title: Apathy and prospective memory in aging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apathy is common in aging, but the processes underlying its different components are still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between apathy and prospective memory (PM), a process involved in the execution of delayed intentions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty elderly participants completed a PM task and a working memory task. Close relatives of the participants were given the Apathy Inventory, which assesses three dimensions of apathy (lack of initiative, lack of interest, emotional blunting), and a negative mood scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlation analyses showed strong relationships between PM and lack of initiative and interest. These relations remain significant even after controlling for global cognitive functioning, working memory, processing speed and negative mood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study sheds new light on the cognitive mechanisms associated with apathy in aging and opens up interesting prospects for psychological intervention.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, Geneva, Switzerland ; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Lucien
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rochat
authors.forename: Anne-Claude
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Juillerat Van der Linden
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van der Linden
keywords: Aging; Apathy; Execution of delayed intentions; Lack of initiative; Lack of interest