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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Social factors and the outcome of dementia | | Author(s) | Martin Orrell, Rob Butler, Paul Bebbington |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol l5, no 6, June 2000 |
| Pages | pp 515-520 |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Social characteristics [elderly] ; Informal care ; Domiciliary services ; Longevity ; Assessment procedures for mental patients ; Longitudinal surveys ; London. |
| Annotation | Previous studies have linked reduced survival in dementia with male sex, longer duration of illness and increased severity of cognitive impairment. However, little is known of potential social factors on the outcome of dementia. 60 recently admitted patients from the Maudsley catchment area in south east London (27 inpatients and 33 day patients) were given detailed psychiatric and social assessments; there was also a 3-year follow-up on outcome. The hypothesis was that adverse life events and lack of social support would be associated with reduced survival. 48% of patients died during the follow-up period. The study did not find an association between adverse life events and reduced survival in people with dementia. Social isolation may be associated with reduced survival in dementia. Having meals on wheels may be a marker for social isolation and reduced survival, while attending a day centre and having support from relatives were associated with increased survival. Larger studies with control groups are needed to further examine the complex relationship between social factors and the outcome in dementia. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-000823223 A |
| Classmark | EA: F: P6: N: BGA: DA:4C: 3J: 82L |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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