The research aims to explore how behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia affect caregiver burden and depressive symptoms.
Analyzed data from a sample of dementia caregivers in Puerto Rico.
Assessed the relationship between caregiver burden and depressive symptoms.
Identified specific symptoms, such as perceptual disturbances and appetite changes, affecting caregiver experiences.
Caregivers experienced increased burden and depressive symptoms due to perceptual disturbances and apathy.
Symptoms related to appetite and eating were significant contributors to caregiver distress.
The link between caregiver burden and depressive symptoms was particularly pronounced with certain behavioral symptoms.
Abstract
In this Puerto Rico-based sample, perceptual disturbances/apathy, and appetite/eating symptoms specifically, were most likely to magnify the caregiver burden-depressive symptoms link.