Background: The quality of life (QoL) of informal caregivers of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD)
(PwP) can be affected by the caring role. Because of cognitive symptoms and diminished activities of
daily living, in addition to the management of motor symptoms, carers of PwP and cognitive impairment
may experience increased levels of burden and poorer QoL compared with carers of PwP without
cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cognitive impairment in PD upon
QoL of carers.
Methods: Approximately 36months after diagnosis, 66 dyadic couples of PwP and carers completed
assessments. PwP completed a schedule of neuropsychological assessments and QoL measures; carers
of PwP completed demographic questionnaires and assessments of QoL. Factor scores of attention,
memory/executive function and global cognition, as derived by principal component analysis, were
used to evaluate cognitive domains.
Results: Hierarchical regression analysis found lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment was a significant
independent predictor of poorer carer QoL, in addition to number of hours spent caregiving, carer
depression and PD motor severity. Attentional deficits accounted for the largest proportion of variance
of carer QoL. Carers of PwP and dementia (n= 9) had significantly poorer QoL scores compared with
PwP and mild cognitive impairment (n= 18) or normal cognition (n= 39) carers (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Attentional deficits were the strongest predictor of carer QoL compared with other cognitive
predictors. Carers for those with PD dementia reported the poorest QoL. Interventions such as respite or
cognitive behavioural therapy to improve mood and self-efficacy in carers may improve carer QoL.Full Tex
