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NEUROLOGY 2007;68:1509-1514
© 2007 American Academy of Neurology

Cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease

Impact of spirituality, religiosity, and QOL

Yakir Kaufman, MD, David Anaki, PhD, Malcolm Binns, MSc and Morris Freedman, MD, FRCPC

From the Behavioural Neurology Program, Division of Neurology (Y.K., M.F.), and Rotman Research Institute (Y.K., D.A., M.B., M.F.), Baycrest; Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Mt. Sinai Hospital, University Health Network (M.F.) and University of Toronto (Y.K., M.F.), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Yakir Kaufman, Herzog Memorial Hospital, PO Box 3900, Jerusalem 91035, Israel ykaufman{at}herzoghospital.org

Objective: To assess effects of quality of life (QOL), spirituality, and religiosity on rate of progression of cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease (AD).

Methods: In this longitudinal study, we recruited 70 patients with probable AD. The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to monitor the rate of cognitive decline. Religiosity and spirituality were measured using standardized scales that assess spirituality, religiosity, and organizational and private religious practices. We conducted a simultaneous multiple linear regression analysis for factors contributing to rate of cognitive decline.

Results: After controlling for baseline level of cognition, age, sex, and education, a slower rate of cognitive decline was associated with higher levels of spirituality (p < 0.05) and private religious practices (p < 0.005). These variables accounted for 17% of the total variance [F(11,58) = 2.24, p < 0.05]. There was no correlation between rate of cognitive decline and QOL.

Conclusion: Higher levels of spirituality and private religious practices, but not quality of life, are associated with slower progression of Alzheimer disease.

Received May 5, 2006. Accepted in final form January 3, 2007.






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