Search

Background: The lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, imposed in many countries in 2021, led to social isolation and the interruption of many activities that were useful in stimulating cognition. The impact of these changes has been particularly severe in older subjects with cognitive impairment., Methods: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of lockdown on Alzheimer's disease patients (in cognition, behavior, and autonomy) and on their caregivers (in emotions, burden, and quality of life). We created a questionnaire and performed an extensive semi-structured telephone interview with each caregiver. The main outcomes were (1) changes in cognitive and behavioral symptoms and autonomy levels in the patients and (2) effects on caregivers' emotions, burden, and quality of life., Results: The lockdown severely impaired patients' cognition and independence and worsened behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. These effects contributed to increasing caregivers' burden and stress levels, with a significant perceived deterioration in quality of life among caregivers with higher education levels ( p = 0.047)., Conclusions: This study might contribute to our understanding of the impact of lockdown on Alzheimer's disease patients and their caregivers, to guide future public health interventions aimed at preventing and/or reducing the consequences of similar extraordinary events in frail subjects.

Introduction: We presented a four-case series of COVID-19 related deaths occurred in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) between February 2020 and January 2022 in Italy., Methods: They were extracted from 8,436 medical charts of COVID-19 patients dying. All cases, ranged 48-73 years, showed classical GBS clinical onset - limb weakness, sensory deficits, hypoareflexia - and three of them were admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) for ventilator support., Results: The cerebrospinal fluid showing albumin-cytological dissociation was performed in two cases. Nerve conduction studies supported the diagnosis in all cases. Interstitial pneumonia was documented by chest X-rays or CT scans in all cases: they were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and the drugs used for COVID-19 infection., Conclusions: Although the mechanism of GBS onset is still unclear in COVID-19, fatal cases may be more frequent than other virus-related GBS, so that strictly monitoring in high-risk patients could dramatically decrease the mortality of GBS.

Introduction: Residents in facilities such as nursing homes (NHs) are particularly vulnerable to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A national survey was carried out to collect information on the spreading and impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in nursing homes, and on how suspected and/or confirmed cases were managed. We carried out a survey between 25 March 2020 and 5 May 2020., Materials and Methods: All Italian nursing homes either public or providing services both privately and within the NHS were included in the study. An on-line questionnaire was sent to 3292 nursing homes across all Italian regions. Nursing homes were also contacted by telephone to provide assistance in completing the questionnaire., Results: A total of 1356 nursing homes voluntarily participated to the survey, hosting a total of 100,806 residents. Overall, 9154 residents died due to any cause from February 1 to the time when the questionnaire was completed (from March 25 to May 5). Of these, 7.4% had COVID-19 and 33.8% had flu-like symptoms, corresponding to a cumulative incidence of 0.7 and 3.1, respectively. Lack of personnel, difficulty in transferring patients to hospital or other facility, isolating residents with COVID-19, number of beds and geographical area were the main factor positively associated to the presence of COVID-19 in nursing homes., Discussion: This survey showed the dissemination and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Italian nursing homes and on how older and potentially chronically ill people residing in these long-term care facilities were managed., (© 2020 The Authors. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Competing Interests: MC has received honoraria from Nestlè Health Sciences for presentations at scientific meetings and serving as a member of Expert Advisory Boards. MI has received honoraria from Nestlé Health Sciences for serving as an expert advisor. EM has received honoraria from Abbott, Nestlè, Nutricia, and Thermofisher for presentations at scientific meetings. RAF received grants and personal fees from Nestlé. RAF also reports grants from National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging), during the conduct of the study; grants, personal fees and other from Axcella Health, other from Inside Tracker, grants and personal fees from Biophytis, grants and personal fees from Astellas, personal fees from Cytokinetics, personal fees from Amazentis, personal fees from Glaxo Smith Kline, personal fees from Juvicell, outside the submitted work. No conflict of interest reported by the other authors.