Author:
McPHERSON SUSAN,FAIRBANKS LYNN,TIKEN SIBEL,CUMMINGS JEFFREY L.,BACK-MADRUGA CARLA
Abstract
Apathy is a common behavioral disturbance in patients with
Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have linked the
presence of apathy to alterations in frontal lobe functions,
but few studies have explored the relationship using standard
neuropsychological measures in patients with AD. We administered
a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests and a behavior
rating scale to 80 patients with AD. We explored the relationship
of apathy to executive dysfunction. AD patients with apathy
performed significantly worse on tests of executive function
(WAIS–R Digit Symbol, Trail-Making, Stroop Color Interference
Test) than AD patients without apathy. The presence of dysphoria
did not modify these results and no significant relationships
were found between tests of executive functions and dysphoria.
Performance on executive measures as a group were effective
in correctly classifying patients as apathetic or nonapathetic
with 75% accuracy. Neuropsychological measures not dependent
on executive functions were unrelated to apathy. Apathy is
associated with executive dysfunction and not with other
neuropsychological deficits. Apathy is distinct from dysphoria.
(JINS, 2002, 8, 373–381.)
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Neurology (clinical),Clinical Psychology,General Neuroscience
Cited by
143 articles.
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