Mograbi DC, et al. – This examination investigated the effect of dementia, depression and awareness on activities of daily living (ADL) in a sample from a middle–income country. This study highlighted the importance of developing interventions and compensatory strategies to prevent loss of ADL in dementia, also implying that early intervention in older adults with depression should focus on advanced ADL to prevent social isolation and withdrawal. The findings suggested that self–information about ADL might be compromised in dementia, so clinicians exploring disability should consider fully different aspects of ADL in this group.

Methods

• The present examination investigated impairments in basic, instrumental and advanced ADL utilizing a factorial design comparing 4 groups: people with dementia and depression, people with dementia without depression, older adults with depression but no dementia and healthy older adults.
• For each type of ADL, self-report and informant report was contrasted in order to examine the issue of lack of awareness in relation to ADL.

Results

• Results of this study suggested that dementia was related to impairments in all types of ADL.
• Findings revealed that advanced ADL were also diminished in depressed members.
• In the case of instrumental and basic ADL, informant report indicated less preserved abilities than participant self-report, especially in individuals with dementia.