Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Importance of lack of interest in patients with mild cognitive impairment
Philippe H Robert1, Claudine Berr, Magali Volteau
1Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche, CHU de Nice, INSERM JE 2441, Nice, France. phil.robert15@orange.fr
Objective:
Apathy is one of the most common behavioral symptoms in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of the authors' study was to examine the influence of the apathy dimensions, i.e., emotional blunting, lack of initiative, and lack of interest, on the risk of developing of Alzheimer disease (AD) in patients with MCI.
Design:
Longitudinal study.
Setting:
Fourteen French memory clinics.
Participants:
Apathy was assessed in 214 MCI patients. The main endpoint considered was the development of AD during the 3-year follow-up.
Measurements:
The neuropsychiatric evaluation included the Goldberg anxiety scale and the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale; apathy was assessed with the Apathy Inventory.
Results:
After 3 years, 59 patients (27.2%) had developed AD. The risk of conversion to AD was significantly higher for patients with lack of interest. Using Cox analyses, controlling for age, gender and education, the difference between survival curves was significant for lack of interest.
Conclusions:
Lack of interest, a mild behavioral sign, could be an indicator of potential decline in MCI patients and underlines the importance of checking the cognitive status of these patients.
Insights
Lack of interest, a key apathy dimension, significantly increases Alzheimer disease risk in mild cognitive impairment patients. Early detection of this behavioral sign is crucial for monitoring cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Apathy is a prevalent behavioral symptom in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- Understanding apathy's dimensions is crucial for predicting neurodegenerative disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how apathy dimensions (emotional blunting, lack of initiative, lack of interest) influence Alzheimer disease (AD) risk in MCI patients.
- To identify specific apathy markers associated with MCI to AD conversion.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study conducted across fourteen French memory clinics.
- 214 MCI patients were assessed for apathy using the Apathy Inventory.
- Neuropsychiatric evaluation included anxiety and depression scales over a 3-year follow-up period.
Main Results:
- 59 patients (27.2%) progressed to AD within 3 years.
- A significant increase in Alzheimer disease (AD) conversion risk was observed in patients exhibiting a lack of interest.
- Cox regression analyses confirmed lack of interest as a significant predictor, independent of age, gender, and education.
Conclusions:
- Lack of interest, a subtle behavioral symptom, may serve as an early indicator of cognitive decline in MCI.
- Regular cognitive status checks are recommended for MCI patients displaying apathy, particularly a lack of interest.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
01:29Intellectual Disability