Neuropsychiatric symptom-related role and activity restrictions by relatives: focusing on the gender of older adults with suspected dementia.

Background: As cognitive function declines, relatives may restrict the roles and activities they consider older adults unable to continue independently performing. We examined the characteristics of these role and activity restrictions by relatives among older adults prior to their first visit to a memory clinic for an official diagnosis, focusing on gender and the diagnosis of dementia. Additionally, we examined the relationship between role and activity restrictions by relatives and the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) controlling for older adults' gender.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 213 older adults. First, we calculated descriptive statistics for the characteristics of role and activity restrictions by relatives. Second, we examined the association between these roles and activity restrictions and NPS using multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for older adults' gender, diagnosis, and presence of a cohabitant.

Results: The rate of role and activity restrictions by relatives was 21.6%. Of the older adults experiencing these restrictions, 78.3% were women, and 34.8% had mild cognitive impairment. The most common role and activity restriction was money-related. Role and activity restrictions were associated with the NPS of hyperactivity, psychosis. Hyperactivity was related to men.

Conclusions: Hyperactivity psychosis may be more strongly related to family involvement than other NPS. These findings highlight the importance of avoiding premature role and activity restrictions among older adults with suspected dementia.