title: Psychosocial correlates of nutritional status of family caregivers of persons with dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This exploratory study investigated the associations of individual characteristics of both persons with dementia and family caregivers with the nutritional status of caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted at home by psychogerontologist within the frame of a community gerontological center in rural areas of south west France. The study participants comprised 56 community-dwelling persons with dementia (mean 80.7 years, SD 6.5) and 56 family caregivers (mean 70.9 years, SD 11.0). Persons with dementia were assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Basic Activities Of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental ADL (IADL), and NeuroPsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and family caregivers with the Burden Interview (Zarit scale), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Y-B), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the emotional impact measure of NPI and the Autonomy, Gerontology and Group Resources scale (AGGIR scale). For both, nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among family caregivers, 32.1% were at risk of malnutrition and 5.4% were malnourished, and among people with dementia, 58.9% and 23.2%, respectively. NPI severity score of apathy of persons with dementia (Beta = -0.342, p = 0.001), dependency on AGGIR scale (Beta = -0.336, p = 0.002), and CES-D score of caregivers (Beta = -0.365, p = 0.001) were associated with caregivers' MNA score (Adjusted R 2 = 0.480, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings emphasize the need for routine assessment of depressive symptoms, functional and nutritional status in dementia family caregivers, and confirm the value of investigating caregivers' nutritional risk through an integrative view including psychosocial approach.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux, Psychologie, Santé et Qualité de vie, EA4139, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rullier
authors.forename: Alexia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagarde
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouisson
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bergua
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barberger-Gateau
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011584:Psychology