et al.
Published Web Location
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34854532/No data is associated with this publication.
Abstract
Introduction
Caregivers of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) spectrum disorders experience tremendous burden, which has been associated with the neuropsychiatric and behavioral features of the disorders.Methods
In a sample of 558 participants with FTLD spectrum disorders, we performed multiple-variable regressions to identify the behavioral features that were most strongly associated with caregiver burden, as measured by the Zarit Burden Interview, at each stage of disease.Results
Apathy and disinhibition, as rated by both clinicians and caregivers, as well as clinician-rated psychosis, showed the strongest associations with caregiver burden, a pattern that was consistent when participants were separated cross-sectionally by disease stage. In addition, behavioral features appeared to contribute most to caregiver burden in patients with early dementia.Discussion
Caregivers should be provided with early education on the management of the behavioral features of FTLD spectrum disorders. Interventions targeting apathy, disinhibition, and psychosis may be most useful to reduce caregiver burden.Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.