Alzheimer’s and Patient Caregiver Burnout: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

The term ‘silent epidemic’ has become fitting for Alzheimer’s disease, as it is now the sixth leading cause of death in the US. Caring for AD patients at home in the US costs billions of dollars each year. The current comprehensive literature review discusses the background/history of AD, pathology and modes of transmission of AD, behavioral and natural risk factors, prevention and treatment options, and how the aforementioned factors contribute to caregiver burnout and subsequently affect the AD patient. The extensive examination of the literature determined several gaps to be addressed. More specifically, burnout among AD caregivers has become an epidemic of its own, and caregivers are experiencing increasing fatigue, stress, and financial burden. There have been several means identified to assess caregiver burnout, as well as associated interventions that have shown effectiveness among patients and their families. Nevertheless, further longitudinal research is warranted on the implementation of more effective interventions specifically for caregivers, including stress management and social support mechanisms