As many as one in four people who care for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease have to attend hospital themselves due to the stress involved, the results of a new study indicate.

While it has long been recognised that caring for a family member with this disease is stressful, this is the first study to measure just how stressful it is and to examine the impact of this stress on both the mental and physical health of the carer.

The US researchers looked at 153 people with Alzheimer’s and their family carers – a total of 366 people. Almost half of the carers (44%) were spouses and 70% lived with the person with the disease. The average carer age was 61.

The study found that one-quarter of the carers had at least one A&E visit or hospitalisation every six months. This appeared to be more influenced by the behaviour and functioning of the Alzheimer patient rather than by their cognitive ability.

The study also found that age, education and the relationship to the individual with Alzheimer’s did not impact the carer’s use of acute hospital services.

"While we've long known that Alzheimer's is a devastating disease to the patient, this study offers a look at how it also impacts the caregiver's health. If we don't offer help and support to the caregiver too, the stress of caring for someone with dementia can be overwhelming, both mentally and physically,” commented Dr Cathy Schubert of Indiana University School of Medicine.

Details of these findings are published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

According to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, there are currently over 40,000 people living in Ireland with dementia, the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s disease. A further 50,000 people are involved in caring for someone with dementia.

Web link: http://www.medicine.indiana.edu/news_releases/viewRelease.php4?art=978