4.5 Article

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and their neural correlates in individuals with mild cognitive impairment

Journal

INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS
Volume -, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S104161022200117X

Keywords

mild cognitive impairment; neuropsychiatric inventory; frontal functions; ADNI-3

Ask authors/readers for more resources

This study aimed to evaluate the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive function, regional tau deposition, and brain volumes in MCI subjects. The results showed that 61.4% of MCI subjects had at least one neuropsychiatric symptom, with depression, irritability, and sleep disturbances being the most prevalent. MCI subjects with neuropsychiatric symptoms showed significant differences in cognitive tests of frontal and executive functions and reduced brain volumes in the orbitofrontal and posterior cingulate cortices.
Objectives:Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in subjects with MCI and associated with higher risk of progression to AD. The cognitive and neuroanatomical correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we sought to evaluate the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive function, regional tau deposition, and brain volumes in MCI subjects. Methods:A total of 233 MCI and 305 healthy comparisons were selected from the ADNI-3 cohort. All the subjects underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, volumetric MR brain scan, and Flortaucipir PET for in vivo assessment of regional tau deposition. Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was evaluated by means of the NPI questionnaire. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to detect differences in cognitive and imaging markers in MCI subjects with and without neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results:61.4% MCI subjects showed at least one neuropsychiatric symptom, with the most prevalent ones being depression (26.1%), irritability (23.6%), and sleep disturbances (23.6%). There was a significant effect of neuropsychiatric symptoms on cognitive tests of frontal and executive functions. MCI subjects with neuropsychiatric symptoms showed reduced brain volumes in the orbitofrontal and posterior cingulate cortices, while no effects were detected on regional tau deposition. Posterior cingulate cortex volume was the only predictor of global neuropsychiatric burden in this MCI population. Conclusions:Neuropsychiatric symptoms occur early in the AD trajectory and are mainly related to defects of control executive abilities and to the reduction of gray matter volume in the orbitofrontal and posterior cingulate cortices. A better understanding of the cognitive and neuroanatomical mechanisms of neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI could help develop more targeted and efficacious treatment alternatives.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.5
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available