Apathy is a prominent neuropsychiatric feature of radiological white‐matter changes in patients with dementia

• DOI: 10.1002/gps.2379
• Publication Date: 2009-10-22T12:48:55Z
• Authors: M. Jonsson; Å. Edman; K. Lind; S. Rolstad; M. Sjögren; A. Wallin
• Keywords: Apathy; Vascular dementia; Depression

Abstract Objective Cerebral white‐matter changes (WMCs) are frequently found in dementia and have been proposed to be related vascular factors a certain symptomatological profile. However, few studies included both broad spectrum of cognitive, neurological psychiatric symptoms, easily detectable by the physician everyday clinical work. The objective was study relationships between WMCs on MRI/CT neuropsychiatric symptoms patients with cognitive impairment. Methods One hundred seventy‐six Alzheimer's disease, dementia, mixed mild impairment were included. All underwent standardized examination including medical history, examinations, laboratory tests brain imaging (CT or MRI). identification severity degree assessed blindly findings, using semi‐quantitative scale. For statistical analyses, grouped based absence presence WMCs. Significant variables bivariate analyses as predictors stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Bivariate showed significant associations age, gender, blood pressure, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease TIA/RIND. Furthermore, there apathy, mental slowness, disinhibition, gait disturbance focal neurologic symptoms. multivariate model revealed slowness age most consistent predicting for WMCs, together MRI radiological method detection Conclusions findings indicate that associated dysexecutive‐related behavioural symptom profile, small large vessel diseases age. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.