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Published on: August 4, 2018
Apathy and executive dysfunction in Alzheimer disease
Fabienne Esposito1, Lucien Rochat, Anne-Claude Juillerat Van der Linden
1Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Fabienne.Esposito@unige.ch
Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders
|May 28, 2010
Summary
Alzheimer disease patients often show apathy, a lack of goal-directed behavior. This study found that multitasking deficits, specifically rule-breaking on the Modified Six Elements Task, predict apathy and lack of initiative in Alzheimer disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neurology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Apathy is a common symptom in Alzheimer disease (AD), characterized by reduced voluntary goal-directed behaviors.
- The underlying mechanisms of apathy's distinct components remain unclear.
- Multitasking is a crucial executive function for daily activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between multitasking abilities and apathy in individuals with Alzheimer disease.
- To determine if multitasking deficits predict specific dimensions of apathy.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-seven participants (37 AD patients, 30 controls) were assessed using the Modified Six Elements Task (MSET) to evaluate multitasking.
- Apathy was measured using the Apathy Inventory administered to a close relative, assessing lack of initiative, interest, and emotional blunting.
Main Results:
- Alzheimer disease patients exhibited significantly greater deficits in multitasking compared to control participants.
- Regression analyses identified rule breaks on the MSET as the strongest predictor of apathy, particularly the lack of initiative dimension.
Conclusions:
- Multitasking impairments are significantly associated with apathy in Alzheimer disease.
- Deficits in multitasking, especially rule-breaking, are a key component underlying the lack of initiative observed in Alzheimer disease patients.
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