title: Agitation in dementia: relation to core cerebrospinal fluid biomarker levels.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to examine the associations of agitation with the cerebrospinal fluid dementia biomarkers total-tau (T-tau), phosphorylated-tau (P-tau) and Aβ1-42.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients (mean age ± SD, 78.6 ± 7.5 years) with dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms, of whom 67% were female, were included. Agitation was measured using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI; 46.5 ± 11.8 points).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total CMAI correlated with T-tau [rs (31) = 0.36, p = 0.04] and P-tau [rs (31) = 0.35, p = 0.05] in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 33) but not in the total dementia population (n = 95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that tau-mediated pathology including neurofibrillary tangles and the intensity of the disease process might be associated with agitation in AD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bloniecki
authors.affiliation: Center for Alzheimer Research, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Mölndal, Sweden ; Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aarsland
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nev., USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kaj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blennow
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Freund-Levi
keywords: Agitation; Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD); CMAI; Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); Dementia; Dementia biomarkers; Neurofibrillary tangles