2021 Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 24-27
Patients with dementia have been reported to have a higher risk of COVID–19 severity and mortality, especially in patients with more severe dementia. COVID–19 patients with dementia may exhibit non–respiratory symptoms such as delirium or diminished living function, even in the absence of obvious physical symptoms. These atypical symptoms of COVID–19 can reduce early awareness of the disease, increase the spread of COVID–19 to the people around. Although social distance and safeguard procedures remain to be the most effective approaches to prevent SARS–CoV–2 infection, problems unique to dementia patients have also been pointed out. In patients with dementia, changes in the environment caused by COVID–19 pandemic often cause behavioral psychological symptoms to appear or worsen and cognitive functioning to decline. It is important for health–care providers involved in dementia care to collaborate with multiple disciplines depending on the dementia patient's life situation, and to strive to prevent infection and maintain cognitive and living functions of them.
