Journal
FORTSCHRITTE DER NEUROLOGIE PSYCHIATRIE
Volume 79, Issue 5, Pages 267-276Publisher
GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1246058
Keywords
geriatric schizophrenia; late-onset schizophrenia; old-age schizophrenia; symptoms; cognition
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From the first manifestation of schizophrenic psychosis onwards numerous psychopathological symptoms and cognitive impairments occur, which are affected by age and the aging process. Clinical trials report a pronounced incidence of positive symptoms in late-onset schizophrenia. Negative symptoms are often observed in chronic-course psychosis, but occur infrequently in late-onset-schizophrenia. With respect to cognitive performance neuropsychological studies have shown a decrease in the test performance of permanently hospitalised patients with chronic schizophrenia as age and illness duration increased. Comparative studies of early and late-onset patients in most cases have reported no differing profiles of cognitive performance. Some investigators propose that late-onset schizophrenia may be a prodromal symptom of dementia. However, current studies show that late-onset schizophrenia is basically comparable to its early-onset counterpart. The manifestation in youth and early adulthood may be prevented by specific protective factors until aging-related parameters lead to the onset of symptoms during late life.
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