Apathy is associated with increased amyloid burden in mild cognitive impairment

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2013 Fall;25(4):302-7. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.12060156.

Abstract

Apathy is the most common neuropsychiatric symptom in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. The authors sought to determine whether apathy is associated with cortical amyloid burden, as measured by Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography (PET), and regional hypometabolism, measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglocuse (FDG) PET in MCI. The authors found a significant association between increased apathy (lower Apathy Evaluation Scale score) and greater cortical PiB retention independent of age, but no significant association between apathy and regional FDG metabolism. These results suggest that increased apathy is associated with greater amyloid burden but not regional hypometabolism in MCI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Apathy*
  • Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnostic imaging
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / metabolism*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / psychology*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Functional Neuroimaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Amyloid
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18