Relationship between cognitive status and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease and mixed dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between cognitive and behavioral impairments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to examine whether the addition of cerebrovascular disease modifies that relationship.


METHODS
Correlational analysis.


METHODS
An outpatient dementia clinic.


METHODS
An autopsy-confirmed series of 28 patients with AD and 16 patients with mixed Alzheimer and vascular dementia (MIX).


METHODS
Neuropsychological and behavioral tests during life: Mini-Mental State (MMS), Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS), Haycox Dementia Behavior Scale (HDBS), and two non-cognitive functional scales derived from the BDS and HDBS.


RESULTS
In the AD group, MMS scores correlated significantly with scores on the BDS, HDBS, and two non-cognitive functional scales. In the MIX group, however, no significant relationship was observed between MMS scores and scores on any of the behavioral measures.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that in AD, cognitive and behavioral impairments progress simultaneously. However, with the addition of a vascular component to the dementing process, cognitive and behavioral impairments may progress more independently.
Kurita
A
A
Dementia Research Service, Cornell University Medical College, Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, New York 10605.
Blass
J P
JP
Nolan
K A
KA
Black
R S
RS
Thaler
H T
HT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001519:Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests