Relationship between apathy and cognitive dysfunctions in de novo untreated Parkinson's disease: a prospective longitudinal study. (22nd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santangelo, G.; Vitale, C.; Trojano, L.; Picillo, M.; Moccia, M.; Pisano, G.; Pezzella, D.; Cuoco, S.; Erro, R.; Longo, K.; Pellecchia, M. T.; Amboni, M.; De Rosa, A.; De Michele, G.; Barone, P.
• Is Part Of: European journal of neurology. Volume 22:Number 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 253
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2014-05-22
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.12467
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-5101

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ene12467-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ene12467-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and purpose</title> <p>Apathy may be either a symptom of major depression or a behavioral disturbance occurring in concomitance with depression or alone in Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of the present study was to determine the progression of cognitive impairment in drug‐naïve untreated PD patients with or without clinically significant apathy.</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12467-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Sixty‐two PD patients with a disease duration <2 years and without history of present or past therapy with pro‐dopaminergic agents were included and underwent the Apathy Evaluation Scale (S‐AES), a clinical interview based on diagnostic criteria for apathy and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to assess memory, frontal functions and visuospatial functions. Two years after the first assessment, all patients were re‐evaluated on the S‐AES, a clinical interview and neuropsychological tests.</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12467-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>According to the cut‐off value of the S‐AES and diagnostic criteria for apathy, eight patients experienced apathy at both baseline and follow‐up (A+A+), nine patients had apathy only at follow‐up (A−A+), 37 patients never experienced apathy (A−A−) and eight patients showed apathy at the baseline only (A+A−). Cognitive performance significantly declined in all four groups. At both baseline and follow‐up A+A+ performed worse than A−A− on visuospatial and frontal tests; A−A+ had lower scores than A−A− on the interference task of the Stroop test (IT‐ST). Regression analysis showed that poor performance on the IT‐ST at baseline was the only independent predictor of onset of apathy at follow‐up.</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12467-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The results indicated a relationship between apathy and dysexecutive syndrome in early PD. Reduced scores on the IT‐ST may predict development of apathy in PD patients.</p> </sec> </abstract>