Recognizing apathy in Alzheimer's disease

Geriatrics. 2007 Nov;62(11):14-7.

Abstract

Apathy has been increasingly recognized as a neuropsychiatric symptom in many neurologic disorders. In this paper, we review the clinical features of apathy in Alzheimer's disease. We also review screening, the differential diagnosis including depression, medical illnesses, and mild cognitive impairment, and treating modalities and issues. It must also be recognized that apathy per se almost never occurs as an isolated syndrome, so it must be viewed in the context of an individual's entire behavioral and cognitive status.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Affective Symptoms / diagnosis*
  • Affective Symptoms / drug therapy
  • Affective Symptoms / physiopathology
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology
  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Amantadine / therapeutic use
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Frontal Lobe / drug effects
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Motivation*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Nootropic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Social Isolation

Substances

  • Dopamine Agents
  • Nootropic Agents
  • Amantadine