title: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Alzheimer Disease, Vascular Dementia, and Mixed Dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), and are distressful to patients and caregivers. NPS are likely related to the underlying pathology. Previous studies suggest that frontal lobe lesions and vascular changes such as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) have a significant association with specific NPS. The current study aimed to compare NPS in patients with AD, VaD, and mixed AD/VaD, and to evaluate the differences in the prevalence of NPS in relation to frontal WMH volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 180 patients with NPS and MRI data (92 probable AD, 51%; 34 probable VaD, 19%; and 54 probable mixed AD/VaD, 30%) were included in the study. Regression analyses were performed to determine the relationships between NPS prevalence and diagnosis, and between NPS and frontal WMH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VaD patients had significantly more agitation (p < 0.05; 40 vs. 14%) and sleep disturbances (p < 0.05; 57 vs. 32%) than AD patients, and significantly more depression (p < 0.05; 48 vs. 20%) and aberrant motor behaviors (p < 0.05; 31 vs. 13%) than mixed AD/VaD patients. AD patients with delusions had significantly greater right frontal WMH volumes than those without (p < 0.05; delusions 1/0 = 314.8/112.6 mm3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in NPS prevalence are likely related to the underlying pathology and warrant further study as they have implications for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Cassandra J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Anor
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Amardeep
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saund
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tang-Wai
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keren
authors.forename: Maria Carmela
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tartaglia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D000073216:Mental Status and Dementia Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Alzheimer disease; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychiatric symptoms; Vascular dementia