[Neuropsychiatric symptoms in people living with dementia related to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Exploratory systematic review]

Introduction: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This symptomatology can appear or be exacerbated with changes in routine and in the patient’s usual environment. The lockdown situation during the COVID-19 pandemic has meant a drastic and unexpected change in the daily life of the general population, with a particular impact on the most physically and mentally vulnerable groups, including patients with cognitive impairment.
Aim: To know the impact of lockdown measures imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on neuropsychiatric symptomatology in people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Materials and methods: Exploratory systematic review, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, of Pubmed and Psycinfo databases papers published from January 2020 to April 2021 which related confinement due to COVID-19 with the presentation or worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment mild or dementia.
Results: Worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms was observed in patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, especially agitation/aggression, anxiety, depression and apathy. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were more common in patients with dementia than in those with mild cognitive impairment, although their typology varied depending on the severity of dementia.
Conclusions: During lockdown a worsening in the psychobehavioral area has been observed in people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Therefore, considerations arise on the need of promoting social contact in people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, avoiding situations of isolation and low stimulation.