Do people become more apathetic as they grow older? A longitudinal study in healthy individuals.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine levels, rates and progression of apathy in healthy older persons and to investigate factors associated with its progression.


METHODS
Seventy-six healthy elderly subjects, aged 58-85 years (mean 69.9), who were recruited by general advertisement and through local community groups, participated as a control group for a longitudinal study of stroke patients. Data were collected on demographic, psychological, neuropsychological and neuroimaging (MRI) variables and apathy was rated by informants on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES).


RESULTS
Apathy scores and rates increased over 5 years, especially in men. Change of apathy was associated with informant ratings of cognitive decline in the years prior to baseline assessment but not to subsequent neuropsychological, neuroimaging or functional changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Apathy increases with age in otherwise healthy community-dwelling individuals, particularly in men.
Brodaty
Henry
H
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. h.brodaty@unsw.edu.au
Altendorf
Annette
A
Withall
Adrienne
A
Sachdev
Perminder
P
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors