Burden in carers of dementia patients: Higher levels in carers of younger sufferers

A comparative study of the clinical characteristics of early onset dementia (onset before the age of 65) and late onset dementia sufferers was conduct ed. The level of carer burden among carers of both groups was measured. Car er burden was significantly higher among carers of younger sufferers, altho ugh there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of cl inical features such as severity of dementia or behavioural disturbance. Hi gher carer burden showed an inverse relationship to patient's age. Our resu lts have implications in terms of encouraging community care for dementia s ufferers, and suggest that further exploration to identify factors associat ed with burden in younger carers is required. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, L td.