Vascular factors are associated with the severity of the neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine whether vascular risk factors are associated with severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in patients of Alzheimer's dementia. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 162 patients with Alzheimer's dementia. The NPS were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Hypertension and cardiovascular events were detected through detailed history taking. Diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia were uncovered through laboratory test. The asymptomatic stroke and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were defined by magnetic resonance imaging. Partial correlation analysis was used. Results: Hypertension was correlated with the severity of apathy (r = 0.231, p = 0.015). The asymptomatic stroke was related to the severity of depression (r = 0.255, p = 0.007). The remaining vascular factors were not significant. Conclusion: Presence of hypertension and asymptomatic stroke are related with the severity of apathy and depression in Alzheimer's dementia.

KEYWORDS: :

• hypertension
• asymptomatic stroke
• apathy
• depression