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Daily interactions with care recipients and cardiovascular reactivity among dementia caregivers: The buffering role of friend interactions
Yee To Ng, Anna Louise Kratz, Angela Turkelson, Kira S. Birditt. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-05-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Within-day analyses revealed time with CRs was associated with increased HR, primarily due to negative interactions. Friend interactions buffered the adverse effects of time interacting with CR and negative CR interactions on elevated HR. Moreover, positive CR interactions were linked to lower HR when paired with friend interactions. Findings provide insights into interventions that reduce negative exchanges within the caregiver-CR dyad and friend-based programs, which could enhance cardiovascular health among dementia caregivers. HIGHLIGHTS: More time interacting with the care recipient (CR) was associated with an elevated heart rate (HR). Negative daily experiences with CRs are more salient in contributing to caregivers' cardiovascular strain. Friend interactions can temporarily buffer the adverse effects mentioned above. Positive CR interactions linked to lower HR when paired with friend interactions. Socializing with friends can be beneficial, even if some interactions are negative.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Ng, Y. T., Kratz, A. L., Turkelson, A., & Birditt, K. S. (2025). Daily interactions with care recipients and cardiovascular reactivity among dementia caregivers: The buffering role of friend interactions. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70281
Vancouver
Ng YT, Kratz AL, Turkelson A, Birditt KS. Daily interactions with care recipients and cardiovascular reactivity among dementia caregivers: The buffering role of friend interactions. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70281. PMID: 40371630.
BibTeX
@article{ng2025-40371630,
author = {Ng, Yee To and Kratz, Anna Louise and Turkelson, Angela and Birditt, Kira S.},
title = {{Daily interactions with care recipients and cardiovascular reactivity among dementia caregivers: The buffering role of friend interactions}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70281},
pmid = {40371630},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70281}
}
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Key findings
- Within-day analyses revealed time with CRs was associated with increased HR, primarily due to negative interactions.
- Friend interactions buffered the adverse effects of time interacting with CR and negative CR interactions on elevated HR.
- Moreover, positive CR interactions were linked to lower HR when paired with friend interactions.
- Findings provide insights into interventions that reduce negative exchanges within the caregiver-CR dyad and friend-based programs, which could enhance cardiovascular health among dementia caregivers.
- HIGHLIGHTS: More time interacting with the care recipient (CR) was associated with an elevated heart rate (HR).
Why it matters
This study found that more time interacting with the care recipient was linked to increased heart rate in dementia caregivers, mainly due to negative interactions, and that interactions with friends buffered this effect. It points to possible ways to protect caregivers' cardiovascular health, but it did not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants221
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 2 / 4 | 221 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Kira S. Birditt: h-index 48 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Michigan: institution h-index 2,240 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40371630) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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