The Impact of Genomic Burden on Dementia Caregiving: A Scoping Review

TL;DR

This study explores how genetic factors in dementia patients affect caregivers, finding limited evidence but suggesting neuropsychiatric symptoms may play a role.

Contribution

The study identifies gaps in understanding how genomic factors influence dementia caregiving and highlights the need for longitudinal and intervention research.

Findings

Limited evidence suggests genomic burden may influence caregiving outcomes through neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Few studies (n=5) were found, focusing on APOE and other genetic variants in dementia caregiving.

Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify genomic impacts on caregiving burden.

Abstract

Although genomic technologies are increasingly used in dementia risk assessment, diagnosis and treatment, the impact of genomic burden in persons living with dementia (PWLD) on caregiving remains largely unexamined.

We investigated the impact of genomic burden on dementia caregiving and identified gaps to inform future practice and policy on dementia care.

We searched PubMed, APA PsycInfo, and CINAHL through April 2025 for peer-reviewed studies examining caregiver outcomes related to genomic burden in PLWD. Two reviewers independently screened articles, resolving discrepancies by consensus. Data were extracted and thematically analyzed.

Of 708 studies identified, 82 underwent full-text screening. 5 studies that met inclusion criteria were conducted in the UK (n = 1) and Brazil (n = 4). Investigated genomic factors included APOE (n = 4), LDLD (n = 1), ACE (n = 1), and MAO-A (n = 1) variants. Care recipients, mainly with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, represented a range of dementia severity from probable to severe. Caregivers were primarily family members. Caregiving outcomes included caregiving burden and caregiving distress.

Available evidence to determine the impact of genomic burden in PWLD on caregiving outcomes is limited, but they point to the mediating role of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess how genomic burden influences caregiving burden. Intervention studies integrating genomic information and/or genetic counseling in dementia care models could clarify clinical utility as well as the psychosocial effects of genomic risk disclosure on the caregiving process.