Social functioning in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and the situation of caregivers

Background Changes in social functioning may be a significant parameter for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, research on social functioning in AD across the entire spectrum of the disease is lacking. Objective The aim of this study was to describe the social functioning of persons with AD at each stage of the disease and to investigate how impaired social functioning affects caregiver burden. Methods Cross-sectional data was derived from memory clinics across Germany as part of the pilot study "Social functioning in individuals with AD and the situation of caregivers". A total of N = 87 relatives providing care for individuals with mild (n = 20), moderate (n = 40), and severe (n = 23) AD were included. Social functioning of individuals with AD was measured via the caregiver-rated German version of the Social Functioning in Dementia Scale (SF-DEM); caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI-12). Differences between mild, moderate, and severe AD in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and the level of social functioning were examined. A robust linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between social functioning and caregiver burden. Results Social functioning was lower in moderate and severe AD than in mild AD. Higher levels of social functioning were associated with less caregiver burden. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of integrating social functioning assessments into clinical practice for improving the early detection, diagnosis and interventions for AD. Early interventions to enhance social functioning may diminish caregiver burden.