Study of the impact of confinement on mental health

The Covid-19 pandemic implied strict confinement in Catalonia that lasted for weeks. With precedents for the dramatic effects on mental health in periods of isolation, this study investigates the effects of confinement on mental and brain health, as well as factors that mitigate its impact.

The project has more than 900 cognitively healthy participants, between 45 and 75 years old, and who are or have been part of BBRC research studies. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires during confinement and will do so again 18-24 months later to assess outcomes related to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The objective of the study is to detect brain changes related to Alzheimer's disease and to study the impact of confinement in people who are caring for a family member with dementia or other diseases that imply dependency or special needs.