Duke Study Looks at Coping by Alzheimer Caregivers

A new study is underway at Duke University that will look at primary caregivers of Alzheimer patients to see why some of them are able to cope both physically and emotionally while others suffer physically and/or mentally.

The researchers hope to determine the interplay between genetics, neighborhood environment, psychological makeup and other factors with the goal of identifying those caregivers most at risk of succumbing to stress so that appropriate interventions can be made.

"By the end of this study we hope to better understand the underlying biological and behavioral mechanisms whereby stressful situations, like caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's disease, can contribute to health disparities between socioeconomic groups, as well as between racial groups," said Dr. Redford Williams, lead researcher on the study.

Another facet of the study involves researching the effect of certain moderators, such as genetics and certain personality traits, and how they play into the stress level of the caregiver.

For each caregiver, the researchers will look for a particular naturally occurring form of a gene that controls the effects of serotonin on the central nervous system. Previous studies have shown that low levels of serotonin have been implicated in behaviors such as hostility, depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and smoking.

"By the end of this project, we should be able to pinpoint how this different form of the gene influences the responses to stress in different rates as well as gender," Williams said.

The project, which will take five years, will study 200 caregivers with spouses afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. As a control, the researchers will perform the same analyses on 200 people who are similar in all aspects to the caregivers but who have a healthy spouse.

Other sources: Duke