The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on people with mild cognitive impairment/dementia and on their caregivers

Background: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first detected in Mainland China in December 2019, and soon it spread throughout the world, with multiple physical and psychological consequences across the affected populations.

Aims: The aim of the current study was to analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/dementia and their caregivers as well.

Materials and methods: Two hundred and four caregivers took part in the study, completing a self-reported questionnaire about the person with MCI/dementia and their own, since the lockdown period which started in February and ended in May of 2020 in Greece.

Results: Results indicated a significant overall decline of the people with MCI/dementia. Further, the domains in which people with MCI/dementia were mostly affected were: communication, mood, movement and compliance with the new measures. Caregivers also reported a great increase in their psychological and physical burden during this period, where the available support sources were limited.

Discussion: The pandemic threatens to disrupt the basic routines that promote mental and physical health of both people with MCI/dementia and t heir caregivers.

Conclusion: Further measures to protect and provide support to people who suffer and their families are needed.