Apathy and executive dysfunction in Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer disease; Apathy; Executive functions; Multitasking; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition Disorders; Executive Function; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders; Motivation; Neuropsychological Tests

Abstract :

[en] Apathy, defined as a reduction in voluntary goal-directed behaviors, is one of the most common behavioral symptoms encountered in Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the processes underlying the different components of apathy are still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore a particularly important aspect of executive function in daily life: multitasking [assessed with the Modified Six Elements Task (MSET)], and its relationship with apathy in AD. Sixty-seven participants (37 AD patients matched with 30 control participants) were screened using the MSET. Simultaneously, a close relative of each patient was given the Apathy Inventory, which assesses 3 distinct dimensions of apathy (lack of initiative, lack of interest, and emotional blunting). AD patients presented significantly more multitasking deficits than control participants. In addition, regression analyses revealed that the number of rule breaks on the MSET (inability to perform several tasks in a predefined time observing a number of rules) was the best predictor of apathy, and especially of lack of initiative. These results suggest that the relation between lack of initiative and multitasking has a specific character and that mechanisms underlying multitasking constitute a key component of goal-directed behaviors. Copyright © 2010 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior

Author, co-author :

Esposito, Fabienne; Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Boulevard du Pont d'Arve, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland

Rochat, Lucien; Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Boulevard du Pont d'Arve, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland

Van Der Linden, Anne-Claude; Memory Clinic, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

LEKEU, Françoise ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Services opérationnels de l'Administrateur Délégué > Unité de neuropsychologie clinique

QUITTRE, Anne ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Services opérationnels de l'Administrateur Délégué > Unité de neuropsychologie clinique

Charnallet, Annick; Neuropsychology Unit, University Hospital of Grenoble, Grenoble, France

Van der Linden, Martial ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Psychologie > Département de Psychologie

Language :

English

Title :

Apathy and executive dysfunction in Alzheimer disease

Publication date :

2010

Journal title :

Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders

ISSN :

0893-0341

eISSN :

1546-4156

Publisher :

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, United States - Pennsylvania

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

131-137

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 08 April 2020

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