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Right-side neglect in Alzheimer's disease
P Bartolomeo1, G Dalla Barba, M F Boissé
1INSERM Unit 324, Paris, France.
Neurology
|October 22, 1998
Summary
Unilateral neglect, typically affecting the left side, was observed in a patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) affecting the right side. This condition worsened over time, highlighting the need for systematic neglect assessment in AD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Unilateral neglect is a common deficit following right-hemisphere brain damage, typically manifesting as inattention to the left side of space.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is primarily characterized by cognitive decline, but associated neurological signs are increasingly recognized.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old woman with probable AD, without focal brain lesions, presented with right-side neglect and extinction.
- The severity of the neglect symptoms increased over a one-year period.
Findings:
- Neuroimaging revealed asymmetrical cortical involvement in the patient, with predominant atrophy and hypoperfusion in the left posterior regions.
- This pattern suggests a link between left-hemisphere posterior region pathology and right-side neglect in the context of AD.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that unilateral neglect can occur in Alzheimer's disease, even without focal lesions.
- Systematic assessment of unilateral neglect is recommended for patients diagnosed with AD to better understand and manage their neurological presentation.