Neuropsychological correlates of apathy and depression in patients with dementia

Objective: To investigate the association between apathy and depression, an d specific cognitive deficits in AD. Background: Apathy and depression are frequent behavioral disorders in patients with AD. However, the neuropsycho logical correlates of these disorders have rarely been examined. Methods: A comprehensive neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluation was carried ou t in 72 patients with AD with apathy and depression, 29 patients with AD wi th apathy only, 31 patients with AD with depression only, and 52 patients w ith AD with neither apathy nor depression (control group). Results: Patient s with apathy had significantly lower scores on tests of verbal memory, nam ing, set shifting, and verbal fluency compared with patients without apathy . The association of depression and apathy produced significantly more seve re deficits compared with apathy only on a test of abstract thinking. Final ly, depression in the absence of apathy was not associated with more severe cognitive impairments compared with the AD control group. Conclusions: Apa thy, but not depression, is associated with significantly more severe front al lobe related cognitive deficits in AD.