BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia are characterised by numerous psychiatric and behavioural changes. Little is known of their natural history. AIMS: To investigate the sequence and pattern of these changes throughout the course of dementia. METHOD: One hundred people, initially living at home with carers, entered a prospective, longitudinal study. At four-monthly intervals, behavioural and psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Present Behavioural Examination and Mini-Mental State Examination. Follow-up continued for up to nine years (mean 3.3 years; s.d. 2.4). Patterns of onset and disappearance of these symptoms, their sequence and association with time of death and cognitive decline were analysed. Autopsy confirmed a diagnosis of pure Alzheimer's disease in 48 subjects. Data for this subgroup are presented. RESULTS: Some changes tend to occur earlier than others but changes can occur at almost any time in the course of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: The natural history of behaviour changes in Alzheimer's disease shows great individual variation although some changes tend to follow a recognisable sequence.
BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia are characterised by numerous psychiatric and behavioural changes. Little is known of their natural history. AIMS: To investigate the sequence and pattern of these changes throughout the course of dementia. METHOD: One hundred people, initially living at home with carers, entered a prospective, longitudinal study. At four-monthly intervals, behavioural and psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Present Behavioural Examination and Mini-Mental State Examination. Follow-up continued for up to nine years (mean 3.3 years; s.d. 2.4). Patterns of onset and disappearance of these symptoms, their sequence and association with time of death and cognitive decline were analysed. Autopsy confirmed a diagnosis of pure Alzheimer's disease in 48 subjects. Data for this subgroup are presented. RESULTS: Some changes tend to occur earlier than others but changes can occur at almost any time in the course of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: The natural history of behaviour changes in Alzheimer's disease shows great individual variation although some changes tend to follow a recognisable sequence.
Authors: Pierre N Tariot; Lon S Schneider; Jeffrey Cummings; Ronald G Thomas; Rema Raman; Laura J Jakimovich; Rebekah Loy; Barbara Bartocci; Adam Fleisher; M Saleem Ismail; Anton Porsteinsson; Michael Weiner; Clifford R Jack; Leon Thal; Paul S Aisen Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2011-08
Authors: Mitchell K P Lai; Shirley W Tsang; Margaret M Esiri; Paul T Francis; Peter T-H Wong; Christopher P Chen Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2010-07-13 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Marianne B van Iersel; Sytse U Zuidema; Raymond T C M Koopmans; Frans R J Verhey; Marcel G M Olde Rikkert Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2005 Impact factor: 3.923