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Families need help coping with mild
Cognitive Impairment
Newswise — The age-related memory condition known as mild cognitive
impairment (MCI) is more disruptive of
day-to-day life and relationships than once
believed, gerontology researchers at
Virginia Tech have discovered.
Funded by the Alzheimer's Association, Karen Roberto, director of
the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech,
and Rosemary Blieszner, associate director,
set out to determine the issues and needs of
families responding to MCI.
After interviews with 99 families, the researchers reported,
“Primary family members reported that their
relatives were experiencing memory-related
changes that interfere with their daily
activities and responsibilities,
decision-making processes, and
relationships.”
“For the first three-year study, we interviewed each family member
twice,” Roberto said.
“The first time was within six months of receiving the diagnosis.
For instance, we asked why they went to the
memory clinic.”
The research identified three types of responses from people
diagnosed with MCI.
“Some elders were strategists; their memory loss was apparent to
them and they wanted to find out all they
could about what it is, why it is occurring,
and what they could do about it. They had
already begun working through potential
changes in their lives,” the researchers
report.
Older adults in the second group appeared more uncertain. They did
not appear to recognize that they have
memory changes and did not understand why
they needed to be tested. And a few older
adults appeared troubled by their condition.
“They are not accepting of the memory changes. Although they did
not acknowledge problems willingly, we
sensed that they realize things were not
quite right.”
The second interview was a year later to learn how families were
coping.
“Care partners reported distress at having to take on the other
person’s responsibilities, or at the changes
in the marriage or parent-child
relationship. There was also frustration at
the changes in daily routine,” Roberto said.
“The care partner experiences a loss of independence and a loss of
time for personal interests,” said Blieszner.
“The definition of MCI has been that it does not significantly
affect daily life – but sometimes that is
not true.”
The finding is significant because problems early in care giving
have long-term implications for the
individual providing care and their feelings
of burden and depression if MCI progresses
to Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers
advised the association.
“Professionals need to provide information, assistance,
coping strategies, and support to family
members at this stage in the care process
rather than waiting until Alzheimer’s
disease is diagnosed.”
The researchers also asked the families the type of information
they would like to have. In response, the
Center for Gerontology published a brochure
for families, “Mild Cognitive Impairment –
What do we do now?” (Available at
http://www.gerontology.vt.edu/docs/Gerontology_MCI_final.pdf)
The brochure contains information on how to recognize symptoms and
when to seek a professional diagnosis.
The researchers emphasize that contrary to common belief, memory
loss is not a normal part of aging, which is
why diagnosis is important to rule out other
conditions, as well as to provide treatment.
Also in the brochure, both family members and professionals offer
strategies for compensating for memory loss
and advice to the care partner on how to
care for oneself. And the Center for
Gerontology brochure suggests how to prepare
for the future.
There were 99 economically diverse families in the original study.
“A family is three people,” explained Roberto. “One member is 60 or
older, with MCI, and able to be interviewed.
The second is the primary care partner – as
distinguished from care giver.
"So this is not a professional care giver but a family member,
usually the spouse. The third family member
is the secondary care partner and usually
not living in the home, such as an adult
child, friend, or sibling.”
The second three-year phase of the study began in October 2007. “We
continue to follow the families and look at
incidence of transition from MCI to
Alzheimer's,” Roberto said. “And we are
adding 40 families that reflect racial and
ethnic diversity.”
For the first study, families were identified in cooperation with
the Center for Healthy Aging Clinic of the
Carilion Health System in Roanoke, Va., the
Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk,
Va., and the Memory Disorders Clinic at the
Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in
Salem, Va. For phase two, the University of
Chicago Medical School has joined the study.
There is a difference between forgetfulness and memory loss,
Roberto said.
“Forgetfulness is often situational or a result of not giving
attention to the information presented such
as a person's name or directions.
"It can also be caused by information overload, such as sorting
through too many e-mails. Memory loss starts
presenting itself more consistently and
often includes episodes of confusion or lack
of awareness.”
About the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech (http://www.gerontology.vt.edu)
The Center for Gerontology celebrates 30 years of scientific,
educational, and outreach accomplishments on
March 26, 2008.
The center’s mission is to foster and facilitate multidisciplinary
research that enhances the quality of life
of older adults. The center focuses
primarily on family gerontology, health and
aging, and elder rights.
The MCI research is an example of family gerontology and health and
aging. In addition to the core faculty,
there are more than 70 faculty affiliates
doing such work.
The center has been awarding graduate certificates since 1985 and
is one of the first graduate study programs
awarded the Program of Merit distinction by
the Association for Gerontology in Higher
Education.