Can impairment in memory, language and executive functions predict neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Findings from a cross-sectional study.
The authors performed a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between specific cognitive domains and behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) in 125 patients with probable AD. Cognitive deficits were evaluated with the mini mental state examination (MMSE), trail-making test (TMT), Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), and semantic fluency test (SFT) and phonemic fluency test (PhFT), whereas the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) was used to rate BPSD. Patients' performance in cognitive tests significantly correlated with total NPI scores (p<0.0001). After controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, cognitive impairments in memory, executive function, and language (RAVLT, TMT, PhFT, SFT) importantly estimated total NPI scores (p<0.001, multivariate regression models). These findings suggest that the evaluation of cognitive domains may have a predictive value for the occurrence of BPSD.
García-Alberca
José María
JM
Memory and Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Instituto Andaluz de Neurociencia y Conducta, Alamos, 17, 29012 Malaga, Spain. jmgalberca@ianec.com
Lara
José Pablo
JP
Berthier
Marcelo Luis
ML
Cruz
Belén
B
Barbancho
Miguel Ángel
MÁ
Green
Cristina
C
González-Barón
Salvador
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence