RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Reduction of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic is related to increased neuropsychiatric symptoms in memory clinic patients JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP 177 OP 180 DO 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0605 VO 22 IS 2 A1 Raphael Wurm A1 Tandis Parvizi A1 Sara Silvaeih A1 Evelyn Berger–Sieczkowski A1 Stella Goeschl A1 Theresa König A1 Johann Lehrner A1 Elisabeth Stögmann YR 2022 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/2/177.abstract AB The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented restrictions on social contacts and mobility. Memory clinic patients were disproportionately affected when care was disrupted and routines were abruptly changed. This trial was designed as a pragmatic, prospective, observational study to evaluate the effects of lockdown on memory clinic patients. Outpatients were included when they returned in May to July 2020 for their first follow-up after the lockdown. Indicators of lockdown intensity and its effect on patients were recorded, patients and caregivers were interviewed, and neuropsychological tests were performed. We included 72 patients, most of them suffering from Alzheimer's dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The median time of isolation was 8 weeks and social contacts were significantly reduced from five to two per week (p<0.001). Light physical activity was significantly reduced (3.8 hours to 3 hours, p=0.016) during the lockdown, and this reduction was significantly correlated with higher scores on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory score (R -0.43, p>0.001). Fears regarding the pandemic were common and mostly related to the patients’ health. Lockdown restrictions reduced physical activity in memory clinic patients which was associated with increased neuropsychiatric symptoms. Future restrictions should aim to mitigate the impacts on this vulnerable population.