Factors associated with care-resistant behavior in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s Uniform Dataset

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the factors associated with care-resistant behavior in community-dwelling persons living with dementia.

METHODS: Regression modeling of 41,143 responses to a standardized questionnaire from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s Uniform Dataset.

RESULTS: In the fully-adjusted mixed-effects regression model, collinearity was low, with no VIF above 1.15. Moderate ( aOR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.50,1.69) and severe (aOR=1.95; 95%CI: 1.82,2.09) dementia severity; and Black/African American (aOR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.47,1.82), Hispanic ethnicity (aOR 1.13; 95%CI: 1.00, 1.28), frontotemporal (aOR 1.29; 95%CI: 1.12,1.49) and Lewy Body dementia (aOR 1.15; 95%CI: 1.02,1.29) diagnosis type were associated with a higher odds of care-resistant behavior. Female sex (aOR 0.85; 95%CI: 0.80,0.91) and higher education (aOR 0.9, 95%CI: 0.84,0.97) were associated with a lower odds of care-resistant behavior.

DISCUSSION: Interventions to manage care-resistant behaviors should consider sociocultural factors as well as type of dementia diagnosis to limit caregiver strain and burden.