title: Neuropsychiatric symptoms and executive functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment: relationship to caregiver burden.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregivers of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) need similar levels of support services as Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers, but it is unclear if this translates to increased caregiver burden.
  
  
  METHODS
  135 participants and their caregivers (40 MCI, 55 AD and 40 normal controls, NC) completed questionnaires, and the patients were administered neuropsychological tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MCI caregivers reported significantly more overall caregiving burden than the NC, but less than the AD. They showed similar levels of emotional, physical and social burden as the AD caregivers. Among the MCI caregivers, the neuropsychiatric symptoms and executive functioning of the patients were related to a greater burden, and the caregivers with a greater burden reported lower life satisfaction and social support, and a greater need for support services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that MCI caregivers are at increased risk for caregiver stress, and they require enhanced assistance and/or education in caring for their loved ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychology Section, The University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 49105, USA. karyan@umich.edu
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weldon
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Persad
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Heidebrink
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barbas
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giordani
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires