1. Prevalence of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Young-Onset Compared to Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease - Part 1: Findings of the Two-Year Longitudinal NeedYD-Study.
- Author
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Van Vliet, Deliane, De Vugt, Marjolein E., Aalten, Pauline, Bakker, Christian, Pijnenburg, Yolande A.l., Vernooij-Dassen, Myrra J.f.j., Koopmans, Raymond T.c.m., and Verhey, Frans R.j.
- Subjects
AGE factors in disease ,ALZHEIMER'S disease ,ANALYSIS of variance ,ANXIETY ,CAREGIVERS ,CHI-squared test ,COMPARATIVE studies ,DELUSIONS ,MENTAL depression ,LONGITUDINAL method ,NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL tests ,MOTIVATION (Psychology) ,NEUROLOGIC manifestations of general diseases ,PSYCHOMOTOR disorders ,RESEARCH funding ,T-test (Statistics) ,AGITATION (Psychology) ,SECONDARY analysis ,DISEASE incidence ,REPEATED measures design ,DISEASE prevalence ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Background/Aims: Knowledge about neuropsychiatric symptoms in young-onset Alzheimer's disease (YO-AD) is scarce, but essential to establish a prognosis and plan care for YO-AD patients. The aim of this study is to assess frequency parameters of neuropsychiatric symptoms in YO-AD over 2 years and investigate whether there are differences compared with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LO-AD). Methods: 98 YO-AD and 123 LO-AD patients and caregivers from two prospective cohort studies were included and assessed every 6 months for 2 years, using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results: Over the course of 2 years, the incidence, prevalence and persistence of neuropsychiatric symptoms were in general lower in YO-AD than in LO-AD, specifically for delusions, agitation, depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability and aberrant motor behavior. Frequency of individual symptoms showed large variability in both groups. Within the group of YO-AD patients, apathy was the most prevalent symptom. Conclusion: Neuropsychiatric symptoms, notably apathy, should be paid appropriate attention to in the diagnosis and treatment of YO-AD patients. Further research is needed to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the differences in neuropsychiatric symptoms between YO-AD and LO-AD. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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