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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Cognition of People with Dementia

Author

Listed:
  • Giacomo Tondo

    (Neurology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Corso Abbiate 21, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
    School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy)

  • Barbara Sarasso

    (Neurology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Corso Abbiate 21, 13100 Vercelli, Italy)

  • Paola Serra

    (Neurology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Corso Abbiate 21, 13100 Vercelli, Italy)

  • Fabiana Tesser

    (Neurology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Corso Abbiate 21, 13100 Vercelli, Italy)

  • Cristoforo Comi

    (Neurology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Corso Abbiate 21, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
    Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases (IRCAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy)

Abstract

(1) Background: To limit the COVID-19 outbreak, the Italian government implemented social restrictions that may have had psychological and cognitive repercussions on people with dementia. We aimed to analyze cognitive decline during the pandemic year in people evaluated in a memory clinic in northern Italy, the epicenter of COVID-19 spread. (2) Methods: A single-center retrospective study was carried out, including individuals with annual follow-up evaluated in three different years (2020-GROUP, 2019-GROUP, 2018-GROUP). We performed an intergroup comparison of cognitive decline over a one-year follow-up, and an intragroup comparison in the 2020-GROUP to analyze the five-year cognitive decline trajectory, as measured by the MMSE. (3) Results: The 2020-GROUP showed a significant loss of MMSE points per year in the considered follow-up period compared with the 2019-GROUP and 2018-GROUP ( p = 0.021). Demographics, clinical features, and the other analyzed variables, including rate of diagnosis, therapy, and comorbidities, did not significantly differ between groups. The five-year cognitive decline trajectory confirmed a significant worsening of cognitive decline between 2019 and 2020 ( p < 0.001), while the decrease in MMSE scores was not statistically significant between previous time points. (4) Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic measures have induced a significant worsening of cognitive decline in people with dementia, needing more careful assistance to minimize the adverse effects of social isolation in case of future lockdowns.

Suggested Citation

  • Giacomo Tondo & Barbara Sarasso & Paola Serra & Fabiana Tesser & Cristoforo Comi, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Cognition of People with Dementia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4285-:d:538369
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carrie Arnold, 2020. "Could COVID delirium bring on dementia?," Nature, Nature, vol. 588(7836), pages 22-24, December.
    2. Michael Marshall, 2020. "How COVID-19 can damage the brain," Nature, Nature, vol. 585(7825), pages 342-343, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaehoon Jung & Sunyoung Kim & Byungsung Kim & Miji Kim & Jisoo Yang & Dongmin Chung & Changwon Won, 2022. "Accelerated Cognitive Function Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Alessio Manfredini & Francesca Pisano & Chiara Incoccia & Paola Marangolo, 2023. "The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Measures and COVID-19 Infection on Cognitive Functions: A Review in Healthy and Neurological Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-19, March.

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