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Current Alzheimer Research

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ISSN (Print): 1567-2050
ISSN (Online): 1875-5828

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Research Article

Impact of COVID-19 Mandatory Lockdown Measures on Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Persons with Alzheimer's Disease in Lima, Peru

Author(s): Nilton Custodio*, Marco Malaga, Rosa Montesinos, Diego Chambergo, Fiorella Baca, Sheila Castro, Juan C. Carbajal, Eder Herrera, David Lira, Monica M. Diaz and Serggio Lanata

Volume 20, Issue 2, 2023

Published on: 06 June, 2023

Page: [80 - 88] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/1567205020666230417103216

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) worsened during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but their progression thereafter is unknown. We present the first longitudinal study tracking them before, during, and after restrictions.

Objectives: To describe the effect of the COVID-19 mandatory lockdowns on Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

Methods: Cohort of 48 patients with amnestic MCI and 38 with AD in Lima, Peru. They received three rounds of cognitive (RUDAS, CDR, M@T), behavioral (NPI), and functional (ADCS-ADL) assessments. We assessed the change in score means across the time points and for each domain of NPS and tracked the changes in individual patients.

Results: RUDAS declined 0.9 (SD 1.0) from baseline to lockdown and 0.7 (SD 1.0) after restrictions. M@T declined 1.0 (SD 1.5) from baseline to lockdown and 1.4 (SD 2.0) after restrictions. CDR worsened in 72 patients (83.72%) from baseline to post-lockdown. NPI worsened by 10 (SD 8.3) from baseline to lockdown but improved by 4.8 (SD 6.4) after restrictions. Proportionally, 81.3% of all patients had worsened NPS during the lockdowns, but only 10.7% saw an increase thereafter. Improvement was statistically significant for specific NPS domains except hallucinations, delusions, and appetite changes. Anxiety, irritability, apathy, and disinhibition returned to baseline levels.

Conclusion: Following confinement, cognition continued to decline, but NPS demonstrated either stability or improvement. This highlights the role modifiable risk factors may have on the progression of NPS.

Keywords: Alzheimer Disease, neuropsychiatric symptoms, COVID-19, Quarantine, stay-at-home orders, mandatory lockdown.

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