Anosognosia in Alzheimer's disease has a negative influence on the depressive symptoms of the caregiver

Objectives: To describe the risk factors of anosognosia in patients with Alzheimer's disease, as well as to determine its influence on the appearance of depression, anxiety and psychic overload in their caregiver. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study describing the factors associated with the anosognosia of 35 patients and the influence that Alzheimer's disease has on their caregivers. The following validated scales were used: global deterioration scale (GDS), mini mental state examination (MMSE), DEX questionnaire, Zarit scale for assessing caregiver burden, self-rating depresion scale of Zung and Conde, the abbreviated from the scale of geriatric depression of Yesavage in population under 65 years and neuropsychiatric inventory in its abbreviated version (NPI-Q). Results: 62.9% of patients are women. 45.7% are over 80 years old. The score in the MMT is negatively related (-.386) with the level of anosognosia and it is the immediate memory that best predicts it. Referring to caregivers, 62.9% are women, specifically daughters (37.1%). 34.3% are overburdened and 68.5% suffer from depression using the Yesavage scale. Conclusions: Anosognosia is a very common clinical symptom in Alzheimer's disease. Smoking patients with a depressed mood are more likely to develop anosognosia. The changes that anosognosia causes in the patient, condition the appearance of depression, anxiety and overload in their caregiver.