HIV associado a desordens neurocognitivas (HAND) continua a ser um grave problema atualmente devido à alta prevalência de suas formas mais brandas. Indivíduos HIV+ possuem o comprimento dos telômeros significativamente mais curtos nas células mononucleares do sangue periférico e células T CD8+, quando comparados aos indivíduos HIV negativos. Diante do exposto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação do comprimento dos telômeros de leucócitos em indivíduos infectados pelo HIV com deficiências cognitivas, pois ainda é um assunto bastante controverso. Métodos: Um total de 73 pacientes infectados pelo HIV-1 de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 20 a 60 anos, participaram deste estudo. Entre 19 indivíduos HIV(+) sem comprometimento cognitivo e 54 indivíduos HIV(+) com distúrbios neurocognitivos: 29 alteração neurocognitiva assintomático (ANI), 15 comprometimento neurocognitivo leve a moderado (MND) e, 10 demência associada ao HIV (HAD); 118 indivíduos HIV negativos formaram o grupo controle. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a uma série de testes neuropsicológicos previamente validados. Determinou-se a carga viral de HIV-1 nas células do líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) e em PBMC. Utilizou-se DNA a partir de leucócitos periféricos para calcular o comprimento de telômeros por PCR em tempo real. Resultados: O comprimento dos telômeros não foi associado com gêneros e diminuiu com a idade, independentemente do status de HIV. Indivíduos infectados pelo HIV-1com formas mais leves de deficiência neurocognitiva apresentaram um comprimento dos telômeros reduzida em comparação com pacientes HIV+ sem comprometimento neurocognitivo. Não houve correlação entre a carga viral plasmática e o tamanho dos telômeros. Conclusões: Nossos resultados sugerem que o comprimento dos telômeros pode ser considerado um marcador de senescência celular em indivíduos com alterações neurocognitivas / HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains a serious problem today because of the high prevalence of its milder forms. HIV + individuals have the length substantially shorter telomeres in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD8 + T cells compared to HIV negative individuals. Given the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the association of telomere length of leukocyte (LTL) in HIV-infected individuals with cognitive disabilities because it is still a very controversial subject. Methods: A total of 73 patients infected with HIV-1 of both sexes, aged 20 to 60 years participated in this study. Among 19 HIV patients (+) without cognitive impairment and 54 HIV patients (+) with neurocognitive disorders: 29 asymptomatic neurocognitive disorder (ANI), 15 mild neurocognitive disorder to moderate (MND) and 10 HIVassociated dementia (HAD); 118 HIV-negative individuals formed the control group. All participants underwent a series of previously validated neuropsychological tests. Determined if the viral load of HIV-1 in cerebrospinal fluid cells (CSF) and in PBMC. We used DNA from peripheral leukocytes to calculate the length of telomeres by real time PCR. Results: The telomere length was not associated with genres and decreased with age, irrespective of HIV status. HIV-1-infected individuals with milder forms of neurocognitive impairment had a significantly length of telomeres reduced compared to HIV + patients without neurocognitive impairment. There was no correlation between plasma viral load and the size of telomeres. Conclusions: Our results suggest that telomere length can be considered a marker of cellular senescence in individuals with neurocognitive abnormalities

Ce travail de thèse présente une approche clinique et thérapeutique visant à fournir de nouvelles techniques de soins pour les patients atteints de troubles neurocognitifs et notamment de maladie d’Alzheimer. Les serious exergames sont des jeux vidéo sérieux intégrant une activité physique. Ils peuvent constituer des outils de production d’environnement enrichi pour les utilisateurs, en associant notamment exercice physique et entraînement cognitif. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’explorer en quoi les serious exergames peuvent contribuer à la prise en charge non médicamenteuse des troubles neurocognitifs. Dans ce travail, nous avons réalisé deux types de contribution. Les premières contributions sont générales, l’une présente notre approche clinique intégrative combinant exercice physique et entraînement cognitif via l’utilisation de serious exergames, et l’autre présente des recommandations concernant l’usage des serious games. Les secondes contributions sont de nature expérimentale. La première expérimentation vise à vérifier une des bases théoriques de notre approche clinique. Les deux expérimentations suivantes constituent une évaluation de la mise en œuvre de notre approche. / This thesis presents a clinical and therapeutic approach aiming to create new care for patients with neurocognitive disorder. Serious exergames are serious video games integrating physical activity. Serious exergames could be tools to product enriched environment associating physical exercise and cognitive training. The aim of this thesis is to investigate whether serious exergames can contribute to the non-pharmacological management of neurocognitive disorders. In this thesis we have made two types of contributions. The first type are general contributions. One presents our integrative clinical approach associating physical exercise and cognitive training using serious exergames. The other one presents recommendations concerning the use of serious exergames. The second type of contributions are experimental. The first one aims to confirm a theoretical base of our clinical approach. The two other experiments assess the implementation of our approached in a population of patients with neurocognitive disorder.

INTRODUÇÃO. Embora esteja bem estabelecida a relação neuropatológica da síndrome de Down (SD) com a doença de Alzheimer (DA), os primeiros sintomas de demência na população com SD são considerados atípicos. Estudos indicam que os sintomas iniciais estão relacionados à disfunção comportamental que envolvem circuitos cerebrais fronto-subcorticais, como mudança de comportamento e disfunção executiva. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar fatores associados ao funcionamento do lobo frontal (disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia) durante o declínio cognitivo e a DA em adultos com SD. MÉTODOS. 92 indivíduos com SD com idade acima de 30 anos foram alocados em três diferentes grupos diagnósticos (cognição estável, demência prodrômica e DA) por meio da avaliação com o instrumento Exame Cambridge para Transtornos Mentais em Adultos com Síndrome de Down e Deficiência Intelectual (CAMDEX-DS), previamente validado como parte da metodologia de trabalho. Os participantes foram avaliados com um protocolo de funções executivas desenvolvido para pessoas com deficiência intelectual por pesquisadores da Universidade de Cambridge e classificados para a presença de disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia através da entrevista com um informante utilizando a Escala de Personalidade Frontal. Além disso, dados sobre características de comportamentos resultantes de disfunções frontais, memória e orientação foram analisados por meio do CAMDEX-DS em conjunto com uma amostra inglesa totalizando amostra combinada de 162 participantes com SD com mais de 30 anos e divididos em quatro grupos: cognição estável abaixo de 45 anos, cognição estável acima de 45 anos, demência prodrômica e DA. RESULTADOS. Os relatos de disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia através da Escala de Personalidade Frontal foram correlacionados com o desempenho cognitivo dos participantes: quanto maior a disfunção comportamental nestas áreas, pior o desempenho cognitivo nas tarefas executivas. A desinibição e a disfunção executiva foram associadas aos diferentes diagnósticos. A probabilidade de ter DA aumentou com elevações nos escores da Escala de Personalidade Frontal (p <= 0,5). Na análise com o CAMDEX-DS, os sintomas frontais, assim como as queixas de memória e orientação, estavam presentes antes da evidência de declínio cognitivo. Diante do diagnóstico prodrômico e de DA, esses sintomas se agravaram. O impacto da deterioração cognitiva ocorreu em memória e orientação (odds ratio 35,07; P < 0,001) e disfunção executiva (odds ratio 7,16; P < 0,001) para o grupo prodrômico em relação à cognição estável; desinibição (odds ratio 3,54; P = 0,04) para DA em relação ao grupo prodrômico; e apatia (odds ratio 34,18; P < 0,001) para DA em relação à cognição estável. CONCLUSÃO. Disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia estiveram presentes em indivíduos com SD e cognição estável. Estas medidas se agravam no declínio cognitivo inicial (prodrômico) e na DA nessa população e estão associados ao desempenho cognitivo em tarefas de funções executivas. Disfunções comportamentais devem ser levadas em consideração durante a avaliação clínica. Estudos futuros considerando a interseção entre neuropatologia, conectividade cerebral e expressão de comportamento podem agregar conhecimento sobre a base e a natureza dessas associações e servirem de base para a criação de estratégias preventivas eficazes / INTRODUCTION. Although a neuropathological correlation has been established between Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer\'s disease (AD), the early symptoms of dementia present atypically in the DS population. There is evidence that frontal-subcortical circuits play an important role in the initial presentation of dementia in DS, including changes in behaviour and executive dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate factors associated with frontal lobe functioning (executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy) during cognitive decline and AD in adults with DS. METHODS. 92 individuals with DS aged over 30 years were evaluated and divided into three groups of diagnosis (stable cognition, prodromal dementia and AD) using the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders in Adults with Down Syndrome and others with Intellectual Disability (CAMDEX-DS), previously validated as part of our methodology. Participants were assessed with an executive function protocol developed for people with intellectual disabilities by researchers from University of Cambridge, and were rated for executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy by an informant using the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe). In addition, data on characteristics of frontal behaviour, memory and orientation were analysed through CAMDEX-DS in conjunction with an English sample totalling 162 participants with DS over 30 years old and divided into four groups: stable cognition under 45 years, stable cognition above 45 years, prodromal dementia and AD. RESULTS. Reports of executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy through FrSBe were correlated with participants\' cognitive performance: the higher the behavioural dysfunction in these areas, the worse the cognitive performance in executive tasks. Disinhibition and executive dysfunction were associated with diagnoses. The odds of having AD increased in parallel with increases in FrSBe scores (p <= 0.5). In the CAMDEX-DS analysis, amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms were found to be present before there was evidence of a cognitive decline. During the progression to dementia, those symptoms tended to worsen. Memory and orientation were poorer in the prodromal dementia group than in the stable cognition group (odds ratio 35.07, P < 0.001) as was executive function (odds ratio 7.16, P < 0.001). Disinhibition was greater in the AD group than in the prodromal dementia group (odds ratio 3.54, P = 0.04), and apathy was more pronounced in the AD group than in the stable cognition group (odds ratio 34.18; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION. Executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy were present in individuals with DS and stable cognition. These measures hasten the initial cognitive decline of AD and are related with cognitive performance in executive function tasks. Frontally mediated behaviour should be taken into consideration during the clinical evaluation of adults with DS. Future studies considering the intersection of neuropathology, brain connectivity, and behaviour may aggregate knowledge about the basis and nature of these associations, leading to the development of effective preventive strategies

INTRODUÇÃO. Embora esteja bem estabelecida a relação neuropatológica da síndrome de Down (SD) com a doença de Alzheimer (DA), os primeiros sintomas de demência na população com SD são considerados atípicos. Estudos indicam que os sintomas iniciais estão relacionados à disfunção comportamental que envolvem circuitos cerebrais fronto-subcorticais, como mudança de comportamento e disfunção executiva. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar fatores associados ao funcionamento do lobo frontal (disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia) durante o declínio cognitivo e a DA em adultos com SD. MÉTODOS. 92 indivíduos com SD com idade acima de 30 anos foram alocados em três diferentes grupos diagnósticos (cognição estável, demência prodrômica e DA) por meio da avaliação com o instrumento Exame Cambridge para Transtornos Mentais em Adultos com Síndrome de Down e Deficiência Intelectual (CAMDEX-DS), previamente validado como parte da metodologia de trabalho. Os participantes foram avaliados com um protocolo de funções executivas desenvolvido para pessoas com deficiência intelectual por pesquisadores da Universidade de Cambridge e classificados para a presença de disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia através da entrevista com um informante utilizando a Escala de Personalidade Frontal. Além disso, dados sobre características de comportamentos resultantes de disfunções frontais, memória e orientação foram analisados por meio do CAMDEX-DS em conjunto com uma amostra inglesa totalizando amostra combinada de 162 participantes com SD com mais de 30 anos e divididos em quatro grupos: cognição estável abaixo de 45 anos, cognição estável acima de 45 anos, demência prodrômica e DA. RESULTADOS. Os relatos de disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia através da Escala de Personalidade Frontal foram correlacionados com o desempenho cognitivo dos participantes: quanto maior a disfunção comportamental nestas áreas, pior o desempenho cognitivo nas tarefas executivas. A desinibição e a disfunção executiva foram associadas aos diferentes diagnósticos. A probabilidade de ter DA aumentou com elevações nos escores da Escala de Personalidade Frontal (p <= 0,5). Na análise com o CAMDEX-DS, os sintomas frontais, assim como as queixas de memória e orientação, estavam presentes antes da evidência de declínio cognitivo. Diante do diagnóstico prodrômico e de DA, esses sintomas se agravaram. O impacto da deterioração cognitiva ocorreu em memória e orientação (odds ratio 35,07; P < 0,001) e disfunção executiva (odds ratio 7,16; P < 0,001) para o grupo prodrômico em relação à cognição estável; desinibição (odds ratio 3,54; P = 0,04) para DA em relação ao grupo prodrômico; e apatia (odds ratio 34,18; P < 0,001) para DA em relação à cognição estável. CONCLUSÃO. Disfunção executiva, desinibição e apatia estiveram presentes em indivíduos com SD e cognição estável. Estas medidas se agravam no declínio cognitivo inicial (prodrômico) e na DA nessa população e estão associados ao desempenho cognitivo em tarefas de funções executivas. Disfunções comportamentais devem ser levadas em consideração durante a avaliação clínica. Estudos futuros considerando a interseção entre neuropatologia, conectividade cerebral e expressão de comportamento podem agregar conhecimento sobre a base e a natureza dessas associações e servirem de base para a criação de estratégias preventivas eficazes / INTRODUCTION. Although a neuropathological correlation has been established between Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer\'s disease (AD), the early symptoms of dementia present atypically in the DS population. There is evidence that frontal-subcortical circuits play an important role in the initial presentation of dementia in DS, including changes in behaviour and executive dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate factors associated with frontal lobe functioning (executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy) during cognitive decline and AD in adults with DS. METHODS. 92 individuals with DS aged over 30 years were evaluated and divided into three groups of diagnosis (stable cognition, prodromal dementia and AD) using the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders in Adults with Down Syndrome and others with Intellectual Disability (CAMDEX-DS), previously validated as part of our methodology. Participants were assessed with an executive function protocol developed for people with intellectual disabilities by researchers from University of Cambridge, and were rated for executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy by an informant using the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe). In addition, data on characteristics of frontal behaviour, memory and orientation were analysed through CAMDEX-DS in conjunction with an English sample totalling 162 participants with DS over 30 years old and divided into four groups: stable cognition under 45 years, stable cognition above 45 years, prodromal dementia and AD. RESULTS. Reports of executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy through FrSBe were correlated with participants\' cognitive performance: the higher the behavioural dysfunction in these areas, the worse the cognitive performance in executive tasks. Disinhibition and executive dysfunction were associated with diagnoses. The odds of having AD increased in parallel with increases in FrSBe scores (p <= 0.5). In the CAMDEX-DS analysis, amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms were found to be present before there was evidence of a cognitive decline. During the progression to dementia, those symptoms tended to worsen. Memory and orientation were poorer in the prodromal dementia group than in the stable cognition group (odds ratio 35.07, P < 0.001) as was executive function (odds ratio 7.16, P < 0.001). Disinhibition was greater in the AD group than in the prodromal dementia group (odds ratio 3.54, P = 0.04), and apathy was more pronounced in the AD group than in the stable cognition group (odds ratio 34.18; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION. Executive dysfunction, disinhibition and apathy were present in individuals with DS and stable cognition. These measures hasten the initial cognitive decline of AD and are related with cognitive performance in executive function tasks. Frontally mediated behaviour should be taken into consideration during the clinical evaluation of adults with DS. Future studies considering the intersection of neuropathology, brain connectivity, and behaviour may aggregate knowledge about the basis and nature of these associations, leading to the development of effective preventive strategies

INTRODUCTION. D’ici 2030, le Québec comptera 180 000 personnes aînées vivant avec un trouble neurocognitif (PATNC). Les TNC entraînent des enjeux d’interaction personne environnement – l’aîné interagissant avec son environnement humain (proche aidant) ou non humain (domicile) – compromettant ainsi le maintien à domicile. Basée sur le Modèle de compétence, l’Évaluation à domicile de l’interaction personne environnement (ÉDIPE) – version cognitive vise à combler le manque d’instruments validés ciblant ces enjeux. Cet instrument comprend trois sections (Exploration des problèmes cognitifs et de leur impact; Évaluation de l’interaction; Validation et interprétation du processus d’évaluation) évaluées lors d’entrevues, d’observations et de mises en situation; deux échelles (ordinale; dichotomique) qualifient l’interaction personne-environnement. Ce Mémoire porte sur l’étude de la fidélité interexaminateurs de l’ÉDIPE–version cognitive. MÉTHODOLOGIE. Basés sur la Théorie classique de la mesure, deux ergothérapeutes indépendants et formés ont administré simultanément l’ÉDIPE–version cognitive à 30 dyades (PATNC-proches aidant), à domicile (3,2h/évaluation). Pour chaque item, le coefficient kappa, le pourcentage d’accord et l’erreur-type ont été calculés. RÉSULTATS. Les coefficients kappa varient entre -0,053 et 1,000 (pourcentages d’accord 50%-100%); la majorité (80%) varie d’Acceptable à Presque parfait. DISCUSSION. La formation et l’application rigoureuse du guide de passation soutiennent la fidélité interexaminateurs de l’instrument. Plusieurs coefficients faibles démontrent un pourcentage d’accord élevé, référant aux paradoxes de Feinstein et Cicchetti. CONCLUSION. Cette étude documente la fidélité interexaminateurs d’un instrument prometteur comblant une lacune dans la compréhension de l’interaction personne environnement des PATNC vivant à domicile. Poursuivre la validation de l’ÉDIPE–version cognitive appuiera davantage son utilisation en clinique et en recherche. / INTRODUCTION. By 2030, Quebec will have 180,000 older people living with a neurocognitive disorder (OPLwNDs). Neurocognitive disorders lead to issues affecting the person-environment interaction – the older adult interacting with his or her human (caregiver) or non-human (home) environment – thereby compromising aging in place. Based on the Model of Competence, the Home Assessment of Person-Environment Interaction (HoPE)-Cognitive Version aims to fill the gap in validated tools targeting these issues. This tool has three sections (Exploration of cognitive problems and their impact; Assessment of interaction; Validation and interpretation of the assessment process) that employ interviews, observations and task performance; two scales (ordinal; dichotomous) qualify the person-environment interaction. This Master’s thesis examines the interrater reliability of the HoPE-Cognitive Version. METHODOLOGY. Based on classical test theory, two independent, trained occupational therapists simultaneously administered the HoPE-Cognitive Version to 30 dyads (OPLwND-caregiver), at home (3.2 h/assessment). For each item, the kappa coefficient, percentage of agreement and standard error were calculated. RESULTS. Kappa coefficients ranged from -0.053 to 1.000 (percentages of agreement 50%–100%); the majority (80%) ranged from Acceptable to Almost Perfect. DISCUSSION. Training and rigorous application of the assessment guide support the tool’s interrater reliability. Several low coefficients demonstrate a high percentage of agreement, referring to Feinstein and Cicchetti’s paradoxes. CONCLUSION. This study documents the interrater reliability of a promising tool that fills a gap in understanding the person-environment interaction of OPLwNDs living at home. Further validation of the HoPE-Cognitive Version will support its use in clinical and research settings.

Les proches qui accompagnent une personne âgée vivant avec un trouble neurocognitif majeur à un stade avancé (TNC) en centre d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée (nommé CHSLD au Québec) rencontrent de multiples défis au quotidien. Parmi ceux-ci se retrouve la responsabilité qui leur est conférée de prendre les décisions relatives aux soins de santé pour la personne vivant avec un TNC lorsque celle-ci devient incapable de le faire. Certaines de ces décisions placent les proches dans un processus complexe qui doit être accompagné par l’équipe soignante, notamment lorsque les décisions en question auront potentiellement une incidence sur la fin de vie de la personne âgée. Les infirmières et infirmiers, par leurs compétences relatives aux soins à la famille et leur présence quotidienne directe auprès des résidentes et résidents et de leurs proches, se retrouvent dans une position privilégiée pour offrir cet accompagnement. Toutefois, peu d’études se sont intéressées aux différentes composantes de cet accompagnement. Par conséquent, cette étude visait à proposer une théorie de l’accompagnement infirmier des proches qui doivent prendre des décisions concernant la fin de vie d’une personne âgée vivant avec un TNC en CHSLD. Inspirée par la philosophie herméneutique de Gadamer (1960/2018) et la théorie du human caring élaborée par Watson (2012), une théorisation ancrée constructiviste a été réalisée auprès de neuf infirmières ou infirmiers et 10 proches rencontrés dans le cadre d’une entrevue semi-structurée individuelle. Les infirmiers et infirmières occupaient toutes un poste régulier en CHSLD depuis au moins un an, alors que les proches étaient ou avaient été impliqués dans le processus de prise de décisions concernant la fin de vie d’une personne âgée vivant avec un TNC en CHSLD. L’analyse des données s’est appuyée sur les principes suggérés par Charmaz (2014), qui incluent entre autres la codification initiale, la codification ciblée, la comparaison constante et l’écriture de mémos. Il découle de la théorie proposée l’aspect fondamental du lien de confiance établi entre l’infirmière ou l’infirmier et les proches, celui-ci ayant un impact important sur le processus de prise de décisions vécu par les proches et la qualité de l’accompagnement offert par l’infirmière ou l’infirmier. Ensuite, l’exploration du refus des soins palliatifs et le soutien du besoin des proches d’être témoin de l’état de santé actuel de la personne âgée vivant avec un TNC se sont aussi avérés des composantes essentielles de l’accompagnement infirmier. Finalement, l’enseignement au moment opportun ainsi qu’une transmission claire de l’information complètent les thèmes centraux de la théorie. Ces connaissances permettent de mieux comprendre les principaux éléments d’un accompagnement infirmier de qualité, contribuant ainsi à soutenir la pratique infirmière basée sur des résultats probants et à guider la recherche dans le développement d’interventions efficaces afin de faciliter l’expérience des proches. En outre, ces résultats démontrent l’apport indispensable des infirmières et infirmiers au processus de prise de décisions des proches. / Relatives supporting an older person living with an advanced major neurocognitive disorder (NCD) in a long-term care home (called a CHSLD in Quebec) encounter multiple challenges every day. Among them is the responsibility of making healthcare decisions on behalf of a relative living with an NCD, who is no longer able to do so themself. Some of these decisions launch relatives into a complex process that requires guidance from the healthcare team, especially when the decisions may impact the end-of-life of the person living with an NCD. Through their skills in family care and their daily presence directly among residents and relatives, nurses have a privileged role to play in offering this support. However, few studies have examined its various components. The aim of this study is therefore to propose a theory on nurses’ support of relatives making end-of-life decisions for a resident living with an NCD in a CHSLD. Inspired by Gadamer’s hermeneutical philosophy (1960/2018) and Watson’s theory of human caring (2012), a constructivist grounded theory was conducted with nine nurses and 10 relatives, whom were met in individual semi-structured interviews. These nurses had all held regular positions in CHSLDs for at least one year, while relatives were or had been involved in the end-of-life decision-making process for a person living with an NCD in a CHSLD. The data analysis was based on principles suggested by Charmaz (2014), including initial coding, focus coding, constant comparison, and the writing of memos. The proposed theory highlights trust as the fundamental aspect in the nurse-relative relationship. Indeed, trust has a significant impact on families’ decision-making process and on the quality of the support nurses provide to relatives. Exploring the refusal of palliative care and supporting relatives’ need to witness and take stock of the state of health of the person living with an NCD for themselves are two other essential components of nursing care. Finally, nurses’ well-timed education of relatives and clear transmission of information are other themes that are central to this theory. Deepening the understanding of the main elements of quality nursing support, this study reinforces evidence-based nursing practice and guides research leading to effective interventions that will ultimately facilitate relatives’ experience. Our results also demonstrate nurses’ invaluable contribution to relatives’ decision-making process.

Le deuil blanc est peu connu des professionnels de la santé, pourtant cette expérience peut affecter toutes personnes proches aidantes d’une personne vivant avec un trouble neurocognitif. Il consiste en une réponse émotionnelle et physique pouvant survenir lorsque des pertes sont constatées chez la personne vivant avec un trouble cognitif. Les connaissances sur les significations du deuil blanc sont limitées et insuffisantes pour le développement d’interventions efficaces. Le but de l’étude était de comprendre les significations de l’expérience du deuil blanc vécue par des personnes proches aidantes de personnes vivant avec un trouble cognitif et vivant en centre d’hébergement. Dans le cadre d’une phénoménologie descriptive, six personnes proches aidantes ont participé à une entrevue individuelle et celles-ci ont été analysées par la méthode de Giorgi. Les résultats décrivent que les personnes proches aidantes vivent des changements relationnels et des sentiments pénibles provoqués par les changements cognitifs qui progressent. Ceci les amène à ressentir des sentiments ambivalents concernant l’hébergement du proche et demande aux personnes proches aidantes de prendre soin d’eux-mêmes pour poursuivre leur implication. Ces résultats permettront de faciliter la compréhension des professionnels en centre d’hébergement sur le phénomène et d’améliorer la reconnaissance du deuil blanc pour mieux soutenir les personnes proches aidantes. Aussi, les résultats pourront soutenir d’autres études pour identifier des éléments conduisant à des interventions adaptées pour les personnes proches aidantes. / Pre-death grief is not well known to health professionals, yet this experience can affect all care partners of people living with a neurocognitive disorder. It is an emotional and physical response related to the losses observed in the affected person. Knowledge about the meanings of pre-death grief is limited and insufficient for the development of effective interventions. The purpose of this study was to understand the meanings of the pre-death grief experienced by care partners of a cognitively impaired person living in a long-term care home. Using a descriptive phenomenology, six care partners participated in an individual interview, and these were analyzed using Giorgi's method. The results describe that the care partners experience relational changes and distressing feelings caused by the advancing cognitive changes. This leads to ambivalent feelings regarding their relative living in a long-term care home and requires care partners to take care of themselves to continue their involvement. These results will facilitate the understanding of long-term care home professionals' regarding this phenomenon and improve recognition of pre-death grief to better support care partners. Also, the results may support other studies to identify elements leading to adapted interventions for care partners.