@article{10902/32391,
year = {2022},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10902/32391},
abstract = {Introduction: Limited information is available on people's experiences of living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at earlier stages. This study assessed awareness of diagnosis among people with early-stage AD and its impact on different person-centered outcome measures. Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study in 21 memory clinics in Spain. Persons aged 50-90 years, diagnosed with prodromal or mild AD (NIA/AA criteria), a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥22, and a Clinical Dementia Rating-Global score (CDR-GS) of 0.5 or 1.0 were recruited. The Representations and Adjustment to Dementia Index (RADIX) was used to assess participants' beliefs about their condition and its consequences. Results: A total of 149 persons with early-stage AD were studied. Mean (SD) age was 72.3 (7.0) years and 50.3% were female. Mean duration of AD was 1.4 (1.8) years. Mean MMSE score was 24.6 (2.1) and 87.2% had a CDR-GS score of 0.5. Most participants (n = 84, 57.5%) used a descriptive term related to specific AD symptoms (e.g., memory difficulties) when asked what they called their condition. Participants aware of their diagnosis using the term AD (n = 66, 45.2%) were younger, had more depressive symptoms, and poorer life satisfaction and quality of life compared to those without awareness of their specific diagnosis. Practical and emotional consequences RADIX scores showed a significant negative correlation with Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease score (rho = - 0.389 and - 0.413, respectively; p < 0.0001). Years of education was the only predictor of awareness of AD diagnosis [OR = 1.04 (95% CI 1.00-1.08); p = 0.029]},
publisher = {Springer},
publisher = {Neurology and therapy, 2022, 11(3), 1183-1198},
title = {Awareness of diagnosis in persons with early-stage alzheimer's disease: an observational study in Spain},
author = {Villarejo-Galende, Alberto and García-Arcelay, Elena and Piñol-Ripoll, Gerard and Olmo-Rodríguez, Antonio del and Viñuela, Félix and Boada, Mercè and Franco-Macías, Emilio and Ibáñez de la Peña, Almudena and Riverol, Mario and Puij-Pijoan, Albert and Abizanda-Soler, Pedro and Arroyo, Rafael and Baquero-Toledo, Miquel and Feria-Vilar, Inmaculada and Balasa, Mircea and Berbel, Ángel and Rodríguez Rodríguez, Eloy Manuel and Vieira-Campos, Alba and García-Ribas, Guilermo and Rodrigo-Herrero, Silvia and Lleó, Alberto and Maurino, Jorge},
}