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42/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 42 out of 100. Caregiving

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Caregiver burden is a multidimensional phenomenon with significant effects on health and well-being. Mental health impacts were predominant, with high rates of depression (reported in up to 60% of caregivers in some studies), anxiety, stress, and emotional exhaustion. Burnout and anticipatory grief were also frequently described, especially in caregivers witnessing the progressive cognitive and functional decline of loved ones. Physical health consequences included fatigue, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and a decline in overall functional status. Some studies indicated an increased risk of mortality among caregivers due to prolonged stress and neglect of self-care. Quality of life was negatively affected in multiple dimensions, including social relationships, financial stability, and well-being. Sociocultural factors, such as gender roles, familial expectations, and economic conditions, influenced the caregiving experience, with women disproportionately affected. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated caregiver burden, increasing social isolation, reducing healthcare access, and heightening psychological distress. Despite these challenges, some caregivers reported personal growth, stronger family bonds, and a sense of purpose. Informal caregiving for individuals with dementia imposes a substantial burden, affecting mental and physical health and overall quality of life. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including mental health support, respite care, and policies addressing financial and social challenges. Future research should explore long-term caregiver outcomes and strategies to enhance resilience.

Key findings

Caregiver burden is a multidimensional phenomenon with significant effects on health and well-being.
Mental health impacts were predominant, with high rates of depression (reported in up to 60% of caregivers in some studies), anxiety, stress, and emotional exhaustion.
Burnout and anticipatory grief were also frequently described, especially in caregivers witnessing the progressive cognitive and functional decline of loved ones.
Physical health consequences included fatigue, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and a decline in overall functional status.
Some studies indicated an increased risk of mortality among caregivers due to prolonged stress and neglect of self-care.

Why it matters

This integrative review describes the many mental and physical health effects of informal dementia caregiving, including high rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and reduced quality of life. It summarizes existing evidence rather than testing a treatment or cure.

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Study details

Participants29
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 42/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 42 out of 100.

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	1 / 4	29 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 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 5.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	— / 4	OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Morghana Machado da Rosa holds only 7 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score
Institution's track record	0 / 3	Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre: institution h-index 144 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41453398)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Points	40 / 96	Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 42 out of 100.
Total	42 / 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).

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.

APA 7th

Fink, I. A., Motta, L. C. N., Felippe, M. F. P., Neto, M. P. d. M., Petry, A. C. G., Sorato, G. B., et al. (2025). The Burden of Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: An Integrative Review. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70858_107599

Vancouver

Fink IA, Motta LCN, Felippe MFP, Neto MPdM, Petry ACG, Sorato GB, et al. The Burden of Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: An Integrative Review. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz70858_107599. PMID: 41453398.

BibTeX

@article{fink2025-41453398,
  author  = {Fink, Isabela Alicia and Motta, Laura Carolina Nardi and Felippe, Maria Fernanda Peruci and Neto, Matias Pinheiro de Macêdo and Petry, Ana Carolina Gomes and Sorato, Gabriela Bezerra and Lopes, Jessica Vargas and Gonçalves, Daniel Pasini and others},
  title   = {{The Burden of Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: An Integrative Review}},
  journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1002/alz70858_107599},
  pmid    = {41453398},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70858_107599}
}

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