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Agitation-associated behavioral symptoms in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia

Stefan Van der Mussele1, Nathalie Le Bastard, Jos Saerens

  • 1a Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Reference Centre for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge , University of Antwerp (UA) , Antwerp , Belgium.

Aging & Mental Health
|June 26, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Agitation is more prevalent in Alzheimer's dementia (AD) than mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Patients with agitation exhibit more severe frontal lobe, behavioral, and depressive symptoms, particularly in AD.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Agitation is a common behavioral symptom in neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Understanding agitation prevalence and associated symptoms in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of agitation in MCI and AD patients.
  • To characterize the behavioral symptoms associated with agitation in these populations.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 268 MCI and 393 AD patients.
  • Behavioral assessment using Middelheim Frontality Score (MFS), Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (Behave-AD), and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD).
  • Agitation defined by Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) criteria.

Main Results:

  • Agitation prevalence was higher in AD (76%) than MCI (60%).
  • Agitated patients showed more severe frontal lobe, behavioral, and depressive symptoms.
  • Agitation in AD involved more aggressive and physically non-aggressive behaviors compared to MCI.

Conclusions:

  • Clinically relevant agitation is associated with more severe frontal lobe, behavioral, and depressive symptoms in both MCI and AD.
  • This association is less pronounced in MCI patients compared to AD patients.
Keywords:
ADCohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI)MCIaggressionaggressivenessneuropsychiatric symptoms

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