The onset of dementia following bereavement.
A case history approach is used to support the hypothesis from the literature that there may be a relationship between bereavement and the onset of dementia. The four cases report people caring for spouses or parents with life-threatening illness who become bereaved. The findings provide evidence that bereavement is a factor involved in the rapid development and progression of Alzheimer's type dementia. Although not conclusive, these findings should lend a stimulus to further studies with regard to care of caregivers with particular reference to bereavement.
Charlton
R C
RC
Department of Primary Health Care, School of Postgraduate Medicine, Keele University, North Staffordshire Hospital, Hartshill Stoke-on-Trent, England.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001601:Bereavement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male