title: Importance of lack of interest in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apathy is one of the most common behavioral symptoms in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of the authors' study was to examine the influence of the apathy dimensions, i.e., emotional blunting, lack of initiative, and lack of interest, on the risk of developing of Alzheimer disease (AD) in patients with MCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen French memory clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Apathy was assessed in 214 MCI patients. The main endpoint considered was the development of AD during the 3-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The neuropsychiatric evaluation included the Goldberg anxiety scale and the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale; apathy was assessed with the Apathy Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 years, 59 patients (27.2%) had developed AD. The risk of conversion to AD was significantly higher for patients with lack of interest. Using Cox analyses, controlling for age, gender and education, the difference between survival curves was significant for lack of interest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of interest, a mild behavioral sign, could be an indicator of potential decline in MCI patients and underlines the importance of checking the cognitive status of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche, CHU de Nice, INSERM JE 2441, Nice, France. phil.robert15@orange.fr
authors.forename: Philippe H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berr
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volteau
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertogliati-Fileau
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guerin
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarazin
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Legrain
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dubois