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Aims: The aims of this study are to (1) explore the determinants of quality of life (QoL) in nursing home residents with young-onset dementia (YOD), (2) investigate whether there are differences between dementia subtypes (Alzheimer dementia, vascular/mixed dementia, frontotemporal dementia, other) regarding these determinants, and (3) compare QoL profiles of YOD nursing home residents across dementia subtypes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 207 nursing home residents. Multilevel modeling was used to determine the relationships between QoL and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), dementia severity, psychotropic drug use (PDU), dementia subtype, age, and gender. Additional multilevel models were used to compare aspects of QoL between dementia subtypes. Results: Residents' QoL was negatively associated with advanced dementia, PDU, and NPS. In general, the relationships between the determinants and QoL were similar across the dementia subtypes. Aspects of QoL differed by dementia subtype. Residents with frontotemporal dementia showed less negative emotions, accepted more help and experienced better quality of relationships with professional caregivers, had a more positive self-image, felt more comfortable in the nursing home environment, and experienced lower quality of social relationships. Conclusions: Considering the high rates of NPS and PDU in YOD residents and their negative associations with QoL, we recommend emphasizing services to manage and reduce NPS and PDU in nursing home residents with YOD. Furthermore, our findings suggest accounting for differences in aspects of QoL by dementia subtype to address specific needs and thereby improve QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Knowledge about neuropsychiatric symptoms in young-onset Alzheimer's disease (YO-AD) is scarce, but essential to establish a prognosis and plan care for YO-AD patients. The aim of this study is to assess frequency parameters of neuropsychiatric symptoms in YO-AD over 2 years and investigate whether there are differences compared with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LO-AD). Methods: 98 YO-AD and 123 LO-AD patients and caregivers from two prospective cohort studies were included and assessed every 6 months for 2 years, using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results: Over the course of 2 years, the incidence, prevalence and persistence of neuropsychiatric symptoms were in general lower in YO-AD than in LO-AD, specifically for delusions, agitation, depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability and aberrant motor behavior. Frequency of individual symptoms showed large variability in both groups. Within the group of YO-AD patients, apathy was the most prevalent symptom. Conclusion: Neuropsychiatric symptoms, notably apathy, should be paid appropriate attention to in the diagnosis and treatment of YO-AD patients. Further research is needed to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the differences in neuropsychiatric symptoms between YO-AD and LO-AD. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: To examine the influence of dementia stage and psychoactive medication use on the factor structure of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version (NPI-NH) in Dutch nursing home patients. Methods: The NPI-NH was administered to a large sample of 1,437 patients with mild to severe dementia receiving nursing home care. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine behavioural dimensions underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms indicated by the NPI-NH across dementia stages (as assessed with the Global Deterioration Scale – GDS) and in patients with or without psychoactive medication prescribed. Results: In GDS stages 4/5, 6 and 7, a 4- or 5-factor solution was found, with factors referred to as agitation/aggression, depression, psychosis, psychomotor agitation and apathy. These symptom clusters were replicated in the group of drug-naive patients, but only partially in the group of patients on psychoactive medication. Conclusion: The factor structure of the NPI-NH in nursing home patients is consistent with the clinical taxonomy of symptoms, is relatively stable across dementia stages, and is only moderately influenced by psychoactive medication use. The division of depression and apathy into separate behavioural dimensions – also in patients with severe dementia – may have important therapeutic consequences. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: To establish the construct validity of the Dutch version of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI-D) in institutionalized patients with dementia. Methods: The CMAI-D was administered to a large sample of 1,437 patients with moderate to severe dementia, receiving nursing home or outreaching nursing home care. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the behavioral dimensions underlying CMAI-D observations. Results: A restricted 3-factor solution showed 3 factors, i.e. physical aggression, physically nonaggressive behavior and verbally agitated behavior, with prevalences of 62, 67 and 62%, respectively. An unrestricted factor solution revealed 3 additional behavioral dimensions: hiding/hoarding, vocal agitation and a factor of miscellaneous items (i.e. repetitious mannerisms, spitting), which occurred in 30, 28 and 35% of the patients, respectively. Conclusion: The 3-factor solution of physical aggression, physically nonaggressive behavior and verbally agitated behavior corroborates earlier findings in other patient samples and therefore establishes the construct validity in institutionalized patients with severe dementia. The robustness of these findings across different care settings suggests that agitated behaviors have a common basis. In addition, unrestricted factor analysis showed 3 other important independent behavioral symptoms in dementia, but they are in fact too small to be used as a subscale. These findings might add to the taxonomy of agitation and aggression in dementia. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]