Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-31T16:38:35.914Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Living with mild cognitive impairment: the patient's and carer's experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2012

Katherine Dean  and
Gordon Wilcock
Katherine Dean*
Affiliation:
Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
Gordon Wilcock
Affiliation:
Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Katherine Dean, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Level 4 (OPTIMA), John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, OX3 9DU, Oxford, UK. Phone: +44 1865 234940; Fax: +44 1865 231525. Email: [email protected].
Get access

Abstract

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a relatively common condition and rates of diagnosis are likely to increase in the near future. Little is known about the experiences of patients with MCI and their carers nor about the most appropriate interventions to support this group.

Methods: The existing literature on this topic up to July 2011 was identified via systematic searches of the Embase and Medline databases, the Cochrane Library and relevant sections of the National Electronic Library for Health. The main search term “mild cognitive impairment” was used in combination with other relevant terms. The reference lists of reviewed articles were also examined for any additional papers of significance. Papers identified by this method were examined and those deemed relevant were included in this review.

Results: Twenty-one suitable papers were identified for inclusion in this review, a relatively small number. The studies reviewed suggest that patients with MCI and their carers face a variety of practical and emotional challenges. No interventional studies of support have been undertaken, but the authors of relevant observational studies have suggested provision of information, psychosocial support and strategies to enhance patient interaction with carers and social contacts.

Conclusions: MCI results in significant challenges for both patients and their carers. Further work is required in order to establish the best way to help patients and carers meet these challenges.

Keywords

MCIquality of lifecarerscognitive disordersmemory
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 871 - 881
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acton, G. J. and Kang, J. (2001). Interventions to reduce the burden of caregiving for an adult with dementia: a meta-analysis. Research in Nursing & Health, 24, 349–360.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Adams, K. B. (2006). The transition to caregiving: the experience of family members embarking on the dementia caregiving career. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 47, 3–29.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anstey, K. J. et al. (2008). Follow-up of mild cognitive impairment and related disorders over four years in adults in their sixties: the PATH through life study. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 26, 226–233. doi: 10.1159/000154646.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Artero, S., Touchon, J. and Ritchie, K. (2001). Disability and mild cognitive impairment: a longitudinal population-based study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 1092–1097.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Austrom, M. G. and Lu, Y. (2009). Long term caregiving: helping families of persons with mild cognitive impairment cope. Current Alzheimer Research, 6, 392–398.Google Scholar
Blieszner, R., Roberto, A., Wilcox, L., Barham, J. and Winston, L. (2007). Dimensions of ambiguous loss in couples coping with mild cognitive impairment. Family Relations, 56, 196–209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blieszner, R. and Roberto, K. A. (2010). Care partner responses to the onset of mild cognitive impairment. Gerontologist, 50, 11–22. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnp068.Google Scholar
Brown, P. J., Devanand, D. P., Liu, X. and Caccappolo, E. (2011). Functional impairment in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer Disease. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68, 617–626. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.57.Google Scholar
Bruce, J. M., McQuiggan, M., Williams, V., Westervelt, H. and Tremont, G. (2008). Burden among spousal and child caregivers of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 25, 385–390. doi: 10.1159/000122587.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burns, A. and Rabins, P. (2000). Carer burden dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15 (Suppl. 1), S9–S13.Google Scholar
Busse, A., Bischkopf, J., Riedel-Heller, S. G. and Angermeyer, M. C. (2003). Mild cognitive impairment: prevalence and incidence according to different diagnostic criteria. Results of the Leipzig longitudinal study of the aged (LEILA75+). British Journal of Psychiatry, 182, 449–454.Google Scholar
Department of Health (2009). Living Well with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy. London: Department of Health.Google Scholar
Department of Health (2011). Six out of ten people with dementia go undiagnosed – £2 million campaign launched to tackle dementia. Press release, 7 Nov 2011.Google Scholar
Derksen, E., Graff, M., Visser, P.-J., Vernooij-Dassen, M. and Olde Rikkert, M. (2009). MCI-patients’: worries about their prognosis justified? Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Letter (online only).Google Scholar
Farias, S. T., Mungas, D. and Jagust, W. (2005). Degree of discrepancy between self and other-reported everyday functioning by cognitive status: dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy elders. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20, 827–834. doi: 10.1002/gps.1367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frank, L. et al. (2006). Impact of cognitive impairment on mild dementia patients and mild cognitive impairment patients and their informants. International Psychogeriatrics, 18, 151–162. doi: 10.1017/S1041610205002450.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garand, L., Dew, M. A., Eazor, L. R., DeKosky, S. T. and Reynolds, C. F. 3rd (2005). Caregiving burden and psychiatric morbidity in spouses of persons with mild cognitive impairment. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20, 512–522. doi: 10.1002/gps.1318.Google Scholar
Gauthier, S. et al. (2006). Mild cognitive impairment. Lancet, 367, 1262–1270. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68542-5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joosten-Weyn, B. L., Vernooij-Dassen, M., Rikkert, M. O. and Teunisse, J. P. (2008). Mild cognitive impairment: coping with an uncertain label. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23, 148–154. doi:10.1002/gps.1855.Google Scholar
Lingler, J. H. et al. (2006). Making sense of mild cognitive impairment: a qualitative exploration of the patient's experience. Gerontologist, 46, 791–800.Google Scholar
Lu, Y.-F. Y., Haase, J. E. and Farran, C. J. (2007a). Perspectives of persons with mild cognitive impairment: sense of being able. Alzheimer's Care Today, 8, 75–86.Google Scholar
Lu, Y. F. et al. , (2007b). Depressed mood in informal caregivers of individuals with mild cognitive impairment. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 22, 273–285. doi: 10.1177/1533317507301367.Google Scholar
Lu, Y. F. and Haase, J. E. (2009). Experience and perspectives of caregivers of spouse with mild cognitive impairment. Current Alzheimer Research, 6, 384–391.Google Scholar
Lyketsos, C. G., Lopez, O., Jones, B., Fitzpatrick, A. L., Breitner, J. and DeKosky, S. (2002). Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia and mild cognitive impairment: results from the cardiovascular health study. JAMA, 288, 1475–1483.Google Scholar
McIlvane, J. M., Popa, M. A., Robinson, B., Houseweart, K. and Haley, W. E. (2008). Perceptions of illness, coping, and well-being in persons with mild cognitive impairment and their care partners. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 22, 284–292. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e318169d714.Google Scholar
Mitchell, A. J. and Shiri-Feshki, M. (2009). Rate of progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia: meta-analysis of 41 robust inception cohort studies. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 119, 252–265. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01326.x.Google Scholar
Palmer, K., Backman, L., Winblad, B. and Fratiglioni, L. (2008). Mild cognitive impairment in the general population: occurrence and progression to Alzheimer disease. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 603–611. doi: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181753a64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Petersen, R. C., Stevens, J. C., Ganguli, M., Tangalos, E. G., Cummings, J. L. and DeKosky, S. T. (2001). Practice parameter: early detection of dementia: mild cognitive impairment (an evidence-based review). Neurology, 56, 1133–1142.Google Scholar
Pinquart, M. and Sorensen, S. (2006). Helping caregivers of persons with dementia: which interventions work and how large are their effects? International Psychogeriatrics, 18, 577–595. doi: 10.1017/S1041610206003462.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ryan, K. A. et al. (2010). Caregiver support service needs for patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 24, 171–176. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e3181aba90d.Google Scholar
Smith, A. D. et al. (2010). Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Public Library of Science, 5, e12244. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012244.Google Scholar
Smith, A. P. and Beattie, B. L. (2001). Disclosing a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: patient and family experiences. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 28 (Suppl. 1), S67–S71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tabert, M. H. et al. (2002). Functional deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment: prediction of AD. Neurology, 58, 758–764.Google Scholar
Vogel, A., Stokholm, J., Gade, A., Andersen, B. B., Hejl, A. M. and Waldemar, G. (2004). Awareness of deficits in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: do MCI patients have impaired insight? Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 17, 181–187. doi: 10.1159/000076354.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed