title: Neuropsychiatric symptoms and the APOE genotype in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The study aimed to characterize neuropsychiatric symptomatology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and investigate the role of APOE genotype and other clinical variables in the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, an attempt to study the evolution of behavioral and psychiatric symptoms was made. Fifty-three consecutive outpatients with AD were enrolled. Twenty-four were followed longitudinally for 1 year. MMSE was used to evaluate cognitive functions. The neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) was administered to assess behavioral and psychiatric symptoms. Genotyping was determined through laboratory testing. At baseline, no specific neuropsychiatric disorder was significantly associated with ApoE genotype, but associated with a peculiar neuropsychiatric profile. Patients with epsilon(4) allele showed a wider range of neuropsychiatric disturbances when compared to non-carriers and higher scores for hallucinations and aberrant motor behaviors. The longitudinal results suggest different trends in both groups: over time, epsilon(4) carriers showed an increase/delayed onset in some symptoms and a parallel decrease in others, while non-carriers presented an undifferentiated worsening of symptomatology. Clear relations with other clinical and demographic variables were also found. APOE epsilon(4) allele is associated to a peculiar neuropsychiatric profile characterizing the onset and evolution of Alzheimer's disease.
authors: IRCCS Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, via per Mercadante Km 2, 70020, Cassano Murge (Bari), Italy. marina.delprete@fsm.it
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Del Prete
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Spaccavento
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Craca
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Fiore
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Angelelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E