Younger caregivers are often unprepared for the task and experience increased burden, will need to look

after the care receiver for a longer period of time, have fewer appropriate services available to them and feel more isolated.125-128 Particular needs for this group are early referral to services, appropriate day care for younger people with dementia, more information and support at diagnosis for caregivers.129 One special group within this rubric are people with intellectual disability, who are doubly handicapped if they develop dementia. Down’s syndrome confers a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by the sixth decade, leading to challenges in diagnosis and management.130,131 When a care recipient is in Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical a second (or later) marriage, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical particularly when he or she has children from a previous marriage, it is more likely that disputes will arise about financial, legal, and guardianship issues. When people marry close to the time that they begin to dement, further issues can arise regarding their capacity to marry, the motivation of their partner and possible issues to do with less well developed feelings of reciprocity and obligation.132,133 Alzheimer’s associations

A crucial part of helping family caregivers is linking them with local support, best done through local Alzheimer’s Associations (see appendix for Web sites). Alzheimer’s Associations provide information, emotional Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical support, practical advice, support groups, training Bosutinib in vitro programs, help sheets, toll-free helplines, and useful Web sites. They are powerful advocates for people with dementia and for their families with governments and service providers, as well as funding research. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Conclusion Family caregivers are integral to quality

of life of people with dementia. The high levels of burden and psychological morbidity are well documented, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical as are factors that predict which caregivers are vulnerable to these. Interventions can ameliorate these effects and thereby improve the quality of the life of people with dementia. The management of the person with dementia requires a comprehensive plan that includes a partnership between doctors, else health care workers, and families. Caregivers susceptible to negative effects can be identified and could be targeted for interventions. Web sites Alzheimer’s Disease International: www.alz.co.uk Alzheimer’s Association USA: www.alz.org Alzheimer’s Europe: www.alzheimer-europe.org Alzheimer’s UK: www.alzheimers.org.uk Dementia Advocacy and Support Network International (for people with dementia): www.dasninternational.org
The prevalence of dementia has increased with life expectancy: more than one third of individuals over the age of 80 are likely to develop a dementia.1 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that remains the most common cause of dementia1 and accounts for more than 60% of all cases.