John M Starr1, Jane Lonie. 1. Geriatric Medicine Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. John.Starr@ed.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) are common. It is unclear whether associations are stronger with the absolute cognitive level or that relative to premorbid mental ability. METHODS: The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was administered to carers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients underwent cognitive testing with the National Adult Reading Test (NART) to estimate premorbid IQ and 6 tests of current cognitive function. RESULTS: 556 patients, mean age 77.3 years, had NPI scores. The total NPI score correlated significantly with most cognitive test scores, but multi-linear regression identified NART-IQ as the only significant cognitive predictor (beta=-0.17, p=0.008). Principal component analysis of the 10 NPI domains extracted 3 components corresponding to mood, frontal and psychotic factors. The NPI mood factor correlated significantly with NART-IQ (rho=-0.14, p=0.014) and lexical verbal fluency (rho=-0.09, p=0.034) only. The NPI frontal factor correlation with NART-IQ approached significance (rho=-0.11, p=0.053). The NPI psychotic factor correlated significantly with the Mini-Mental State Examination (rho=-0.15, p<0.001) and the Hopkins verbal learning test (rho=-0.11, p=0.013) scores. CONCLUSION: The relationship between BPSDs and cognition in AD is weak and largely explained by premorbid IQ. There is a stronger relationship between current cognition and psychotic symptoms. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.
BACKGROUND: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) are common. It is unclear whether associations are stronger with the absolute cognitive level or that relative to premorbid mental ability. METHODS: The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was administered to carers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients underwent cognitive testing with the National Adult Reading Test (NART) to estimate premorbid IQ and 6 tests of current cognitive function. RESULTS: 556 patients, mean age 77.3 years, had NPI scores. The total NPI score correlated significantly with most cognitive test scores, but multi-linear regression identified NART-IQ as the only significant cognitive predictor (beta=-0.17, p=0.008). Principal component analysis of the 10 NPI domains extracted 3 components corresponding to mood, frontal and psychotic factors. The NPI mood factor correlated significantly with NART-IQ (rho=-0.14, p=0.014) and lexical verbal fluency (rho=-0.09, p=0.034) only. The NPI frontal factor correlation with NART-IQ approached significance (rho=-0.11, p=0.053). The NPI psychotic factor correlated significantly with the Mini-Mental State Examination (rho=-0.15, p<0.001) and the Hopkins verbal learning test (rho=-0.11, p=0.013) scores. CONCLUSION: The relationship between BPSDs and cognition in AD is weak and largely explained by premorbid IQ. There is a stronger relationship between current cognition and psychotic symptoms. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Authors: Carol Dillon; Cecilia M Serrano; Diego Castro; Patricio Perez Leguizamón; Silvina L Heisecke; Fernando E Taragano Journal: Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat Date: 2013-09-19 Impact factor: 2.570
Authors: Ilona Hallikainen; Anne M Koivisto; Teemu Paajanen; Asta Hiltunen; Pertti Karppi; Matti Vanhanen; Tarja Välimäki; Sanna-Kaisa Herukka; Hilkka Soininen; Tuomo Hänninen Journal: Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra Date: 2012-05-05