Sabela C Mallo1, Scott B Patten2, Zahinoor Ismail3, Arturo X Pereiro4, David Facal5, Carlos Otero6, Onésimo Juncos-Rabadán7. 1. Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Xosé María Suárez Núñez Street, Campus Sur, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, ES, 15782, Spain. Electronic address: sabelacarme.mallo@usc.es. 2. Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Electronic address: patten@ucalgary.ca. 3. Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Electronic address: ismailz@ucalgary.ca. 4. Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Xosé María Suárez Núñez Street, Campus Sur, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, ES, 15782, Spain. Electronic address: arturoxose.pereiro@usc.es. 5. Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Xosé María Suárez Núñez Street, Campus Sur, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, ES, 15782, Spain. Electronic address: david.facal@usc.es. 6. Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Xosé María Suárez Núñez Street, Campus Sur, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, ES, 15782, Spain. Electronic address: coterortega@gmail.com. 7. Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Xosé María Suárez Núñez Street, Campus Sur, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, ES, 15782, Spain. Electronic address: onesimo.juncos@usc.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) are common in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and its shorter version, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), are the most common measures to assess NPS. Our objective was to determine if NPI/NPI-Q ratings predict conversion from MCI to dementia. METHODS: Empirical longitudinal studies published in English or Spanish, concerned with the role of NPS as a risk factor for conversion from MCI to dementia, with a diagnosis of MCI following clinical criteria, that reported NPI/NPI-Q total score in converters versus non-converters, were included. Random effects models were used, and heterogeneity was explored with stratification and a random-effects meta-regression. The overall conversion rate and the standardized mean difference (SMD) for evolution, as a function of NPI/NPI-Q scores, were calculated. RESULTS: The overall conversion rate was 35 %. Mean NPI/NPI-Q ratings were higher in converters versus in non-converters, with the overall SMD approaching significance. Heterogeneity was observed in studies of more than two years of follow-up and in a study with a mean age of more than 80 years. This heterogeneity concerned the size, not the direction of the difference. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NPI/NPI-Q ratings are associated with conversion from MCI to dementia.
BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) are common in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and its shorter version, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), are the most common measures to assess NPS. Our objective was to determine if NPI/NPI-Q ratings predict conversion from MCI to dementia. METHODS: Empirical longitudinal studies published in English or Spanish, concerned with the role of NPS as a risk factor for conversion from MCI to dementia, with a diagnosis of MCI following clinical criteria, that reported NPI/NPI-Q total score in converters versus non-converters, were included. Random effects models were used, and heterogeneity was explored with stratification and a random-effects meta-regression. The overall conversion rate and the standardized mean difference (SMD) for evolution, as a function of NPI/NPI-Q scores, were calculated. RESULTS: The overall conversion rate was 35 %. Mean NPI/NPI-Q ratings were higher in converters versus in non-converters, with the overall SMD approaching significance. Heterogeneity was observed in studies of more than two years of follow-up and in a study with a mean age of more than 80 years. This heterogeneity concerned the size, not the direction of the difference. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NPI/NPI-Q ratings are associated with conversion from MCI to dementia.