| Author(s): |
Janine van Kooten, Suzanne Delwel, Tarik T Binnekade, Martin Smalbrugge, Johannes C van der Wouden, Roberto SGM Perez, Didi Rhebergen, Wouter WA Zuurmond, Max L Stek, Frank Lobbezoo, Cees MPM Hertogh and Erik JA Scherder |
| Keywords: |
Aged, Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Vascular dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Pain,
Orofacial pain, Autonomic responses, Neuropsychiatric symptoms, Quality of life |
| Abstract: |
Background: Pain is a common problem in people with dementia, however the exact prevalence of pain in dementia
subtypes, e.g. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Vascular Dementia (VaD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and dementia with
Lewy Bodies (DLB), is unknown, as is the relation between pain and the different subtypes of dementia. In this study, the
prevalence of pain in people with dementia will be investigated per dementia subtype and the relationship between
the various subtypes of dementia and the presence of specific types of pain (i.e. musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain
and orofacial pain) will be examined. Secondly, associations between various types of pain, cognitive functioning,
neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in people with dementia will be examined. A third purpose is to study
the value of the assessment of autonomic responses in assessing pain in people with dementia. Finally, the effect of
feedback to the attending physician on the presence of pain, based on examination by investigators with backgrounds
in neuropsychology, geriatric dentistry and elderly care medicine, will be evaluated.
Methods/Design: A cross-sectional, partially longitudinal observational study in 400 participants with dementia, aged
60 years and older. Participants will be recruited from an outpatient memory clinic and dementia special care units. All
participants will be examined by an elderly care medicine trainee, a dentist with experience in geriatric dentistry, and a
neuropsychologist. The primary outcome is presence of pain. Secondary outcomes will include oral health, autonomic
responses to pain stimulus, vital sensibility and gnostic sensibility, musculoskeletal examination, cognitive functioning,
neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life.
Discussion: This study will help to enhance our knowledge regarding the prevalence of different types of pain in
different dementia subtypes i.e. AD, VaD, FTD and DLB. This study also aims to contribute to a better understanding of
oral health status in people with dementia, the use of autonomic responses in the assessment of pain in people with
dementia and the relationships between pain and cognitive symptoms, neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in
people with various dementia subtypes and in different stages of the disease. |
