The Neuropsychological Profile and Phenomenology of Late Onset Psychosis: A Cross-sectional Study on the Differential Diagnosis of Very-Late-Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis, Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Alzheimer's Type Dementia with Psychosis

Clinical presentations and diagnostic application of proposed biomarkers in psychiatric-onset prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies

Research criteria for the diagnosis of prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) include three clinical subtypes: mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB), delirium-onset prodromal DLB, and psychiatric-onset prodromal DLB. Late-onset psychiatric manifestations are at a higher risk of developing dementia, but its relation to prodromal DLB remains unclear. In addition to the risk of severe antipsychotic hypersensitivity reactions, accurate discrimination from non-DLB cases is important due to the potential differences in management and prognosis. This article aims to review a rapidly evolving psychiatric topic and outline clinical pictures of psychiatric-onset prodromal DLB, including the proposed biomarker findings of MCI-LB: polysomnography-confirmed rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, cardiac [123I]metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, and striatal dopamine transporter imaging. We first reviewed clinical pictures of patients with autopsy-confirmed DLB. Regarding clinical reports, we focused on the patients who predominantly presented with psychiatric manifestations and subsequently developed DLB. Thereafter, we reviewed clinical studies regarding the diagnostic applications of the proposed biomarkers to patients with late-onset psychiatric disorders. Clinical presentations were mainly late-onset depression and psychosis; however, other clinical manifestations were also reported. Psychotropic medications before a DLB diagnosis may cause extrapyramidal signs, and potentially influences the proposed biomarker findings. These risks complicate clinical manifestation interpretation during the management of psychiatric symptoms. Longitudinal follow-up studies with standardised evaluations until conversion to DLB are needed to investigate the temporal trajectories of core features and proposed biomarker findings. In patients with late-onset psychiatric disorders, identification of patients with psychiatric-onset prodromal DLB provides the opportunity to better understanding the distinct prognostic subgroup that is at great risk of incident dementia. Advances in the establishment of direct biomarkers for the detection of pathological α-synuclein may encourage reorganising the phenotypic variability of prodromal DLB.

[Clinical and psychopathological characteristics of patients with late-onset schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychoses in clusters identified by biological parameters]

OBJECTIVE

To assess clinical and psychopathological characteristics of late-aged female patients with late-onset psychoses in clusters formed on the basis of biochemical and immunological blood parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We examined 59 women with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychoses with onset after 40 years (ICD-10 F20, F22.8, F25, F23, F06.2), including 34 women with late-onset (40-60 years) and 25 with very late onset psychoses (after 60 years). At the time of hospitalization, a clinical/ psychopathological study was carried out using CGI-S, PANSS, CDSS, and HAMD-17, as well as the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GT) have been determined in erythrocyte hemolysates, and the activities of leukocyte elastase (LE) and α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) have been assessed in blood plasma. Biochemical and immunological parameters have been also determined in 34 age-matched mentally healthy women.

RESULTS

Clustering by signs such as GR, GT, LE and α1-PI has yielded two clusters of objects (patients) significantly different in GT (p<0.0001), LE (p<0.0001), and α1-PI (p<0.001) activities. Relatively to the controls, in the cluster 1 patients, the activities of GST and α1-PI are increased, the activity of LE is decreased, whereas, in the cluster 2 patients, the activity of GR is decreased, and the activities of LE and α1-PI are increased. Cluster 1 patients differ from cluster 2 patients in greater severity of the condition (CGI-S, p=0.04) and higher total scores on PANSS subscales' items. Cluster 1 includes 76% of patients with very late onset. Different correlations between clinical and biological signs are found in two clusters.

CONCLUSION

The identified clusters have different clinical and psychopathological characteristics. Dividing patients into subgroups according to biochemical and immunological parameters is promising for the search for differentiated therapeutic approaches.

Characteristics of very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis classified with the biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: a retrospective cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the association between very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP), a schizophrenia spectrum disorder with an onset of ≥60 years, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using biomarkers.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Neuropsychology clinic of Osaka University Hospital in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-three participants were classified into three groups: eight AD biomarker-negative VLOSLP (VLOSLP-AD), nine AD biomarker-positive VLOSLP (VLOSLP+AD), and sixteen amnestic mild cognitive impairment due to AD without psychosis (aMCI-P+AD) participants.

MEASUREMENTS

Phosphorylated tau levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and 18F-Florbetapir positron emission tomography results were used as AD biomarkers. Several scales (e.g. the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) Logical Memory (LM) I and II, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)-plus) were conducted to assess clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Those in both VLOSLP-AD and +AD groups scored higher than those in aMCI-P+AD in WMS-R LM I. On the other hand, VLOSLP+AD participants scored in between the other two groups in the WMS-R LM II, with only VLOSLP-AD participants scoring significantly higher than aMCI-P+AD participants. There were no significant differences in sex distribution and MMSE scores among the three groups or in the subtype of psychotic symptoms between VLOSLP-AD and +AD participants. Four VLOSLP-AD and five VLOSLP+AD participants harbored partition delusions. Delusion of theft was shown in two VLOSLP-AD patients and five VLOSLP+AD patients.

CONCLUSION

Some VLOSLP patients had AD pathology. Clinical characteristics were different between AD biomarker-positive and AD biomarker-negative VLOSLP, which may be helpful for detecting AD pathology in VLOSLP patients.

Psychosis in Neurodegenerative Dementias: A Systematic Comparative Review

Background

Psychosis, characterized by delusions and/or hallucinations, is frequently observed during the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative dementias (ND) (i.e., dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)) and cause diagnostic and management difficulties.

Objective

This review aims at presenting a concise and up-to-date overview of psychotic symptoms that occur in patients with ND with a comparative approach.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. 98 original studies investigating psychosis phenotypes in neurodegenerative dementias were identified (40 cohort studies, 57 case reports).

Results

Psychosis is a frequently observed phenomenon during the course of ND, with reported prevalence ranging from 22.5% to 54.1% in AD, 55.9% to 73.9% in DLB, and 18% to 42% in FTD. Throughout all stages of these diseases, noticeable patterns emerge depending on their underlying causes. Misidentification delusions (16.6-78.3%) and visual hallucinations (50-69.6%) are frequently observed in DLB, while paranoid ideas and somatic preoccupations seem to be particularly common in AD and FTD, (respectively 9.1-60.3% and 3.10-41.5%). Limited data were found regarding psychosis in the early stages of these disorders.

Conclusions

Literature data suggest that different ND are associated with noticeable variations in psychotic phenotypes, reflecting disease-specific tendencies. Further studies focusing on the early stages of these disorders are necessary to enhance our understanding of early psychotic manifestations associated with ND and help in differential diagnosis issues.

Cognitive impairment and development of dementia in very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to review the evidence base regarding cognitive impairment and the development of dementia in patients with very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP).

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search of PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. Two reviewers independently screened records first by title and abstract and then by full text, resolving differences after each stage. Selected studies were assessed for quality using the GRADE system, and data on study design, participants, cognitive ability and rates of developing dementia were extracted and synthesised.

RESULTS

Seventeen publications were identified for review. They were generally poor in quality and heterogenous in design. VLOSLP patients were found to have impaired global cognition compared to non-psychotic controls, but no difference was found between VLOSLP patients and aged early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) patients. No single cognitive domain was consistently affected. Patients with VLOSLP demonstrated significantly higher rates of dementia diagnosis (ranging from 4.4% over 3 years to 44.4% over 15 years) than controls, but no difference was found between VLOSLP patients and aged EOS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

VLOSLP may not necessarily predict cognitive decline, but few studies have adequately investigated cohorts on a longitudinal basis. Heterogeneity between and within cohorts and varying selection criteria compromise the clinical generalisability of studies investigating the association between VLOSLP and neurodegenerative disease. Further studies on the clinical presentation, cognitive profile and neuropathology of VLOSLP with comparison to EOS/late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) and neurodegenerative disease are needed to better inform the diagnosis and management of VLOSLP.

The association between visual hallucinations and secondary psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Visual hallucinations are often considered to be suggestive of a secondary cause of psychosis, however, this association has never been assessed meta-analytically. We aimed to compare the presence of visual hallucinations in patients with psychosis due to a primary or secondary cause.

METHOD

We conducted a meta-analysis of case-control studies directly comparing primary and secondary psychosis. A random-effects model, following the DerSimonian and Laird method, was used to pool studies and generate overall odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals (PI).

RESULTS

Fourteen studies (904 primary and 804 secondary psychosis patients) were included. Visual hallucinations were significantly associated with secondary psychosis (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.7-5.1, p < 0.001) with moderate between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 70%). Subgroup analysis by type of secondary psychosis (organic, drug-induced, mixed) was non-significant. Analysis of the content of visual hallucinations (51 primary and 142 secondary psychosis patients) found hallucinations of inanimate objects were significantly more likely to be associated with secondary psychosis (OR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.01-0.8, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Visual hallucinations were strongly associated with a secondary cause of psychosis. The presence of visual hallucinations in a patient presenting with psychosis may serve as a potential "red flag" for a secondary cause and warrant further investigation.

BACE1-dependent metabolism of neuregulin 1: Bridging the gap in explaining the occurrence of schizophrenia-like symptoms in Alzheimer's disease with psychosis?

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease mainly characterized by cortico-neuronal atrophy, impaired memory and other cognitive declines. On the other hand, schizophrenia is a neuro-developmental disorder with an overtly active central nervous system pruning system resulting into abrupt connections with common symptoms including disorganised thoughts, hallucination and delusion. Nevertheless, the fronto-temporal anomaly presents itself as a common denominator for the two pathologies. There is even a strong presumption of increased risk of developing co-morbid dementia for schizophrenic individuals and psychosis for Alzheimer's disease patients, overall leading to a further deteriorated quality of life. However, convincing proofs of how these two disorders, although very distant from each other when considering their aetiology, develop coexisting symptoms is yet to be resolved. At the molecular level, the two primarily neuronal proteins β-amyloid precursor protein and neuregulin 1 have been considered in this relevant context, although the conclusions are for the moment only hypotheses. In order to propose a model for explaining the psychotic schizophrenia-like symptoms that sometimes accompany AD-associated dementia, this review projects out on the similar sensitivity shared by these two proteins regarding their metabolism by the β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1.

Vascular Schizophrenia-like Psychosis in Older Adults

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to analyze prevalence and severity of vascular risk factors in older patients referred to our clinic due to onset of Very Late-Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis (VLOSLP) and to create a specific phenotype based on pathophysiological insight rather than age of onset.

METHODS

In a longitudinal study, 103 (M = 39, F = 64; mean age of 80.32 ± 7.65 years) patients were evaluated with cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and functional assessment scales. Blood concentration of hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), platelets, total protein test (TPT), creatinine, azotemia, glycemia, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), uric acid (UA), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chlorine (Cl), calcium (Ca), folate, vitamin B12 (Vit-B12), and homocysteine were measured. Presence/absence of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, psychoactive substance use, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and history of vascular disease were collected.

RESULTS

Females were more apathetic than males (NPI-Apathy: p = 0.040). Males had a significantly higher level of Hb (p = 0.019) and UA (p = 0.001), and a lower level of platelets (p = 0.004) and Ca (p = 0.003), and used more tobacco (p = 0.046) and alcohol (p = 0.024) than females. Comparing patients < 80 and ≥80 years, we found differences in frequency of vascular risk factors among men (p = 0.027). In total, 102 patients were treated for psychosis (59.16% of them were using atypical antipsychotics).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study could be useful for a progressive demonstration of the causal relationship between cardiac and cerebral vascular events and VLOSLP.

The frequency of psychotic symptoms in types of dementia: a systematic review

The frequency of psychotic symptoms in older adults is high, mainly in neurocognitive cognitions of the most varied etiologies.

Objectives

This study aimed to review the studies that analyze the frequency of the types of delusions, hallucinations, and misidentifications in dementia conditions of different etiologies.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted on August 9, 2021, in the PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases with the following descriptors: (dementia OR alzheimer disease OR dementia with Lewy bodies OR frontotemporal dementia OR mixed dementia OR vascular dementia OR major neurocognitive disorder OR parkinson disease dementia) AND (psychotic symptoms OR psychosis OR hallucinations OR delusions OR psychopathology OR misidentification) AND (prevalence OR epidemiology).

Results

A total of 5,077 articles were found, with a final inclusion of 35. The overall frequency of psychotic symptoms ranged from 34 to 63% in dementia conditions of the most varied etiologies. Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents more delusions and hallucinations and has a higher frequency regarding the presence of misidentifications. On the contrary, Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) seems to present more hallucinations, even auditory, when compared to the other dementias, concomitantly with delusions. Vascular and frontotemporal dementia present fewer psychotic symptoms than DLB and AD.

Conclusions

We identified a gap in the literature on the description of the psychotic symptoms of dementia, mainly in those of non-AD etiologies. Studies that assess the neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementias deeply might contribute in a more definite manner to the causal diagnosis of dementia.

Empirical and Authoritative Classification of Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in Neurocognitive Disorders

Neuropsychiatric symptoms of neurocognitive disorders have been classified into higher-order constructs, often called neuropsychiatric syndromes. As with the general psychopathology literature, these classifications have been achieved through two approaches: empirical and authoritative. The authoritative approach relies on expert panels that condense the available evidence into operational criteria, whereas the empirical approach uses statistical methods to discover symptom patterns and possible hierarchies formed by them. In this article, the author reviews the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches using general psychopathology literature as a reference point. The authoritative approach, influenced by the DSM, has led to several sets of criteria, which could aid clinical trials, diagnostics, and communication. However, unknown reliability and the complex relationships between empirical evidence and published criteria may limit the utility of current criteria. The empirical approach has been used to explore syndrome structures on the basis of rating scales for neuropsychiatric symptoms. The structures suggested in these studies have not been replicated easily and have been limited by either small sample sizes, restricted breadth of neuropsychiatric assessment, or both. Suggestions for further development of both approaches are offered. First, neuropsychiatric symptoms and syndromes need to be studied with measures of broad scope and in large samples. These requirements are prerequisites not only for eliciting highly informative empirical classifications but also for understanding these symptoms at a more nuanced level. Second, both approaches could benefit from more transparency. Finally, the reliability of the available authoritative criteria should be examined.

[Characteristics of elderly patients diagnosed with delusional disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study in a memory clinic]

AIM

Since the declaration of an emergency following the spread of COVID-19, the number of elderly patients complaining of delusions has increased. Therefore, we investigated the characteristics of patients diagnosed with delusional disorders in our clinic.

METHODS

A total of 1,884 patients ≥ 65 years old who visited the Center for Comprehensive Care on Memory Disorders at Kyorin University Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were included in the study. The 17 patients diagnosed with delusional disorders were divided into 2 groups based on the timing of the first declaration of emergency, and the characteristics of each group were investigated.

RESULTS

Seven patients were diagnosed with delusional disorder before the first declaration of emergency and 10 after the declaration. The proportion of patients increased by approximately three-fold after the declaration. Post-emergency patients were less motivated to be active than those encountered before the declaration, and many had no history of mental illness. Seven of the 10 post-emergency patients visited the Memory Clinic within 1 year of the onset of delusions.

CONCLUSIONS

After the first declaration of an emergency, elderly patients with no history of psychiatric disorders acutely developed delusional disorders.The physical and psychological effects of COVID-19 on the elderly should be considered.

Psychosis as a Treatment Target in Dementia: A Roadmap for Designing Interventions

Psychotic phenomena are among the most severe and disruptive symptoms of dementias and appear in 30% to 50% of patients. They are associated with a worse evolution and great suffering to patients and caregivers. Their current treatments obtain limited results and are not free of adverse effects, which are sometimes serious. It is therefore crucial to develop new treatments that can improve this situation. We review available data that could enlighten the future design of clinical trials with psychosis in dementia as main target. Along with an explanation of its prevalence in the common diseases that cause dementia, we present proposals aimed at improving the definition of symptoms and what should be included and excluded in clinical trials. A review of the available information regarding the neurobiological basis of symptoms, in terms of pathology, neuroimaging, and genomics, is provided as a guide towards new therapeutic targets. The correct evaluation of symptoms is transcendental in any therapeutic trial and these aspects are extensively addressed. Finally, a critical overview of existing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments is made, revealing the unmet needs, in terms of efficacy and safety. Our work emphasizes the need for better definition and measurement of psychotic symptoms in dementias in order to highlight their differences with symptoms that appear in non-dementing diseases such as schizophrenia. Advances in neurobiology should illuminate the development of new, more effective and safer molecules for which this review can serve as a roadmap in the design of future clinical trials.

Delusional Disorder in Old Age: A Hypothesis-Driven Review of Recent Work Focusing on Epidemiology, Clinical Aspects, and Outcomes

The theme, strength, and duration of a delusion are considered important in distinguishing one psychosis of old age from another. Research results, however, are mostly based on studies conducted on one form of psychosis, namely schizophrenia. The aim of this hypothesis-driven narrative review is to gather clinically important information about the psychosis identified as delusional disorder (DD), as it affects persons of senior age. We hypothesized that DD becomes relatively prevalent in old age, especially in women; and that it is associated with demonstrable brain changes, which, in turn, are associated with cognitive defects and poor pharmacological response, thus increasing the risk of aggression and suicide. Computerized searches in PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were conducted using the following search terms: (delusional disorder) AND (elderly OR old OR aged OR psychogeriatrics). A total of 16 recent studies (including case reports) were reviewed. Our hypotheses could not be definitively confirmed because research evidence is lacking. In order to improve eventual outcomes, our literature search demonstrates the need for more targeted, well-designed studies.

Unmet needs in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis and dementia-related psychosis

Dementia due to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms, including psychosis. Long-term management presents a challenge for health care providers and caregivers. Symptoms of psychosis include hallucinations and delusions; if untreated, these can lead to institutionalisation, decreased quality of life, and significant patient and caregiver distress. A critical step in the effective management of dementia-related psychosis (DRP) is the identification and diagnosis of affected patients. The lack of a standardised diagnostic approach presents a barrier to treatment and there are no consensus guidelines for DRP. Furthermore, there are no approved therapies for the treatment of DRP. Antipsychotic medications are often prescribed off-label, even though some are associated with an increased risk of adverse events or mortality. We present currently available screening tools and guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis and DRP in the context of what is needed for effective management of psychosis.KEY POINTSWe present currently available screening tools and guidelines for Parkinson's disease psychosis and dementia-related psychosis, and discuss the unmet need for simple clinical diagnostic tools and treatment guidelines.The identification of psychosis is variable across different settings and specialties, without a unified approach to screening, definition, or diagnosis.Currently used tools for defining and assessing psychosis in a research setting are usually too cumbersome for everyday clinical practice.The development of a standardised set of diagnostic criteria would provide clinicians the opportunity to improve the detection, treatment, and quality of life of patients and their caregivers.

A neuropsychological study on Leonhard's nosological system

Phenotype validation of endogenous psychosis is a problem that remains to be solved. This study investigated the neuropsychological performance of endogenous psychosis subtypes according to Wernicke-Kleist-Leonhard's classification system (WKL). The participants included consecutive admissions of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or mood disorder with psychotic symptoms (N = 98) and healthy comparison subjects (N = 50). The patients were assessed by means of semi-structured interviews and diagnosed through the WKL system into three groups: a manic-depressive illness and cycloid psychosis group (MDC), unsystematic schizophrenia (USch) and systematic schizophrenia (SSch). All the participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. The three Leonhard's psychosis subtypes showed a common neuropsychological profile with differences in the severity of impairment relative to healthy controls. MDC patients showed better performance on premorbid intelligence, verbal memory and global cognitive index than USch and SSch patients, and they showed better performance on processing speed, and working memory than SSch patients. USch patients outperformed SSch patients in verbal memory, working memory and global cognitive index. Neuropsychological performance showed a modest accuracy for classification into the WKL nosology. Our results suggest the existence of a common profile of cognitive impairment cutting across WKL subtypes of endogenous psychosis but with significant differences on a severity continuum. In addition, classification accuracy in the three WKL subtypes by means of neuropsychological performance was modest, ranging between 40 and 64% of correctly classified patients.

Clinical Approaches to Late-Onset Psychosis

Psychosis can include schizophrenia, mood disorders with psychotic features, delusional disorder, active delirium, and neurodegenerative disorders accompanied by various psychotic symptoms. Late-onset psychosis requires careful intervention due to the greater associated risks of secondary psychosis; higher morbidity and mortality rates than early-onset psychosis; and complicated treatment considerations due to the higher incidence of adverse effects, even with the black box warning against antipsychotics. Pharmacological treatment, including antipsychotics, should be carefully initiated with the lowest dosage for short-term efficacy and monitoring of adverse side effects. Further research involving larger samples, more trials with different countries working in consortia, and unified operational definitions for diagnosis will help elaborate the clinical characteristics of late-onset psychosis and lead to the development of treatment approaches.

Capgras Syndrome as the Core Manifestation of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Capgras syndrome (CS) was usually considered a symptom of a functional disorder in the young, most commonly schizophrenia, or an organic disorder in the elderly. The occurrence of CS among early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) is extremely rare. We describe a case in which the unrecognition of CS as part of EOAD resulted in a wrong psychiatric diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This paper aims to acknowledge CS as an early or core manifestation and highlight EOAD as a differential diagnosis of mental disorders in young people, even without a remarkable family history.

Challenges in Predicting Cognitive Decline in Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Despite being the second most common form of neurodegenerative dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is under-recognized and carries a worse prognosis than other subtypes of the condition. Cognitive impairment is a cardinal feature of all types of dementia and DLB presents with a distinct profile with deficits in attention, executive function, and visuoperceptual abilities. This difference from Alzheimer's disease and the common presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms may lead to challenges in predicting cognitive decline in this patient population. Firstly, the diagnosis of DLB is often delayed in clinical practice leading to variability from which time point in the disease course cognitive decline is measured. Secondly, the most frequently used measurement tools for cognitive difficulties focus on memory and naming rather than the domains affected by DLB. While there is now largely a consensus which tools are useful in diagnosing DLB, their validity in assessing deteriorating cognition is less clear. Thirdly, the presence of fluctuating cognition, the propensity to develop delirium episodes, as well as difficulties in distinguishing the two entities in clinical practice make it difficult to predict the disease course. Sleep disturbances are likely to influence cognitive decline but require further study in patients within established DLB. Fourthly, as in most cases of dementia, neuropathological comorbidities are frequently present in DLB. While the influence of Alzheimer's pathology on cognitive decline in DLB is comparatively well understood, the impact of other pathologies remains unclear. The recent definition of research criteria for mild cognitive impairment in DLB could facilitate earlier diagnosis and more structured follow-up. Assessment tools measuring cognitive domains predominantly affected in DLB need to be more consistently used in longitudinal studies and clinical practice, as well as concurrent measures of fluctuations in cognition. Greater availability of biomarkers and digital healthcare solutions can play an important role in enabling more accurate monitoring and prediction of cognitive decline in DLB.

Psychotic Features Among Patients in the Prodromal Stage of Dementia with Lewy Bodies During Longitudinal Observation

BACKGROUND

Many cases of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) present with various psychotic features, including hallucinations, depression, catatonia, and delusions before the onset of cognitive impairment. However, the characteristic features of these psychotic symptoms in prodromal DLB have not been sufficiently described.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify and describe the psychotic features of prodromal DLB before overt cognitive impairment.

METHODS

The authors analyzed the characteristic psychotic features of prodromal DLB in 21 subjects who developed severe psychotic symptoms without dementia and were diagnosed as DLB after the longitudinal observation period. They were then confirmed to have DLB through indicative and supportive biomarkers of scintigraphy.

RESULTS

The psychotic features included a wide variety of symptoms, but convergent to three principal categories: catatonia, delusions-hallucinations, and depression and/or mania. Catatonia was observed in nine cases, five were delusional-hallucinatory, and seven were manic and/or depressive. Seven of the 21 cases exhibited delirium during longitudinal observation. A psychotic state repeatedly appeared without any trigger in 20 of the 21 patients. All subjects developed cognitive impairment at 9.1±4.6 (mean±SD) years after the initial appearance of psychotic symptoms, and subsequently diagnosed with DLB at 71.3±6.1 (mean±SD) years.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with psychotic symptoms, such as catatonia, delusion-hallucination, manic and/or depressive features, and delirium without dementia, could indicate symptomatic psychosis or a prodromal stage of any neurocognitive disorder such as DLB. Therefore, further extensive workout (e.g., radioisotope neuroimaging) is required to avoid misdiagnosis.

Use of Charlson Comorbidity Index and Nomogram to Predict Mortality in Elderly Patients with Late-Life Schizophrenia

Objectives: Comorbid illness burden signifies a poor prognosis in schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to estimate the severity of comorbidities in elderly patients with schizophrenia, determine risk factors associated with mortality, and establish a reliable nomogram for predicting 1-, 3- and 5-year mortality and survival. Methods: This population-based study rigorously selected schizophrenia patients (≥65 years) having their first admission due to schizophrenia during the study period (2000–2013). Comorbidity was scored using the updated Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results: This study comprised 3827 subjects. The mean stay of first admission due to schizophrenia was 26 days. Mean numbers of schizophrenia and non-schizophrenia-related hospitalization (not including the first admission) were 1.80 and 3.58, respectively. Mean ages at death were 73.50, 82.14 and 89.32 years old, and the mean times from first admission to death were 4.24, 3.33, and 1.87 years in three different age groups, respectively. Nearly 30% were diagnosed with ≥3 comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidities were dementia, chronic pulmonary disease and diabetes. The estimated 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 90%, 70%, and 64%, respectively. Schizophrenia patients with comorbid diseases are at increased risk of hospitalization and mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The nomogram, composed of age, sex, the severity of comorbidity burden, and working type could be applied to predict mortality risk in the extremely fragile patients.

Late life psychotic features in prodromal Parkinson's disease

INTRODUCTION

Some case series have suggested that psychotic features could occur even before the onset of motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Our aim was to investigate a possible association between psychotic symptoms and prodromal Parkinson's disease in a population-based cohort, the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet study.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included participants aged ≥65 years without dementia or PD. We defined psychotic symptoms as the presence of at least one new hallucinatory or delusional feature, assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory scale and the Columbia University Scale for Psychopathology in Alzheimer's Disease, exhibited only at follow-up and not present at baseline visit. We calculated the probability of prodromal PD (pPD) for every participant, according to the 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society research criteria for prodromal PD.

RESULTS

Participants who developed psychotic manifestations over a three-year follow up (20 of 914) had 1.3 times higher probability of pPD score (β [95%CI]: 1.3 [0.9-1.5], p=0.006) compared to non-psychotic subjects. This association was driven mostly by depressive symptoms, constipation and subthreshold parkinsonism (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that emerging psychotic features evolve in parallel with the probability of pPD. This is the first study that provides evidence for the presence of psychotic experiences in pPD. The association detected needs to be confirmed in longitudinal studies.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Visual Hallucinations in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Visual hallucinations (VHs) are striking features for dementia, especially dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We aimed to study the frequency and associated factors of VH in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and investigate the feasibility of clinically diagnosing the mixed pathology of VCI with DLB. This is a multicentre registration study. A consecutive series of VCI patients with and without dementia were enrolled. Frequency of VH and associated factors, including age, gender, education, disease severity, DLB clinical features, vascular risk factors, cognitive function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, were compared between VCI with VH (VH+) and without VH (VH-). Among the 1281 patients analysed, 155 (12.1%) had VH. The VH+ group was older (t = 5.07; p < 0.001), was more likely to be female (χ ² = 13.46; p < 0.001), and has a higher clinical dementia rating (χ ² = 70.51; p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, and disease severity, the VH+ group had poorer cognition and more severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. The VH+ group was more associated with DLB features in fluctuating cognition (OR = 2.48; p < 0.001), parkinsonism (OR = 1.85; p = 0.001), rapid eye movement (REM) behavioral disorder (OR = 4.56; p < 0.001), and ≧2 DLB core features (OR = 26.01; p < 0.001). VCI patients with VH tend to have more severe dementia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and poorer cognitive function. Additionally, highly associated with clinical DLB features in VCI with VH raised the possibility of mixed pathology with DLB in this group. More than two core features in VCI might help in diagnosing a mixed pathology with DLB.

RCL1 copy number variants are associated with a range of neuropsychiatric phenotypes

Mendelian and early-onset severe psychiatric phenotypes often involve genetic variants having a large effect, offering opportunities for genetic discoveries and early therapeutic interventions. Here, the index case is an 18-year-old boy, who at 14 years of age had a decline in cognitive functioning over the course of a year and subsequently presented with catatonia, auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoia, aggression, mood dysregulation, and disorganized thoughts. Exome sequencing revealed a stop-gain mutation in RCL1 (NM_005772.4:c.370 C > T, p.Gln124Ter), encoding an RNA 3'-terminal phosphate cyclase-like protein that is highly conserved across eukaryotic species. Subsequent investigations across two academic medical centers identified eleven additional cases of RCL1 copy number variations (CNVs) with varying neurodevelopmental or psychiatric phenotypes. These findings suggest that dosage variation of RCL1 contributes to a range of neurological and clinical phenotypes.

Characteristics of initial symptoms and symptoms at diagnosis in probable dementia with Lewy body disease: incidence of symptoms and gender differences

AIM

Although dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by a variety of initial symptoms, there are almost no reports of the initial symptoms of DLB assessed in a large number of cases. We retrospectively evaluated the initial symptoms of 234 participants with DLB and DLB-related symptoms at diagnosis and characterized any gender differences in the symptom profiles.

METHODS

This study consisted of 234 participants with probable DLB who met the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Fourth Consensus Report of the DLB Consortium (2017). DLB was confirmed based on several characteristic biomarkers for dopamine transporter imaging with ¹²³ I-N-omega-fluoropropyl-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta (4-iodophenyl) nortropane single-photon emission computed tomography, ¹²³ I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy, and brain perfusion measured with single photon emission computed tomography. In addition, core and supportive clinical features were considered in the diagnosis.

RESULTS

Initial symptoms included cognitive impairment (41.9%) and psychiatric symptoms (i.e. visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and depression) (42.3%). Almost half of the women initially presented with psychiatric symptoms, with significantly more women than men presenting with auditory hallucinations. In contrast, men had a significantly higher rate of rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) than women did. At diagnosis, DLB-related symptoms differed between men and women, with male patients exhibiting significantly more RBD, parkinsonism, hyposmia, and syncope than female patients. Moreover women presented significantly more often with auditory hallucinations than did men.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that there are gender differences in the initial symptoms of DLB, as well as in the presentation of subsequent symptoms observed at diagnosis. There was a higher incidence of RBD in men, whereas women had a higher incidence of psychotic symptoms.

Clinical and MRI Predictors of Conversion From Mild Behavioural Impairment to Dementia

OBJECTIVE

As an analogy with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the mild behavioral impairment (MBI) construct has been proposed as a diagnostic label for those presenting late-onset behavioral symptoms. To date, however, the clinical, cognitive, and structural imaging features associated with an increased risk of conversion from MBI to dementia are poorly understood.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the cognitive performance and structural brain MRI of 113 subjects, with a clinical follow-up of at least 4 years available. Subjects were randomly assigned to a Group A (56 subjects; age: 65.4 ± 7.9 years, 15 females, MMSE score: 28.4 ± 2.3)) or to a Group B (57 subjects, age: 66.6 ± 6.4, 17 females, MMSE score: 28.0 ± 1.4). In the Group A, cognitive and structural variables were compared between converters (at 4 years) and nonconverters and then verified in the Group B group.

RESULTS

In the Group A, 14 patients converted to behavioral-variant of frontotemporal dementia (bv-FTD) and 4 to Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Converters presented at baseline lower executive function scores and total Theory of Mind (ToM scores), as well as more severe focal frontal atrophy. In the Group B, 13 subjects converted to bv-FTD and none to AD. The combination of the variables identified in the Group A significantly (p <0.001) discriminated between converters and nonconverters in the Group B with a sensitivity of 0.615 and a specificity of 1 (total accuracy 91.22%).

CONCLUSION

The combined presence of executive deficit, impaired ToM, and presence of isolated frontal atrophy was associated with risk of progression from MBI to a clinically evident neurodegenerative condition, mainly bv-FTD, over a 4-year period.

Research criteria for the diagnosis of prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies

The prodromal phase of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) includes (1) mild cognitive impairment (MCI), (2) delirium-onset, and (3) psychiatric-onset presentations. The purpose of our review is to determine whether there is sufficient information yet available to justify development of diagnostic criteria for each of these. Our goal is to achieve evidence-based recommendations for the recognition of DLB at a predementia, symptomatic stage. We propose operationalized diagnostic criteria for probable and possible mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies, which are intended for use in research settings pending validation for use in clinical practice. They are compatible with current criteria for other prodromal neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. Although there is still insufficient evidence to propose formal criteria for delirium-onset and psychiatric-onset presentations of DLB, we feel that it is important to characterize them, raising the index of diagnostic suspicion and prioritizing them for further investigation.

Psychosis-associated DNA methylomic variation in Alzheimer's disease cortex

Psychotic symptoms are a common and debilitating feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are associated with a more rapid course of decline. Current evidence from postmortem and neuroimaging studies implicates frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, with reported disruptions in monoaminergic pathways. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated methylomic variation associated with AD psychosis in 3 key brain regions implicated in the etiology of psychosis (prefrontal cortex, entorhinal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus) in postmortem brain samples from 29 AD donors with psychosis and 18 matched AD donors without psychosis. We identified psychosis-associated methylomic changes in a number of loci, with these genes being enriched in known schizophrenia-associated genetic and epigenetic variants. One of these known loci resided in the AS3MT gene-previously implicated in schizophrenia in a large GWAS meta-analysis. We used bisulfite-pyrosequencing to confirm hypomethylation across 4 neighboring CpG sites in the ASM3T gene. Finally, our regional analysis nominated multiple CpG sites in TBX15 and WT1, which are genes that have been previously implicated in AD. Thus one potential implication from our study is whether psychosis-associated variation drives reported associations in AD case-control studies.

Theta-Burst Stimulation for Auditory-Verbal Hallucination in Very-Late-Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis-A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Case Study

BACKGROUND

Treating very-late-onset (>60 years) schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP) is challenging. Age-related factors in elderly individuals (e.g., metabolism, medication side effects, drug-interaction, somatic morbidity) may adversely affect treatment. Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to ensure the favorable therapeutic outcome in geriatric patients. Previously, theta-burst stimulation (TBS), a novel form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, was reported being beneficial in the treatment for auditory-verbal hallucination (AVH) in young and middle-aged schizophrenia (SZ) patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here we present a case of a male patient aged 73. His first psychotic episode manifested with paranoid delusions, auditory-verbal and tactile hallucinations at the age of 66, and first remitted following a second-generation antipsychotics (SGA). Years later, after a relapse the AVH did not respond to previously effective olanzapine, whereas its augmentation with an inhibitory TBS over the left temporal lobe led to a stable remission. During his second relapse, TBS was again capable of facilitating therapeutic action of SGA in the same patient. Extending to our clinical observation, a series of functional MRI scans employing a tonal activation paradigm depicted altered auditory processing during AVH as well as brain activation change during remission.

CONCLUSIONS

The current case might indicate to favorable effects of combining conventional medicament therapy and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for elderly patients. Also, we speculate that despite obviously distinct etiologies, the present functional imaging and clinical observation may also demonstrate a possible common pathophysiological pathway underlying AVH in VLOSLP and SZ.

Examining the association between genetic liability for schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease

Psychosis (delusions or hallucinations) in Alzheimer's disease (AD + P) occurs in up to 50% of individuals and is associated with significantly worse clinical outcomes. Atypical antipsychotics, first developed for schizophrenia, are commonly used in AD + P, suggesting shared mechanisms. Despite this implication, little empirical research has been conducted to examine whether there are mechanistic similarities between AD + P and schizophrenia. In this study, we tested whether polygenic risk score (PRS) for schizophrenia was associated with AD + P. Schizophrenia PRS was calculated using Psychiatric Genomics Consortium data at ten GWAS p value thresholds (PT) in 3111 AD cases from 11 cohort studies characterized for psychosis using validated, standardized tools. Association between PRS and AD + P status was tested by logistic regression in each cohort individually and the results meta-analyzed. The schizophrenia PRS was associated with AD + P at an optimum PT of 0.01. The strongest association was for delusions where a one standard deviation increase in PRS was associated with a 1.18-fold increased risk (95% CI: 1.06-1.3; p = 0.001). These new findings point towards psychosis in AD-and particularly delusions-sharing some genetic liability with schizophrenia and support a transdiagnostic view of psychotic symptoms across the lifespan.

Late-onset psychosis and very-late-onset-schizophrenia-like-psychosis: an updated systematic review

Psychotic disorders have long been known to be a condition that peaks during adolescence and early adulthood. A considerable proportion of patients have their first onset at or after the age of 40, but little is known about this population. The current systematic review examined the clinical presentation of late-onset psychosis (LOP) and very-late-onset-schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP) with focus on their psychopathological, neuropsychological, neurobiological, psychosocial and psychological correlates. A systematic search of studies published from 2000 to 2019 from Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus yielded 27 original studies that were included in this review. Results revealed there is a dearth of empirical research on the conditions in the current literature and inconsistencies in the findings reported may be associated with the lack of uniformity in the definitions for LOP and VLOSLP. Future research on the topic shall (i) specify the onset age criteria for LOP and VLOSLP; (ii) study the conditions independently; (iii) involve a larger sample size, and iv) account for potential confounding variables. A comprehensive evaluation of the risks and benefits of pharmacological treatment may also be needed.

An evolutionary perspective on paranoia

Paranoia is the most common symptom of psychosis but paranoid concerns occur throughout the general population. Here, we argue for an evolutionary approach to paranoia across the spectrum of severity that accounts for its complex social phenomenology - including the perception of conspiracy and selective identification of perceived persecutors - and considers how it can be understood in light of our evolved social cognition. We argue that the presence of coalitions and coordination between groups in competitive situations could favour psychological mechanisms that detect, anticipate and avoid social threats. Our hypothesis makes testable predictions about the environments in which paranoia should be most common as well as the developmental trajectory of paranoia across the lifespan. We suggest that paranoia should not solely be viewed as a pathological symptom of a mental disorder but also as a part of a normally-functioning human psychology.