An exploration of the experience of caregiving in relation to dementia subtype diagnosis, and of the potential utility of the Short Parallel Assessments of Neuropsychological Status (SPANS) in the assessment of older adult cognition.

Thesis Abstract:

Within an ageing population, there is continued need for timely and accurate dementia diagnosis, and provision of support for family members who increasingly provide informal care. Understanding of care recipients’ cognitive profile, and greater knowledge of the experience of caregiver burden, may facilitate the provision of such support.

Literature Review:

Characteristics of carer burden reported by caregivers of persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Frontotemporal dementias were reviewed. An integrative approach was taken to combine both quantitative and qualitative findings from 15 published papers. Inconclusive findings are presented. Further research incorporating a mixed-methods design and matched participant groups would enable greater understanding.

Research Report:

An initial exploration of the reliability and validity of the Short Parallel Assessments of Neuropsychological Status (SPANS) was undertaken within a sample of healthy and functionally able adults over the age of 65 years. The psychometric properties of the SPANS with working-age adults has been previously documented (Burgess, 2014), and acted as a source of comparison for current findings. Internal reliability was explored, in addition to confirmation of good alternate version reliability. Convergent validity was explored in relation to the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Assessment (ACE-III), and indicated that the SPANS likely performs at least to an equivalent level, with potential to offer additional clinical benefits beyond those conveyed by the ACE-III. Findings were limited by insufficient statistical power and lack of variance within the sample, leading to the recommendation of further research to confirm and expand upon current findings.