A 12-Year Comparison of Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients With Their Informants in Taiwan

Abstract

Background To update the characteristics of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their informants in Taiwan and compare them from 12 years ago. Methods 1218 patients with AD and their informants were recruited from six hospitals in Taiwan. The uniform data set version 3.0 (UDS3, form A1-A3) were administered. Results Compared with the first registration from 2010-2012 (n = 691), the mean clinical dementia rating sum of boxes score was significantly lower, more patients living independently, and more informants not living together with the patients. A total of 11.2%, 4.1%, 12.8%, and 0.5% of the patients had a reported history of cognitive impairment in their mothers, fathers, siblings, and children, respectively. Conclusion Compared with the data from 2010, patients have been diagnosed at a milder disease stage, and their informants used telephone contact more frequently instead of living with the patients. Family histories of cognitive impairment in patients with AD remain frequent.