title: Clinical and neurocognitive aspects of hallucinations in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Due to their prevalence, hallucinations are considered as one of the most frequent psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). These psychotic manifestations reduce patients' well-being, increase the burden of caregivers, contribute to early institutionalization, and are related with the course of cognitive decline in AD. Considering their consequences, we provide a comprehensive account of the current state of knowledge about the prevalence and characteristics of hallucinations in AD. We propose a comprehensive and testable theoretical model about hallucinations in AD: the ALZHA (ALZheimer and HAllucinations) model. In this model, neurological, genetic, cognitive, affective, and iatrogenic factors associated with hallucinations in AD are highlighted. According to the ALZHA model, hallucinations in AD first involve trait markers (i.e., cognitive deficits, neurological deficits, genetic predisposition and/or sensory deficits) to which state markers that may trigger these experiences are added (e.g., psychological distress and/or iatrogenic factors). Finally, we provide recommendations for assessment and management of these psychotic manifestations in AD, with the aim to benefit patients, caregivers, and health professionals.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Lille, CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, F-59000 Lille, France. Electronic address: mohamad.elhaj@univ-lille3.fr.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Haj
authors.affiliation: CHU de Lille, Unité de Psychogériatrie, Pôle de gérontologie, 59037 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.affiliation: Univ. Lille, CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jardri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kapogiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Tourcoing Hospital, France.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gallouj
authors.affiliation: Univ. Lille, CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, F-59000 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antoine
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D019468:Disease Management; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Clinical management; Hallucinations