Apathy in Older Persons With Depression: Course and Predictors: The NESDO Study

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Apathy is a common behavioral syndrome in depression, impacting daily functioning.
• The course and predictors of apathy in older adults with depression are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the course and predicting factors of apathy in older persons diagnosed with depression.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 266 older adults (≥60 years) with depression.
• Apathy Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores assessed at baseline and 2-year follow-up.
• Regression analyses used to identify predictors of apathy severity, incidence, and persistence.

Main Results:

• Apathy severity at baseline predicted 2-year apathy severity.
• 36% incidence of apathy; lower baseline MMSE scores predicted incident apathy.
• 80% persistence of apathy, predicted by higher baseline Apathy Scale scores and less benzodiazepine use.
• Persistent apathy, unlike incident apathy, was associated with poorer depression recovery.

Conclusions:

• Baseline apathy severity and cognitive function are key predictors of apathy course in older adults with depression.
• Persistent apathy is linked to worse depression outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.