Effect of Cognitive Impairments in Multiple Sclerosis on Caregivers’ Quality of Life: A Review

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS), which has symptoms like balance problems, fatigue, numbness, loss of vision and tremors, also leads to impairment in cognitive functions. Most patients with MS have difficulties with numbers of cognitive domains including memory, attention, information processing and executive functions. These difficulties also negatively affect the daily life of individuals. As cognitive impairments in MS have been investigated, the impact of these difficulties on both the patients themselves and their caregivers has begun to be recognized. The aim of this study is to overview cognitive impairment in MS patients within the context of caregiver quality of life (QoL). As studies have shown, impairment in cognitive abilities negatively affects the QoL of both patients and caregivers. In conclusion cognitive abilities have an important role in the integration of MS patients and their caregivers into daily life.

Keywords

• multiple sclerosis
• cognitive impairment
• caregiver
• quality of life

Multipl Sklerozda Bilişsel Bozuklukların Bakım Verenlerin Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerindeki Etkisi: Bir Gözden Geçirme

Öz

Denge problemleri, yorgunluk, uyuşukluk, görme kaybı ve tremor gibi semptomları olan multipl skleroz (MS), bilişsel işlevlerde de bozulmaya yol açmaktadır. MS hastalarının önemli bir kısmı bellek, dikkat, bilgi işleme ve yürütücü işlevler de dahil olmak üzere çok sayıda bilişsel alanda zorluk yaşamaktadır. Yaşanan bu zorluklar kişilerin günlük yaşamını da olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. MS’deki bilişsel bozulmanın araştırılmasıyla birlikte, bu becerilerdeki eksikliklerin hem hastaların kendileri hem de bakım verenlerin üzerindeki etkisi fark edilmeye başlanmıştır. Bu çalışma, MS hastalarında bilişsel bozukluklara bakım verenlerinin yaşam kalitesi bağlamında genel bir bakış sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmaların ortaya koyduğu üzere, bilişsel becerilerdeki bozulma hem hastaların hem de bakım verenlerin yaşam kalitesini olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Bu bulgular ışığında, MS hastaları ve bakım verenleri için bilişsel becerilerin günlük yaşama entegrasyonda önemli bir role sahip olduğu sonucuna varılmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• multipl skleroz
• bilişsel bozulma
• bakım veren
• yaşam kalitesi

Kaynakça

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