1 BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on caregiver burden for stroke and 2 dementia patients. We examined the associations of prevalent stroke and dementia with 3 family caregiver burden in Japanese general populations. 4 METHODS: A total of 916 Japanese home caregivers, whose family members were 5 covered by long-term care insurance, responded to the caregiver burden questionnaire. 6 The questionnaire included caregiver's age, sex, employment status, patient-caregiver 7 relationship,

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... 's history of stroke, symptoms of dementia, care levels under 8 long-term care insurance and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview. 9 RESULTS: Mean total score from the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview was 12% 10 higher in patients with stroke, than in those without it (p=0.02), and 40% higher in 11 those with dementia, than in those without it (p<0.001). Compared with non-stroke 12 patients without dementia, mean total score was 21% higher in stroke patients without 13 dementia (p=0.01), 49% higher in non-stroke patients with dementia (p<0.001) and 14 55% higher in stroke patients with dementia (p<0.001). After adjustment for 15 caregiver's age, sex, employment status, patient-caregiver relationship, patient's care 16 level and community, the higher scores remained statistically significant for non-stroke 17 Page. 2 patients with dementia and for stroke patients with dementia, but not for stroke patients 18 without dementia. 19 CONCLUSIONS: Prevalent stroke and, more strongly, dementia were associated with 20 increased family caregiver burden. Among patients with dementia, the presence of 21 stroke did not enhance caregiver burden further. 22