Dementia-Related Anxiety and Its Impact on Social Connectedness and Suicide Risk

TL;DR

This study explores how anxiety about dementia can lead to suicidal thoughts by making people feel like a burden and disconnected from others.

Contribution

The study identifies new themes linking dementia-related anxiety to suicide risk through social disconnectedness in older adults.

Findings

42% of participants anticipated suicidal or death ideation if diagnosed with dementia.

Themes included fear of being a burden, loss of self, and loss of control.

Suicide risk is highest within 90 days of a dementia diagnosis.

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) lead to declines in independence, financial and psychological burden to those diagnosed and close others, and decreased social engagement, all of which can contribute to dementia-related anxiety (DRA). DRA involves anxiety about currently or eventually having dementia, often driven by self-perceived ADRD risk, feared changes to the self and identity, and anticipated interpersonal consequences. The interpersonal theory of suicide suggests that fundamental human desires to belong, contribute, and be needed are critical to well-being, and when undermined, the feelings of exclusion and burdensomeness is so painful, suicidal ideation (SI) may result (Van Orden et al., 2010). Therefore, to the extent that DRA has an interpersonal component, it is likely associated with SI. In a mixed methods study of 50 midlife and older adults without a dementia diagnosis (Mage = 70.80, SDage = 6.02), 42.0% of the sample anticipated suicidal ideation (14.0%) or death ideation (DI; 28.0%) if they were diagnosed with dementia. Three themes emerged from statements of anticipated SI and DI: fear of becoming a burden to others, devaluation of life/loss of self with dementia, and the desire for (and anticipated thwarting of) personal control. Since most DRA research focuses on cognitively healthy participants, it is unclear whether anticipated SI and DI translates to increased suicide risk post-diagnosis. Given evidence that death by suicide is highest within 90 days of ADRD diagnosis (Schmutte et al., 2021), we examine the intersection of three late-life public health challenges: ADRD, social disconnectedness, and suicide risk.