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Apathy in Alzheimer's disease
1Nuffield Dept Clinical Neurosciences & Dept Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences
|August 21, 2018
Summary
Apathy is a common Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptom impacting quality of life. Research suggests frontostriatal circuits, particularly the anterior cingulate cortex, may be involved, but more study is needed.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Apathy is the most frequent neuropsychiatric symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Apathy is linked to reduced quality of life, increased caregiver distress, and higher morbidity in AD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on apathy in Alzheimer's disease.
- To focus on prevalence, quality of life impact, behavioral and neuroimaging findings, and treatment options.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on apathy in Alzheimer's disease.
- Analysis of studies investigating behavioral and neuroanatomical correlates of apathy.
- Examination of treatment strategies for apathy in AD.
Main Results:
- Neuroimaging and behavioral studies suggest frontostriatal circuits, including the anterior cingulate cortex, are implicated in AD apathy.
- Limitations in current research include small sample sizes, heterogeneity, lack of disease severity control, and non-specific assessment scales.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the mechanisms of apathy in Alzheimer's disease requires further investigation.
- Future research should explore multiple dimensions of apathy using refined conceptual frameworks and methodologies.