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Caregiver burden in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease—a longitudinal study
Margarida Rebolo, João Paulo Marôco, Alexandre de Mendonça, Graça Melo. Psychogeriatrics, 2025-04-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
At baseline, the mean ZBI score was 24.5 ± 15.2 and correlated positively with caregiver CES-D and STAI scores and with patient neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI-frequency × severity) and distress felt by the caregiver (NPI-distress). At follow-up (17.7 ± 9.4 months) the mean ZBI score increased to 31.4 ± 16.3 (P < 0.001); however, no baseline caregiver or patient characteristics were identified associated with the evolution of caregiver burden. Caregivers of patients who received a diagnosis of MCI due to AD report substantial burden, that increased with time. Future studies should investigate caregiver characteristics that may predict burden progression and help delineate strategies to minimise it.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
In caregivers of patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease, burden increased over a mean follow-up of 17.7 months, but no baseline characteristics predicted this increase. This concerns caregiver burden, not treating, curing or preventing the disease.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Rebolo, M., Marôco, J. P., de Mendonça, A., & Melo, G. (2025). Caregiver burden in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease—a longitudinal study. Psychogeriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70033
Vancouver
Rebolo M, Marôco JP, de Mendonça A, Melo G. Caregiver burden in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease—a longitudinal study. Psychogeriatrics. 2025. doi:10.1111/psyg.70033. PMID: 40202055.
BibTeX
@article{rebolo2025-40202055,
author = {Rebolo, Margarida and Marôco, João Paulo and de Mendonça, Alexandre and Melo, Graça},
title = {{Caregiver burden in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease—a longitudinal study}},
journal = {Psychogeriatrics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1111/psyg.70033},
pmid = {40202055},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70033}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- At baseline, the mean ZBI score was 24.5 ± 15.2 and correlated positively with caregiver CES-D and STAI scores and with patient neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI-frequency × severity) and distress felt by the caregiver (NPI-distress).
- At follow-up (17.7 ± 9.4 months) the mean ZBI score increased to 31.4 ± 16.3 (P < 0.001); however, no baseline caregiver or patient characteristics were identified associated with the evolution of caregiver burden.
- Caregivers of patients who received a diagnosis of MCI due to AD report substantial burden, that increased with time.
- Future studies should investigate caregiver characteristics that may predict burden progression and help delineate strategies to minimise it.
Why it matters
In caregivers of patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease, burden increased over a mean follow-up of 17.7 months, but no baseline characteristics predicted this increase. This concerns caregiver burden, not treating, curing or preventing the disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Psychogeriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Psychogeriatrics: journal h-index 62 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 12 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Graça Melo: h-index 6 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Lisbon: institution h-index 605 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40202055) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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