Effect of Social Isolation Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cognitive Dysfunction of Patients With Alzheimer Disease: Subanalysis of Double-blinded Noninferiority Study of Donepezil Patches and Donepezil Tablets – PubMed Black Hawk Supplements

Background: Previous studies were examined effects of social restriction by COVID-19 pandemic on elderly peoples or compared difference of before/after restrictions on patients with Alzheimer disease-related dementia (ADRD). Here, we assessed the effects of restrictions on the cognitive function of the patients by comparing control group.

Methods: We examined the impact on cognitive function using the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale (Japanese version) cognitive subscale (ADAS-JCOG), in patients with mild to moderate ADRD by a post hoc subgroup analysis of double-blinded, noninferiority study of donepezil 27.5 mg patches and donepezil hydrochloride 5 mg tablets (JapicCTI-194582). After demonstrating the noninferiority of both treatments, we used combined data for this analysis.

Results: The analyzed subpopulation of the per-protocol set groups was balanced (n=126 and 135, respectively). Patient demographics were similar between subgroups. The difference of ADAS-JCOG scores [least-squares mean (95%CI)] between the groups was 0.388 (-0.377 to 1.152, not statistically significant).

Conclusion: Social isolation affects cognitive function on ADRD and this knowledge should be considered in future.

1. 1. WHO Director-General’s Opening Remarks at the Media Briefing on COVID-19. Accessed March 11, 2020. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-genera…
2. 1. Gilstrap L, Zhou W, Alsan M, et al. Trends in mortality rates among medicare enrollees with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias before and during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Neurol. 2022;79:342–348.
3. 1. Chen R, Charpignon M-L, Raquib RV, et al. Excess mortality with Alzheimer disease and related dementias as an underlying or contributing cause during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. JAMA Neurol. 2023;80:919–928.
4. 1. Cocuzzo B, Wrench A, O’Malley C. Effects of COVID-19 on older adults: physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial problems seen and unseen. Cureus. 2022;14:e29493.
5. 1. Manca R, De Marco M, Venneri A. The impact of COVID-19 infection and enforced prolonged social isolation on neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with and without dementia: a review. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:585540.