title: [Symptoms and cognition in geriatric schizophrenia].
abstract: From the first manifestation of schizophrenic psychosis onwards numerous psychopathological symptoms and cognitive impairments occur, which are affected by age and the aging process. Clinical trials report a pronounced incidence of positive symptoms in late-onset schizophrenia. Negative symptoms are often observed in chronic-course psychosis, but occur infrequently in late-onset-schizophrenia. With respect to cognitive performance neuropsychological studies have shown a decrease in the test performance of permanently hospitalised patients with chronic schizophrenia as age and illness duration increased. Comparative studies of early and late-onset patients in most cases have reported no differing profiles of cognitive performance. Some investigators propose that late-onset schizophrenia may be a prodromal symptom of dementia. However, current studies show that late-onset schizophrenia is basically comparable to its early-onset counterpart. The manifestation in youth and early adulthood may be prevented by specific protective factors until aging-related parameters lead to the onset of symptoms during late life.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie, Sektion für Gerontopsychiatrische Forschung, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg. lena.schmid@med.uniheidelberg.de
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lässer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schröder
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology