The Effects of Covid-19 Lockdown on Persons with Dementia

The covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the lives of all, especially vulnerable groups, like persons with dementia. During lockdown, access to healthcare was limited, loneliness and the burden of caregivers increased. We reviewed the literature, using PRISMA methodology, on dynamic of dementia symptoms after the beginning of the pandemic and lockdown. According to the studies included in the results in our research, the proportions of worsening neuropsychiatric symptoms ranged from 14% to 72%, cognitive decline ranged from 19% to 60% and the need for pharmacological adjustment of treatment ranged from 7,2 % to 27,6 %. The most common symptoms that worsened during the pandemic were apathy, agitation, anxiety, depressive symptoms and sleeping disorders. On the other hand, few researches have not shown a link between the pandemic and worsening of dementia symptoms. For a more holistic view of the impact of the pandemic on persons with dementia, future monitoring of the change in dementia symptoms, for example at the end of the pandemic, would be necessary

The Prevalence of Dementia in Europe and in Slovenia: The Review and Estimate of Dementia for Slovenia for 2018 and Projection for 2030

Dementia is becoming an increasingly important public health priority that will continue to increase due to the population aging and longevity. Appropriate national assessment of dementia prevalence is essential for properly planing the actions needed to address dementia. The purpose of this work was to identify the known prevalence of dementia in Europe and in Slovenia in the last twenty years, as well as to produce an estimation for 2018 and a projection for 2030 based on population data in Slovenia. The PubMed database search engine was used. We searched for hits in various combinations and reviewed the literature on the prevalence of dementia in Europe and in Slovenia. Estimates of dementia revalence for Slovenia were not found in the reviewed literature; we calculated it based on Slovenian data for 2018 and projections for 2030. Dementia prevalence rates in Europe have not changed significantly in most age groups in recent decades. In Slovenia, in 2018, the age-standardized prevalence rate for those aged 65 and over was 6.9%, for women 8.8% and for men twice lower, and according to the projection for 2030 it was 7.2% for men, 9.0% for women, which was twice as much as in men. The gross prevalence rate for dementia in people aged 65 and older in Europe ranges from 5.9% to 9.4%. The results of all studies show that the prevalence is increasing with increasing age, that it is higher and it is increasing earlier and faster in women (80–84 years) compared to men (85–89 years). The prevalence of dementia in women was twice as high as that of men and was increasing more rapidly with age. In Slovenia we can expect an increase in the number of people with dementia in the next ten years, primarily due to the aging of the population and extending of the life expectancy

Telemedicine and Assistive Technologies as Support to In-Home Care to People with Dementia: A Review

Dementia has a profound impact on the lives of the patients, their relatives and society. People with dementia are in¬creasingly dependent on the help of others, so it is important to support them to be independent at home as long as pos¬sible. We reviewed the literature, using PRISMA methodology, on use of telemedicine and assistive technologies in people with dementia living at home and how they assessed their experience and applicability of new technologies after their use. According to the studies included in the results in our research, people with dementia are capable to use new technologies, especially if there are tailored to their needs and if they are designed, developed around and with the users. People with dementia could offer important feedback information and assessment about use of modern technologies