What Biological Factors, Social Determinants, and Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms of Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Correlate with Caregiver Estimations of Financial Capacity? Bringing Biases Against Older Women Into Focus
Vaitsa Giannouli, Magda Tsolaki
Abstract
This study examines the connection between biological factors, social determinants, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and the estimations of financial capacity made by caregivers of mild AD patients in Greece. Financial capacity estimations negatively correlated with biological sex of the patients (female), but Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) scores were statistically lower for older females. BPSD (measured with NPI) was found to negatively correlate with estimates of financial capacity. The existence of delusions-hallucinations was reported in all males. No correlations were found between financial capacity estimations, actual cognitive and financial capacity performance, and all other included biological and social characteristics of the patients as well as their caregivers.