BACKGROUND: Apathy, a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome, commonly affects patients with Alzheimer's disease. Prevalence estimates for apathy range widely and are based on cross-sectional data and/or clinic samples. This study examines the relationships between apathy and cognitive and functional declines in non-depressed community-based older adults. METHODS: Data on 1,136 community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older from the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study, with 1 and 13 years of follow-up, were used. Apathy was assessed with a subscale of items from the General Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression, t-tests, chi2 and Generalized Estimating Equations were used to accomplish the study's objectives. RESULTS: The prevalence of apathy at Wave 1 was 23.7%. Compared to those without, individuals with apathy were on average older, more likely to be female, and have lower Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and impairments in basic and instrumental functioning at baseline. Apathy was significantly associated with cognitive decline (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.06, 2.60) and declines in instrumental (OR = 4.42; 95% CI = 2.65, 7.38) and basic (OR = 2.74; 95%CI = 1.35, 5.57) function at 1-year follow-up, even after adjustment for baseline age, level of education, race, and depression at follow-up. At 13 years of follow-up, apathetic individuals were not at greater risk for cognitive decline but were twice as likely to have functional decline. Incidence of apathy at 1-year follow up and 13-year follow-up was 22.6% and 29.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results underline the public health importance of apathy and the need for further population-based studies in this area.
BACKGROUND: Apathy, a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome, commonly affects patients with Alzheimer's disease. Prevalence estimates for apathy range widely and are based on cross-sectional data and/or clinic samples. This study examines the relationships between apathy and cognitive and functional declines in non-depressed community-based older adults. METHODS: Data on 1,136 community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older from the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study, with 1 and 13 years of follow-up, were used. Apathy was assessed with a subscale of items from the General Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression, t-tests, chi2 and Generalized Estimating Equations were used to accomplish the study's objectives. RESULTS: The prevalence of apathy at Wave 1 was 23.7%. Compared to those without, individuals with apathy were on average older, more likely to be female, and have lower Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and impairments in basic and instrumental functioning at baseline. Apathy was significantly associated with cognitive decline (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.06, 2.60) and declines in instrumental (OR = 4.42; 95% CI = 2.65, 7.38) and basic (OR = 2.74; 95%CI = 1.35, 5.57) function at 1-year follow-up, even after adjustment for baseline age, level of education, race, and depression at follow-up. At 13 years of follow-up, apathetic individuals were not at greater risk for cognitive decline but were twice as likely to have functional decline. Incidence of apathy at 1-year follow up and 13-year follow-up was 22.6% and 29.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results underline the public health importance of apathy and the need for further population-based studies in this area.
Authors: Constantine G Lyketsos; Oscar Lopez; Beverly Jones; Annette L Fitzpatrick; John Breitner; Steven DeKosky Journal: JAMA Date: 2002-09-25 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: S Freels; D Cohen; C Eisdorfer; G Paveza; P Gorelick; D J Luchins; R Hirschman; J W Ashford; P Levy; T Semla Journal: J Gerontol Date: 1992-11
Authors: John P Powers; Lauren Massimo; Corey T McMillan; Paul A Yushkevich; Hui Zhang; James C Gee; Murray Grossman Journal: Cogn Behav Neurol Date: 2014-12 Impact factor: 1.600
Authors: Kelly Quinn; Christina E Miyawaki; Raina Croff; Mia T Vogel; Basia Belza; Anita M Souza; Minhui Liu; Valerie J Edwards; Daniela B Friedman Journal: Res Aging Date: 2020-03-20