Abstract
Introduction. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) play an important role throughout the course of cognitive disorders. The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia predicts unfavorable outcomes such as poor prognosis, high caregiver burden, institutionalization and drug use. Although there is some evidence that NPS are common in dementia, they have received less attention in the prodromal stages, including MCI. NPS may be associated with increased risk of progression to dementia .
Methods. In this cross-sectional study 39 patients with MCI (mean age= 80.4 ±4.7) and 45 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) (mean age=80.7 ±5.1) were recruited in a Geriatric Day Hospital. Cognitive functioning was measured using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly (CAMCOG-R). NPS were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q).
Results. There was no significant difference between MCI and mild AD for the total score (MCI =10.5 ±8.5; AD =16.2 ±14.6) total score severity (MCI= 4.7 ±3.6; AD =7.4 ±6.3), nor for the presence of NPS (MCI= 2.7 ±1.7; AD =3.6 ±2.7). Only a significant difference between MCI and AD for delusions and aberrant motor behavior, was observed. Both symptoms were more present in AD compared with MCI. Furthermore, no significant correlations between cognition (total score and subscales MMSE and CAMCOG-R) and NPS (NPI-Q total score, NPI-Q score severity, NPI-Q total caregiver burden and total number of BPSD) were observed (all p
Conclusions. These findings suggest that NPS are already present in MCI with the same frequency as in mild AD and support the hypothesis that NPS might constitute an important early sign of mild AD, exempt for delusion and aberrant behavior. Further research on NPS in MCI and the predictive value for conversion to AD is needed.
Methods. In this cross-sectional study 39 patients with MCI (mean age= 80.4 ±4.7) and 45 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) (mean age=80.7 ±5.1) were recruited in a Geriatric Day Hospital. Cognitive functioning was measured using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly (CAMCOG-R). NPS were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q).
Results. There was no significant difference between MCI and mild AD for the total score (MCI =10.5 ±8.5; AD =16.2 ±14.6) total score severity (MCI= 4.7 ±3.6; AD =7.4 ±6.3), nor for the presence of NPS (MCI= 2.7 ±1.7; AD =3.6 ±2.7). Only a significant difference between MCI and AD for delusions and aberrant motor behavior, was observed. Both symptoms were more present in AD compared with MCI. Furthermore, no significant correlations between cognition (total score and subscales MMSE and CAMCOG-R) and NPS (NPI-Q total score, NPI-Q score severity, NPI-Q total caregiver burden and total number of BPSD) were observed (all p
Conclusions. These findings suggest that NPS are already present in MCI with the same frequency as in mild AD and support the hypothesis that NPS might constitute an important early sign of mild AD, exempt for delusion and aberrant behavior. Further research on NPS in MCI and the predictive value for conversion to AD is needed.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | International Psychogeriatric Association European Regional Meeting, Brussels, Belgium |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Dec 2014 |
| Event | Unknown - Duration: 4 Dec 2014 → … |
Conference
| Conference | Unknown |
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| Period | 4/12/14 → … |
Keywords
- neuropsychiatric symptoms
- mild cognitive impairment