LIFE EVENTS AND COGNITION IN DEMENTIA

Stresses such as relocation and life events can lead to deterioration in dementia. However it is not known how the severity of dementia infl uences the occurrence or impact of such stress. This study investigate d the relationship between severity of dementia, life events in the pr eceding six months, and hospital admission. Seventy elderly patients w ith senile dementia admitted to a geriatric psychiatry unit were compa red with 50 dementia sufferers in the community. In general, mild deme ntia sufferers tended to have a higher frequency of severe threat inde pendent life events. Life events appeared to increase the relative ris k of admission for people with less severe dementia, but only when the relatives' accounts of cognitive impairment were used (CAFE & ADS) ra ther than GMSS rated cognitive impairment. Logistic regression suggest ed that sensitivity to the effects of threatening life events may be i nversely related to the severity of cognitive deficit, but only for th e CAFE rating. Clinician's should be aware that dementia sufferers may be particularly sensitive to the effects of psychosocial stress.