We read with interest the recent paper entitled “Factors associated with long-term impact on informal caregivers during Alzheimer’s disease dementia progression: 36-month results from GERAS” by Reed et al. (Reference Reed2019). The authors concluded that long-term informal caregiver burden is driven by declining functional abilities and increased behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease in the community.
Longitudinal studies using large sample sizes which focused on the burden of caregivers of persons with dementia are few. Previous analysis of longitudinal data assessing the burden of caregivers of persons with dementia over 12 months (Kajiwara et al., Reference Kajiwara, Noto and Yamanaka2018) found no significant differences in caregiver burden, positive caregiving appraisal, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Moreover, other studies reported that BPSD was associated with caregiver burden (Kajiwara et al., Reference Kajiwara2015; van der Linde et al., Reference van der Linde2012). This study demonstrated worsening behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, caregiver burden may be positively associated with BPSD in this study and this information is important to consider.
It is noteworthy that Reed et al., (Reference Reed2019) reported lower increases in caregiver burden over 36 months when the participants lived in Germany. A previous study reported differences in caregiver burden by country (Matsushita et al., Reference Matsushita2016). Other research in Sweden and the United States have reported that caregiver burden tends to decline in longitudinal studies (Gaugler et al., Reference Gaugler2009; Grafström & Winblad, Reference Grafström and Winblad1995). Therefore, it may be useful to consider the relationship between cultural background and caregiver burden in each country, as there may be differences in caregiving roles.
Undoubtedly, it is important to focus on long-term impacts of caregiver burden, and to use large sample sizes in longitudinal designs. The study conducted by Reed et al. (Reference Reed2019) provided useful data in this regard. We believe that longitudinal studies emphasizing caregiver burden, functional abilities and behavioral symptoms will be beneficial in understanding the burdens of caregivers of persons with dementia.
Conflict of interest
None.
Description of authors’ roles
KK, JK, HN, YO and MK made substantial contributions to study conception and design. KK and JK were involved in drafting the manuscript or revising it. All authors contributed to and approved all drafts.
