New Study Shows Nearly Half of Newly Diagnosed Mild Alzheimer's Disease Patients Also Suffer From Apathy and Depression

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

Higher Levels of Social Assistance and Less Autonomy in
This

Group of Patients

Results from a new French study reveal that nearly half of newly
diagnosed patients with mild Alzheimer's disease also suffer from
apathy and depression. The study also showed that this group of
patients received significantly more social assistance, was less
autonomous and had a lower daily activity functioning score.

"Our study highlights the size of the problem of apathy and
depression in newly diagnosed patients and shows what a devastating
impact this can have," says Philippe Robert, Centre Mmoire de
Ressources et de Recherche (CMRR) de Nice [http://www.google.co.uk/u
rl?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cmrr-nice.
fr%2F&rct=j&q=CMRR%20NIce&ei=f70aTqzfKYaBhQeJssDMBQ&usg=AFQjCNFBWiuB2
zJU7jhiHBDXpkd_5QeSyQ&cad=rja ] . "We already know that these
symptoms are the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations in
Alzheimer's disease but this is the first time that the frequency has
been observed using specific diagnostic criteria. We also know that
people with apathy or depression and mild cognitive impairment have
an increased risk of developing dementia, thus re-iterating the
importance of intervention in helping delay the onset of Alzheimer's
disease and the common neuropsychiatric conditions associated with
it." He adds; "Early management and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
using cognitive and neuropsychiatry signs might allow patients to
remain independent for longer."

Apathy and depression are the most common neuropsychiatric
features in Alzheimer's disease.[1] The risk of conversion of
Alzheimer's disease is significantly higher for patients with Mild
Cognitive Impairment (MCI) who show a lack of interest, a core
apathetic symptom.[2]

The epidemiology study set out, using set diagnostic criteria, to
estimate the frequency of depressive disorders and apathy[3] in newly
diagnosed Alzheimer's disease patients, and to describe the types of
patients with these disorders. The cross-sectional, national French
study involved 734 patients enrolled by 115 physicians.

The observed frequency of apathy and depression diagnosis was
41.6% and 47.9% respectively. Of the subjects involved, 32.4% of
patients had both apathy and depression, 9.4% patients had apathy
alone, 15.4% had depression alone and 42.9% neither had apathy nor
depression.

The comparison study revealed that mild Alzheimer's disease
patients with apathy received significantly more social assistance
[Personalised Autonomy Allocation (APA)*] of 22.4% and 10.6%
respectively (p<0.0001) than those without apathy. Similarly, mild
Alzheimer's disease patients with depression received more social
assistance than those without depression of 20.2% and 11.1%
respectively (p<0.01).

The full results of the study will be presented at the
Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2011 (AAIC 2011) in
Paris, France.

Notes to Editors

*Personalised Autonomy Allocation (APA)[4]

The APA is a French national solidarity allowance designed to
allow persons over the age of 60, with stable and regular residence
in France that have lost autonomy, to obtain any aid needed to
accomplish everyday tasks, whether they are living at home or in an
establishment

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References:

1. Benoit M, Andrieu S, Lechowski L, Gillette-Guyonnet S, Robert
PH, Vellas B; REAL-FR group. Apathy and depression in Alzheimer's
disease are associated with functional deficit and psychotropic
prescription. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry (2008) 23 (4):409 - 14

2. Robert PH, et al. Importance of lack of interest in patients
with mild cognitive impairment. Am J Geriatri Psychiatry (2008); 16
(9): 770 - 776

3. Mulin E, et al. Diagnostic criteria for apathy in clinical
practice. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry (2011); 26 (2) : 158 - 165

4. European Commission document on social security in France
(2002) http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/missoc/2002/socsot_franc
e_en.pdf (last accessed July 2011)

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