1
|
Marques MJ. The quality of family relationships in dementia: Mixed methods to unravel mixed feelings. DEMENTIA 2024; 23:210-233. [PMID: 38100191 PMCID: PMC10807244 DOI: 10.1177/14713012231220759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Close relationships influence health and quality of life outcomes for people with dementia and their families. Yet, we know little on the role of different relationship domains with quantitative methods having proved to have limitations in this research field. We aimed to study these relationship domains over time, contrasting the views of people with dementia and their family carers, making use of both quantitative and qualitative approaches.Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was adopted, analysing longitudinal data (four time points over three years) from 66 dyads of Portuguese community-dwelling people with dementia and their primary carers, from the EU-Actifcare project sample. Quantitative assessments used sociodemographic and clinical variables, and Positive Affect Index scores, with descriptive and inferential analyses. Qualitative data, collected through individual and joint semi-structured interviews, were explored using thematic analysis.Results: Both quantitative and qualitative findings demonstrated that some domains of relationship quality are affected in different ways, with changes occurring at different stages. Some (e.g., 'communication') may even improve after initial decline. 'Closeness' was consistently altered over time, from carers' perspectives, and played an important protective role regarding institutionalisation. Overall, changes in the relationship quality were perceived differently by people with dementia and their carers, and these divergent perspectives often led to tension. Qualitative data revealed that 'mixed feelings' (ambivalence) involve complex experiences, arguably more difficult to manage than negative feelings alone. Furthermore, perceived informal support, particularly from the extended family, and receiving formal services' assistance, seemed to facilitate positive (re)appraisals of the relationship.Conclusions: A deeper understanding of relationship quality and its domains as dementia progresses may help tailoring interventions to tackle modifiable aspects of relationships, meeting the needs and cherishing the resources of dyads and families. Timely assessments could identify relationships at risk and need for support, including for alternative caring arrangements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Marques
- Maria J. Marques, CHRC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria, 130, Lisbon 1169-056, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tan YL, Lo YKJ, Ho CSH. Psychological and social impacts of frontotemporal dementia on caregivers and family members - A systematic review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2024; 86:33-49. [PMID: 38064912 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) may impose substantial psychological and social burdens on caregivers and family members that are unique from other forms of dementia due to its distinctive clinical characteristics. This systematic review investigated these impacts on caregivers and family members. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases for relevant articles published from database inception to 23 March 2023. The methodological quality of the articles was evaluated using a checklist. RESULTS Thirty-six articles (six qualitative and thirty quantitative), including 5129 participants, were included in this review. Like other forms of dementia, FTD caregivers had significant caregiver burden levels and psychological impacts. Caregiver burden was associated with behavioural symptoms (e.g., apathy and disinhibition) and motor symptoms. The costs of caring for a patient with FTD were found to be higher than those for Alzheimer's disease. FTD patients often face challenges in obtaining a correct diagnosis and experience significant delays and multiple misdiagnoses. Healthcare professionals may also be less familiar with FTD than with Alzheimer's, leading to delayed diagnosis. This can cause considerable stress and deprive patients and caregivers of early intervention. CONCLUSION FTD is associated with significant costs and caregiver burden levels, and the difficulties faced by caregivers and family members can be unique and challenging in different aspects when compared to other forms of dementia. Better education about FTD for family members and healthcare professionals is required to improve the quality of life for both patients and caregivers, and more support needs to be provided at all stages of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li Tan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Yee Kai Jeffrey Lo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Cyrus Su Hui Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Grossman M, Seeley WW, Boxer AL, Hillis AE, Knopman DS, Ljubenov PA, Miller B, Piguet O, Rademakers R, Whitwell JL, Zetterberg H, van Swieten JC. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9:40. [PMID: 37563165 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is one of the most common causes of early-onset dementia and presents with early social-emotional-behavioural and/or language changes that can be accompanied by a pyramidal or extrapyramidal motor disorder. About 20-25% of individuals with FTLD are estimated to carry a mutation associated with a specific FTLD pathology. The discovery of these mutations has led to important advances in potentially disease-modifying treatments that aim to slow progression or delay disease onset and has improved understanding of brain functioning. In both mutation carriers and those with sporadic disease, the most common underlying diagnoses are linked to neuronal and glial inclusions containing tau (FTLD-tau) or TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP), although 5-10% of patients may have inclusions containing proteins from the FUS-Ewing sarcoma-TAF15 family (FTLD-FET). Biomarkers definitively identifying specific pathological entities in sporadic disease have been elusive, which has impeded development of disease-modifying treatments. Nevertheless, disease-monitoring biofluid and imaging biomarkers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are likely to serve as useful measures of treatment response during trials of disease-modifying treatments. Symptomatic trials using novel approaches such as transcranial direct current stimulation are also beginning to show promise.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology and Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Argye E Hillis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Peter A Ljubenov
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Miller
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Disorders of social cognition, such as difficulties with emotion perception, alexithymia, Theory of Mind (ToM), empathy and disorders of emotion regulation, are prevalent and pervasive problems across many neurological, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions. Clinicians are familiar with how these difficulties present but assessment and treatment has lagged behind other traditional cognitive domains, such as memory, language and executive functioning. METHOD In this paper, we review the prevalence and degree of impairment associated with disorders of social cognition and emotion regulation across a range of clinical conditions, with particular emphasis on their relationship to cognitive deficits and also real-world functioning. We reported effects sizes from published meta-analyses for a range of clinical disorders and also review test usage and available tests. RESULTS In general, many clinical conditions are associated with impairments in social cognition and emotion regulation. Effect sizes range from small to very large and are comparable to effect sizes for impairments in nonsocial cognition. Socio-emotional impairments are also associated with social and adaptive functioning. In reviewing prior research, it is apparent that the standardized assessment of social cognition, in particular, is not routine in clinical practice. This is despite the fact that there are a range of tools available and accruing evidence for the efficacy of interventions for social cognitive impairments. CONCLUSION We are using this information to urge and call for clinicians to factor social cognition into their clinical assessments and treatment planning, as to provide rigorous, holistic and comprehensive person-centred care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Skye McDonald
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Travis Wearne
- School of Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South, Australia
| | - Michelle Kelly
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Seckin M, Yıldırım E, Demir İ, Orhun Ö, Bülbül E, Velioğlu HA, Öktem Ö, Yeşilot N, Çoban O, Gürvit H. Neuropsychiatric outcomes and caregiver distress in primary progressive aphasia. Psychogeriatrics 2023; 23:52-62. [PMID: 36273493 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to outline the neuropsychiatric consequences of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and to understand how neuropsychiatric symptomatology affects distress in caregivers. METHODS The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) including the distress index (NPI-Distress) was used. Additional information about the caregiver burden was obtained using Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). NPI, NPI-Distress, and ZBI data from 17 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PPA were compared with 10 stroke aphasia patients. Neuropsychiatric symptomatology was investigated based on three clusters; Mood, Frontal/Comportmental, and Psychotic/Disruptive. Additionally, the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ) was used to outline the functional impairment. Twelve healthy controls were included to compare the neurocognitive test scores with PPA and stroke aphasia groups. RESULTS A greater number of neuropsychiatric symptoms were observed in the PPA group compared to the stroke aphasia group. The number of symptoms in Mood, and Frontal/Comportmental clusters were greater than the number of symptoms in Psychotic/Disruptive clusters in the PPA group, whereas no significant relationship between the number of symptoms and symptom clusters was found in the stroke aphasia group. In the PPA group, a strong correlation was found between the NPI-Frequency × Severity scores and the NPI-Distress scores. Moreover, the NPI-Distress scores in the PPA group strongly correlated with the ZBI scores. Scores for anxiety, irritability/lability, and apathy had a stronger correlation with the NPI-Distress scores compared to the other NPI symptoms. The Communication subscale was the most impaired domain in the PPA group. Travel, and Employment and Recreation subscales showed greater functional impairment in the stroke aphasia group compared to the PPA group. CONCLUSIONS Neuropsychiatric symptoms in PPA in our study were more frequent than previously reported. Furthermore, the distress index of the NPI was not only correlated with the severity of the neuropsychiatric symptoms but also reflected the overall burden on the caregivers in the PPA group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Seckin
- Department of Neurology, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.,Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Neurology Research Lab, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Yıldırım
- Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Işık University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İlayda Demir
- Department of Neuroscience, Istanbul University Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.,Hulusi Behçet Life Sciences Center, Neuroimaging Lab, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ömer Orhun
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Neurology Research Lab, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Bülbül
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Neurology Research Lab, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - H Aziz Velioğlu
- Health Sciences and Technology Research Institute (SABITA), Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), functional Imaging and Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience Lab (fINCAN), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Öget Öktem
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nilüfer Yeşilot
- Department of Neurology, Edip Aktin Stroke Unit, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Oğuzhan Çoban
- Department of Neurology, Edip Aktin Stroke Unit, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hakan Gürvit
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Altered reward processing underpins emotional apathy in dementia. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE, & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 23:354-370. [PMID: 36417157 PMCID: PMC10049956 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01048-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
While apathy is broadly defined as a loss of motivation, it is increasingly recognised as a multidimensional syndrome spanning executive, emotional, and initiation domains. Emotional apathy is purportedly driven by deficits in using socioemotional rewards to guide behaviour, yet the link between these symptoms and reward processing, and their common neural correlates, has not been directly examined.
Methods
Sixty-four patients (33 behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia, 14 Alzheimer’s disease, 8 semantic dementia, 6 progressive nonfluent aphasia, 3 logopenic progressive aphasia) were classified into high (HEA; n = 36) and low (LEA; n = 28) emotional apathy groups based on emotional apathy subscale scores on the Dimensional Apathy Scale. Patients and age-matched healthy controls (n = 27) performed an instrumental reward learning task where they learned to associate cues with either social or monetary outcomes.
Results
HEA patients showed impaired learning on both the social and monetary reward conditions, relative to LEA patients (p = 0.016) and controls (p = 0.005). Conversely, the LEA group did not differ from controls (p = 0.925). Importantly, multiple regression analyses indicated that social reward learning significantly predicted emotional apathy. Voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed that emotional apathy and social reward learning were both associated with orbitofrontal cortex, ventral striatum, and insula atrophy.
Discussion
Our results demonstrate a unique link between impaired social reward learning and emotional apathy in dementia and reveal a shared neurobiological basis. Greater understanding of these neurocognitive mechanisms of reward processing will help improve the identification of emotional apathy in dementia and inform the development of novel interventions to address these symptoms.
Collapse
|
7
|
Foxe D, Irish M, Ramanan S, Stark S, Cordato NJ, Burrell JR, Piguet O. Longitudinal changes in behaviour, mood and functional capacity in the primary progressive aphasia variants. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5601-5614. [PMID: 34888957 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative clinical syndrome characterised by a progressive decline in speech and language functions. Deficits in behaviour, mood and functional capacity are reported in PPA but are less well understood. This study examined the PPA variants' profiles on these domains at initial presentation and over time and evaluated their relations to overall cognitive ability. Behaviour, mood and functional capacity were measured annually (over ~6 years) in 145 individuals diagnosed with PPA (41 logopenic [lv-PPA], 44 non-fluent [nfv-PPA] and 60 semantic variants [sv-PPA]) using the Cambridge Behavioural Inventory-Revised (CBI-R) carer questionnaire. Overall cognition was assessed annually with the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III. Distinct profiles were observed across PPA syndromes. Notably, sv-PPA carers reported greater behavioural, eating and motivational disturbances than the other PPA variants throughout the disease course. Reported memory problems were also greater in sv-PPA and lv-PPA than in nfv-PPA across all time points. These disturbances occurred in the context of the sv-PPA group demonstrating a slower rate of cognitive decline than the lv-PPA group and a parallel rate to that found in the nfv-PPA group. Associations between overall cognition and the CBI-R domains were trivial at baseline assessment; however, distinct profiles emerged when mapping each syndrome's overall cognitive decline with their behavioural, mood and functional trajectories. Our findings demonstrate that the evolving behaviour, mood and functional capacity profiles of the PPA variants are distinct and extend beyond the primary disorder of language. These findings have important implications for clinical management and caregiver education in PPA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Foxe
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Muireann Irish
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Siddharth Ramanan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Samuel Stark
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Cordato
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,St George Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The Department of Aged Care, St George Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Calvary Community Health, Calvary Health Care Kogarah, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - James R Burrell
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Concord Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ramanan S, Irish M, Patterson K, Rowe JB, Gorno-Tempini ML, Lambon Ralph MA. Understanding the multidimensional cognitive deficits of logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia. Brain 2022; 145:2955-2966. [PMID: 35857482 PMCID: PMC9473356 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia is characterized by early deficits in language production and phonological short-term memory, attributed to left-lateralized temporoparietal, inferior parietal and posterior temporal neurodegeneration. Despite patients primarily complaining of language difficulties, emerging evidence points to performance deficits in non-linguistic domains. Temporoparietal cortex, and functional brain networks anchored to this region, are implicated as putative neural substrates of non-linguistic cognitive deficits in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, suggesting that degeneration of a shared set of brain regions may result in co-occurring linguistic and non-linguistic dysfunction early in the disease course. Here, we provide a Review aimed at broadening the understanding of logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia beyond the lens of an exclusive language disorder. By considering behavioural and neuroimaging research on non-linguistic dysfunction in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, we propose that a significant portion of multidimensional cognitive features can be explained by degeneration of temporal/inferior parietal cortices and connected regions. Drawing on insights from normative cognitive neuroscience, we propose that these regions underpin a combination of domain-general and domain-selective cognitive processes, whose disruption results in multifaceted cognitive deficits including aphasia. This account explains the common emergence of linguistic and non-linguistic cognitive difficulties in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, and predicts phenotypic diversification associated with progression of pathology in posterior neocortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Ramanan
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Muireann Irish
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Karalyn Patterson
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge University Centre for Frontotemporal Dementia, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Matthew A Lambon Ralph
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Eggins P, Wong S, Wei G, Hodges JR, Husain M, Piguet O, Irish M, Kumfor F. A shared cognitive and neural basis underpinning cognitive apathy and planning in behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Cortex 2022; 154:241-253. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
10
|
Nelson A, Russell LL, Peakman G, Convery RS, Bouzigues A, Greaves CV, Bocchetta M, Cash DM, van Swieten JC, Jiskoot L, Moreno F, Sanchez-Valle R, Laforce R, Graff C, Masellis M, Tartaglia MC, Rowe JB, Borroni B, Finger E, Synofzik M, Galimberti D, Vandenberghe R, de Mendonça A, Butler CR, Gerhard A, Ducharme S, Le Ber I, Santana I, Pasquier F, Levin J, Otto M, Sorbi S, Rohrer JD, Almeida MR, Anderl‐Straub S, Andersson C, Antonell A, Archetti S, Arighi A, Balasa M, Barandiaran M, Bargalló N, Bartha R, Bender B, Benussi A, Bertoux M, Bertrand A, Bessi V, Black S, Bocchetta M, Borrego‐Ecija S, Bras J, Brice A, Bruffaerts R, Camuzat A, Cañada M, Cantoni V, Caroppo P, Cash D, Castelo‐Branco M, Colliot O, Cope T, Deramecourt V, Arriba M, Di Fede G, Díez A, Duro D, Fenoglio C, Ferrari C, Ferreira CB, Fox N, Freedman M, Fumagalli G, Funkiewiez A, Gabilondo A, Gasparotti R, Gauthier S, Gazzina S, Giaccone G, Gorostidi A, Greaves C, Guerreiro R, Heller C, Hoegen T, Indakoetxea B, Jelic V, Karnath H, Keren R, Kuchcinski G, Langheinrich T, Lebouvier T, Leitão MJ, Lladó A, Lombardi G, Loosli S, Maruta C, Mead S, Meeter L, Miltenberger G, Minkelen R, Mitchell S, Moore K, Nacmias B, Nelson A, Öijerstedt L, Olives J, Ourselin S, Padovani A, Panman J, Papma JM, Pijnenburg Y, Polito C, Premi E, Prioni S, Prix C, Rademakers R, Redaelli V, Rinaldi D, Rittman T, Rogaeva E, Rollin A, Rosa‐Neto P, Rossi G, Rossor M, Santiago B, Saracino D, Sayah S, Scarpini E, Schönecker S, Seelaar H, Semler E, Shafei R, Shoesmith C, Swift I, Tábuas‐Pereira M, Tainta M, Taipa R, Tang‐Wai D, Thomas DL, Thompson P, Thonberg H, Timberlake C, Tiraboschi P, Todd E, Van Damme P, Vandenbulcke M, Veldsman M, Verdelho A, Villanua J, Warren J, Wilke C, Wlasich E, Zetterberg H, Zulaica M. The CBI-R detects early behavioural impairment in genetic frontotemporal dementia. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 9:644-658. [PMID: 35950369 PMCID: PMC9082390 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Behavioural dysfunction is a key feature of genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) but validated clinical scales measuring behaviour are lacking at present. METHODS We assessed behaviour using the revised version of the Cambridge Behavioural Inventory (CBI-R) in 733 participants from the Genetic FTD Initiative study: 466 mutation carriers (195 C9orf72, 76 MAPT, 195 GRN) and 267 non-mutation carriers (controls). All mutation carriers were stratified according to their global CDR plus NACC FTLD score into three groups: asymptomatic (CDR = 0), prodromal (CDR = 0.5) and symptomatic (CDR = 1+). Mixed-effects models adjusted for age, education, sex and family clustering were used to compare between the groups. Neuroanatomical correlates of the individual domains were assessed within each genetic group. RESULTS CBI-R total scores were significantly higher in all CDR 1+ mutation carrier groups compared with controls [C9orf72 mean 70.5 (standard deviation 27.8), GRN 56.2 (33.5), MAPT 62.1 (36.9)] as well as their respective CDR 0.5 groups [C9orf72 13.5 (14.4), GRN 13.3 (13.5), MAPT 9.4 (10.4)] and CDR 0 groups [C9orf72 6.0 (7.9), GRN 3.6 (6.0), MAPT 8.5 (13.3)]. The C9orf72 and GRN 0.5 groups scored significantly higher than the controls. The greatest impairment was seen in the Motivation domain for the C9orf72 and GRN symptomatic groups, whilst in the symptomatic MAPTgroup, the highest-scoring domains were Stereotypic and Motor Behaviours and Memory and Orientation. Neural correlates of each CBI-R domain largely overlapped across the different mutation carrier groups. CONCLUSIONS The CBI-R detects early behavioural change in genetic FTD, suggesting that it could be a useful measure within future clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Nelson
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Lucy L Russell
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Georgia Peakman
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Rhian S Convery
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Arabella Bouzigues
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Caroline V Greaves
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - David M Cash
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | - Lize Jiskoot
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Fermin Moreno
- Cognitive Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Donostia Universitary Hospital, San Sebastian, Spain.,Neuroscience Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Raquel Sanchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacións Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire, Département des Sciences Neurologiques, CHU de Québec, and Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Caroline Graff
- Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Unit for Hereditary Dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Mario Masellis
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Fondazione Ca' Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,University of Milan, Centro Dino Ferrari, Milan, Italy
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Neurology Service, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Chris R Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alexander Gerhard
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Nuclear Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Simon Ducharme
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Département de Neurologie, Centre de référence des démences rares ou précoces, IM2A, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Département de Neurologie, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND), European Union
| | - Isabel Santana
- University Hospital of Coimbra (HUC), Neurology Service, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Florence Pasquier
- Univ Lille, Lille, France.,Inserm 1172, Lille, France.,CHU, CNR-MAJ, Labex Distalz, LiCEND Lille, Lille, France
| | - Johannes Levin
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany.,Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Adaptation, Validation and Preliminary Standardisation of the Frontal Systems Behaviour Scale - Apathy Subscale and the Dimensional Apathy Scale in Vietnamese Healthy Samples. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2022; 28:300-310. [PMID: 33752764 DOI: 10.1017/s135561772100031x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Apathy, the reduction of motivation and goal-directed behaviour, is a ubiquitous behavioural syndrome in many neurological disorders. However, apathy measures are limited in non-English speaking countries. The present study aimed to develop a culturally appropriate version of the Vietnamese Frontal Systems Behavioural Scale-Apathy subscale (V-FrSBe-A) and Dimensional Apathy Scale (V-DAS), examine their internal reliability and construct validity (i.e., factor structure, convergent and divergent validity) in a Vietnamese healthy sample and establish preliminary normative cut-offs for clinical and research applications. METHOD In total, 112 healthy subjects and 64 informants completed the self-report and informant report V-FrSBe-A and V-DAS, developed using a translation, back-translation and cultural adaptation procedure. McDonald's omega was applied to examine internal reliability. The internal structure of the V-DAS was evaluated using exploratory structural equation model. For both apathy scales, convergent validity was determined by correlations between scales and between informant and self-report versions. Regarding divergent validity, participants completed the Vietnamese Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and V-FrSBe-Disinhibition for depression and disinhibition assessment. RESULTS Both the V-FrSBe-A and V-DAS were reliable (ωt ≥ .74). Dimensional manifestations of apathy in executive, emotional and initiation domains were confirmed on the V-DAS. Both scales were also valid, convergent with each other and divergent from depression and disinhibition symptoms. Cut-off scores for both scales were higher than their English versions. CONCLUSION The adapted V-FrSBe-A and V-DAS have good reliability and validity for the potential application in clinical groups to advance current knowledge about apathy transculturally and direct more effective clinical care for Vietnamese individuals with neurological disorders.
Collapse
|
12
|
Hokelekli FO, Duffy JR, Clark HM, Utianski RL, Botha H, Stierwalt JA, Strand EA, Machulda MM, Whitwell JL, Josephs KA. Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Assessment of Behavior in Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech and Agrammatic Aphasia. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2022; 51:193-202. [PMID: 35526526 PMCID: PMC9190067 DOI: 10.1159/000524474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Progressive agrammatic aphasia (PAA) can be associated with abnormal behaviors; however, it is unknown whether behaviors occur and/or are different in patients with primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS). We aimed to compare baseline and longitudinal behavioral symptomatology between PPAOS, patients with PAA, and patients with both apraxia of speech and PAA (AOS-PAA). METHODS We recruited 89 patients for this study, 40 with PPAOS, 11 with PAA, and 38 with AOS-PAA. Behavioral disturbances were evaluated using the frontal behavior inventory (FBI) which was also split into negative behaviors and disinhibition, and the 20-item behavioral assessment scale (20-BAS). Data analysis was performed using linear regression and linear mixed models. RESULTS Of the 89 patients in the study, 54% were women and the mean age at onset was 68 years. All patients, regardless of diagnosis, endorsed at least one symptom on the FBI at baseline, most frequently verbal apraxia (100%), logopenia (95.6%), irritability (55.9%), and apathy (42.6%). On the 20-BAS, 47.6% of the patients endorsed at least one symptom, most commonly "crying more easily" (19.5%) and personality change (18.3%). PPAOS was the least behaviorally affected group, with differences between PPAOS and AOS-PAA mainly driven by negative behaviors as opposed to disinhibition for PPAOS and PAA. The behavioral metrics showed average sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between groups. Behavioral disturbances worsened over time although rate of behavioral change across groups was similar. CONCLUSION Behavioral disturbances are more common and severe in patients with agrammatic aphasia with or without AOS compared to patients with isolated apraxia of speech.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hugo Botha
- Departments of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Mary M. Machulda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Borghesani V, DeLeon J, Gorno-Tempini ML. Frontotemporal dementia: A unique window on the functional role of the temporal lobes. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 187:429-448. [PMID: 35964986 PMCID: PMC9793689 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823493-8.00011-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an umbrella term covering a plethora of progressive changes in executive functions, motor abilities, behavior, and/or language. Different clinical syndromes have been described in relation to localized atrophy, informing on the functional networks that underlie these specific cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes. These functional declines are linked with the underlying neurodegeneration of frontal and/or temporal lobes due to diverse molecular pathologies. Initially, the accumulation of misfolded proteins targets specifically susceptible cell assemblies, leading to relatively focal neurodegeneration that later spreads throughout large-scale cortical networks. Here, we discuss the most recent clinical, neuropathological, imaging, and genetics findings in FTD-spectrum syndromes affecting the temporal lobe. We focus on the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia and its mirror image, the right temporal variant of FTD. Incipient focal atrophy of the left anterior temporal lobe (ATL) manifests with predominant naming, word comprehension, reading, and object semantic deficits, while cases of predominantly right ATL atrophy present with impairments of socioemotional, nonverbal semantic, and person-specific knowledge. Overall, the observations in FTD allow for crucial clinical-anatomic inferences, shedding light on the role of the temporal lobes in both cognition and complex behaviors. The concerted activity of both ATLs is critical to ensure that percepts are translated into concepts, yet important hemispheric differences should be acknowledged. On one hand, the left ATL attributes meaning to linguistic, external stimuli, thus supporting goal-oriented, action-related behaviors (e.g., integrating sounds and letters into words). On the other hand, the right ATL assigns meaning to emotional, visceral stimuli, thus guiding socially relevant behaviors (e.g., integrating body sensations into feelings of familiarity).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Borghesani
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Jessica DeLeon
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Neurology, Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Neurology, Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Social Communication Dysfunction in Primary Progressive Aphasia. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11121600. [PMID: 34942902 PMCID: PMC8699060 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11121600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that, in parallel with well-defined changes in language, primary progressive aphasia (PPA) syndromes display co-occurring social cognitive impairments. Here, we explored multidimensional profiles of carer-rated social communication using the La Trobe Communication Questionnaire (LCQ) in 11 semantic dementia (SD), 12 logopenic progressive aphasia (LPA) and 9 progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA) cases and contrasted their performance with 19 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cases, 26 behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) cases and 31 healthy older controls. Relative to the controls, the majority of patient groups displayed significant overall social communication difficulties, with common and unique profiles of impairment evident on the LCQ subscales. Correlation analyses revealed a differential impact of social communication disturbances on functional outcomes in patient and carer well-being, most pronounced for SD and bvFTD. Finally, voxel-based morphometry analyses based on a structural brain MRI pointed to the degradation of a distributed brain network in mediating social communication dysfunction in dementia. Our findings suggest that social communication difficulties are an important feature of PPA, with significant implications for patient function and carer well-being. The origins of these changes are likely to be multifactorial, reflecting the breakdown of fronto-thalamic brain circuits specialised in the integration of complex information.
Collapse
|
15
|
Anhedonia in Semantic Dementia-Exploring Right Hemispheric Contributions to the Loss of Pleasure. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11080998. [PMID: 34439617 PMCID: PMC8392684 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11080998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Semantic dementia (SD) is a younger-onset neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive deterioration of the semantic knowledge base in the context of predominantly left-lateralised anterior temporal lobe (ATL) atrophy. Mounting evidence indicates the emergence of florid socioemotional changes in SD as atrophy encroaches into right temporal regions. How lateralisation of temporal lobe pathology impacts the hedonic experience in SD remains largely unknown yet has important implications for understanding socioemotional and functional impairments in this syndrome. Here, we explored how lateralisation of temporal lobe atrophy impacts anhedonia severity on the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale in 28 SD patients presenting with variable right- (SD-R) and left-predominant (SD-L) profiles of temporal lobe atrophy compared to that of 30 participants with Alzheimer’s disease and 30 healthy older Control participants. Relative to Controls, SD-R but not SD-L or Alzheimer’s patients showed clinically significant anhedonia, representing a clear departure from premorbid levels. Overall, anhedonia was more strongly associated with functional impairment on the Frontotemporal Dementia Functional Rating Scale and motivational changes on the Cambridge Behavioural Inventory in SD than in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed that anhedonia severity correlated with reduced grey matter intensity in a restricted set of regions centred on right orbitofrontal and temporopolar cortices, bilateral posterior temporal cortices, as well as the anterior cingulate gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus, bilaterally. Finally, regression and mediation analysis indicated a unique role for right temporal lobe structures in modulating anhedonia in SD. Our findings suggest that degeneration of predominantly right-hemisphere structures deleteriously impacts the capacity to experience pleasure in SD. These findings offer important insights into hemispheric lateralisation of motivational disturbances in dementia and suggest that anhedonia may emerge at different timescales in the SD disease trajectory depending on the integrity of the right hemisphere.
Collapse
|
16
|
Chang CYM, Baber W, Dening T, Yates J. "He Just Doesn't Want to Get Out of the Chair and Do It": The Impact of Apathy in People with Dementia on Their Carers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126317. [PMID: 34207955 PMCID: PMC8296153 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Apathy, defined as a lack of motivation, is a prevalent and persistent behavioural and psychological symptom of dementia. Limited research suggests that apathy is associated with increased carer burden, but there are no studies investigating carers’ subjective experiences of apathy. This study aimed to fill this gap and explore the lived experience of apathy in dementia from the perspectives of the people with dementia and their carers. This article reports on the carers’ perspectives. Six dyads of people with dementia and carers participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified: (1) achieving a balance of conflicting emotions—the challenges of apathy led to feelings of guilt, acceptance, and frustration; (2) new roles imposed by caring, which involved taking on new responsibilities and promoting remaining interests of person with dementia; and (3) having a life of one’s own—coping with apathy by talking to others, and spending time away from the caring role. This study highlighted that carers are caught in a struggle between wanting to involve the person with dementia in decisions and finding that they cannot if they want to overcome the hurdle of apathy. Implications of this study suggest that a wider understanding of apathy at a societal level could lead to the provision of a helpful forum for carers to share their experiences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chern Yi Marybeth Chang
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nothingham NG7 2UH, UK; (C.Y.M.C.); (T.D.)
| | - Waqaar Baber
- The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3BG, UK;
| | - Tom Dening
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nothingham NG7 2UH, UK; (C.Y.M.C.); (T.D.)
| | - Jennifer Yates
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nothingham NG7 2UH, UK; (C.Y.M.C.); (T.D.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Shea YF, Pan Y, Mak HKF, Bao Y, Lee SC, Chiu PKC, Chan HWF. A systematic review of atypical Alzheimer's disease including behavioural and psychological symptoms. Psychogeriatrics 2021; 21:396-406. [PMID: 33594793 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest cause of dementia, characterized by the clinical presentation of progressive anterograde episodic memory impairment. However, atypical presentation of patients is increasingly recognized. These atypical AD include logopenic aphasia, behavioural variant AD, posterior cortical atrophy, and corticobasal syndrome. These atypical AD are more common in patients with young onset AD before the age of 65 years old. Since medical needs (including the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia) of atypical AD patients could be different from typical AD patients, it is important for clinicians to be aware of these atypical forms of AD. In addition, disease modifying treatment may be available in the future. This review aims at providing an update on various important subtypes of atypical AD including behavioural and psychological symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yat-Fung Shea
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Yining Pan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Henry Ka-Fung Mak
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Yiwen Bao
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Shui-Ching Lee
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ka-Chun Chiu
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Hon-Wai Felix Chan
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shaw SR, El-Omar H, Roquet D, Hodges JR, Piguet O, Ahmed RM, Whitton AE, Irish M. Uncovering the prevalence and neural substrates of anhedonia in frontotemporal dementia. Brain 2021; 144:1551-1564. [PMID: 33843983 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Much of human behaviour is motivated by the drive to experience pleasure. The capacity to envisage pleasurable outcomes and to engage in goal-directed behaviour to secure these outcomes depends upon the integrity of frontostriatal circuits in the brain. Anhedonia refers to the diminished ability to experience, and to pursue, pleasurable outcomes, and represents a prominent motivational disturbance in neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite increasing evidence of motivational disturbances in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), no study to date has explored the hedonic experience in these syndromes. Here, we present the first study to document the prevalence and neural correlates of anhedonia in FTD in comparison with Alzheimer's disease, and its potential overlap with related motivational symptoms including apathy and depression. A total of 172 participants were recruited, including 87 FTD, 34 Alzheimer's disease, and 51 healthy older control participants. Within the FTD group, 55 cases were diagnosed with clinically probable behavioural variant FTD, 24 presented with semantic dementia, and eight cases had progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA). Premorbid and current anhedonia was measured using the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, while apathy was assessed using the Dimensional Apathy Scale, and depression was indexed via the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analysis was used to examine associations between grey matter atrophy and levels of anhedonia, apathy, and depression in patients. Relative to controls, behavioural variant FTD and semantic dementia, but not PNFA or Alzheimer's disease, patients showed clinically significant anhedonia, representing a clear departure from pre-morbid levels. Voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed that anhedonia was associated with atrophy in an extended frontostriatal network including orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal, paracingulate and insular cortices, as well as the putamen. Although correlated on the behavioural level, the neural correlates of anhedonia were largely dissociable from that of apathy, with only a small region of overlap detected in the right orbitofrontal cortices whilst no overlapping regions were found between anhedonia and depression. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to demonstrate profound anhedonia in FTD syndromes, reflecting atrophy of predominantly frontostriatal brain regions specialized for hedonic tone. Our findings point to the importance of considering anhedonia as a primary presenting feature of behavioural variant FTD and semantic dementia, with distinct neural drivers to that of apathy or depression. Future studies will be essential to address the impact of anhedonia on everyday activities, and to inform the development of targeted interventions to improve quality of life in patients and their families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siobhán R Shaw
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hashim El-Omar
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Roquet
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebekah M Ahmed
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alexis E Whitton
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Muireann Irish
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Beyond language impairment: Profiles of apathy in primary progressive aphasia. Cortex 2021; 139:73-85. [PMID: 33836304 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is characterised by predominant language and communication impairment. However, behavioural changes, such as apathy, are increasingly recognised. Apathy is defined as a reduction in motivation and goal-directed behaviour. Recent theoretical models have suggested that apathy can be delineated into multiple dimensions: executive apathy (i.e., deficits in maintaining goals and organisation), emotional apathy (i.e., emotional blunting and indifference) and initiation apathy (i.e., reduced self-initiation). Whether the nature of apathy differs between clinical variants of PPA, and across early and late disease stages, remains to be established. Here, carers/informants of 20 semantic variant PPA (svPPA), 15 non-fluent variant PPA (nfvPPA), 16 logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA) and 25 healthy older controls completed the Dimensional Apathy Scale to quantify executive, emotional and initiation apathy. Voxel-based morphometry was used to identify associations between dimensions of apathy and regions of grey matter intensity decrease. Our behavioural results showed greater executive and initiation apathy in late svPPA than in late nfvPPA patients, while late svPPA had greater emotional apathy than both late nfvPPA and late lvPPA groups. Executive and initiation apathy were significantly higher than premorbid levels in all PPA subtypes, while elevated emotional apathy was only seen in early and late svPPA. Distinct neural correlates were identified across apathy dimensions. Executive apathy correlated with grey matter intensity of the left dorsolateral prefrontal and inferior parietal cortices; emotional apathy with the left medial prefrontal, insular and cerebellar regions; and initiation apathy with right parietal areas. Our findings are the first to reveal evidence of the dimensional nature of apathy in PPA, with different clinical signatures observed for each subtype. From a clinical standpoint, these results will inform the development of targeted interventions for specific aspects of apathy which emerge in PPA.
Collapse
|
20
|
Longitudinal cognitive and functional changes in primary progressive aphasia. J Neurol 2021; 268:1951-1961. [PMID: 33417000 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10382-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) are predominantly diagnosed on the basis of specific profiles of language impairments. Deficits in other cognitive domains and their evolution over time are less well documented. This study examined the cognitive profiles of the PPA variants over time and determined the contribution of cognition on functional capacity. METHODS Longitudinal performance on the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III) total and cognitive subdomains were investigated in 147 PPA individuals (41 logopenic [lv-PPA], 44 non-fluent [nfv-PPA], and 62 semantic variants [sv-PPA]). The relative contribution of ACE-III subdomain scores to overall functional capacity over time was identified using mixed and hierarchical regression modelling. RESULTS The annual rate of global ACE-III decline was twice that in lv-PPA than in nfv-PPA and sv-PPA, despite lv-PPA performing intermediate to the other variants at baseline assessment. Notably, attention and visuospatial subdomains declined faster in lv-PPA than in nfv-PPA and sv-PPA; and memory impairment was more severe in lv-PPA than in nfv-PPA at all time points. Functional decline was comparable across PPA variants; however, the contribution of cognition on functional capacity varied across variants and over time. CONCLUSION The cognitive profiles of the PPA variants are distinct at baseline and over time. Crucially, cognitive decline in lv-PPA was more widespread and pervasive than in nfv-PPA and sv-PPA. Our findings also demonstrate the complex interplay between cognition and functional capacity. This study underscores the importance of routinely assessing cognition and functional capacity in PPA to improve diagnostic accuracy and provide targeted support services.
Collapse
|