Quality of Life in People with Young-Onset Alzheimer's Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia

Lara Hvidsten; Knut Engedal; Geir Selbæk; Torgeir Bruun Wyller; Frøydis Bruvik; Hege Kersten

doi:10.1159/000487263

Quality of Life in People with Young-Onset Alzheimer's Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2018;45(1-2):91-104. doi: 10.1159/000487263. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

Authors

Lara Hvidsten^{1

2}, Knut Engedal^{1

3}, Geir Selbæk^{1

4

5}, Torgeir Bruun Wyller^{5

6}, Frøydis Bruvik^{7

8

9}, Hege Kersten^{1

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
² Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
³ Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Centre for Old Age Psychiatric Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Oslo University Hospital, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo, Norway.
⁷ Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
⁸ Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
⁹ Dignity Center, Bergen, Norway.
¹⁰ Pharmaceutical Bioscience, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
¹¹ Department of Research and Development, Telemark Hospital Trust, Skien, Norway.

PMID: 29694972
DOI: 10.1159/000487263

Abstract

Aims: The aims of this study were to compare quality of life (QOL) in people with young-onset Alzheimer's (AD) and frontotemporal (FTD) dementia, explore variables associated with QOL, and compare QOL in young-onset dementia (YOD) and late-onset dementia (LOD).

Methods: Cross-sectional data from a Nordic multicenter study of 50 community-dwelling participants with AD and 38 with FTD were included. A comparison group consisted of 100 people with LOD. QOL was measured using self-reported Euro-QOL 5-Dimension and the proxy version of Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) questionnaire. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and needs were assessed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Camberwell Assessment of Needs in the Elderly. Multiple linear regression and multilevel modeling was used to determine variables associated with QOL.

Results: We found no differences between the two YOD groups in QOL. The variables associated with QOL were scores on the CSDD, NPI, and unmet needs. The proxy QOL-AD score in YOD was significantly higher compared to LOD (median 36.0 [IQR 10.0] vs. 33.0 [IQR 9.0]).

Conclusion: The QOL in Nordic people with YOD was better compared to people with LOD. Our results show depressive symptoms to be associated with QOL irrespective of age and diagnosis.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Frontotemporal dementia; Quality of life; Young-onset dementia.

Publication types

Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Age of Onset
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / complications
Depression / psychology
Female
Frontotemporal Dementia / psychology*
Humans
Income
Male
Quality of Life*
Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / epidemiology
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires