Structural correlates of apathy in Alzheimer's disease

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2007;24(2):91-7. doi: 10.1159/000103914. Epub 2007 Jun 14.

Abstract

Background: Apathy is the most common noncognitive symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The structural correlates of apathy in AD have not yet been described.

Methods: We analyzed magnetic resonance imaging data of 35 AD patients with and without apathy.

Results: There was a significant linear association between apathy severity and cortical gray matter atrophy in the bilateral anterior cingulate [Brodmann area (BA) 24; r = 0.39-0.42, p = 0.01] and left medial frontal cortex (BA 8 and 9; r = 0.4, p < 0.02). Left mean cingulate cortical thinning predicted the presence/absence of apathy at the trend level of significance.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a strong association between apathy and the integrity of medial frontal regions in AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Atrophy
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology*
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology*
  • Gyrus Cinguli / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Motivation*
  • Reference Values
  • Statistics as Topic