Correlation between both Morphologic and Functional Changes and Anxiety in Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Although anxiety symptoms are often observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD), little attention has been paid to this symptom compared with other neuropsychiatric symptoms. Methods: Twenty-six patients with mild AD underwent both magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission tomography with technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were evaluated using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (Behave-AD). We investigated the relationship between anxiety and neuroimaging using Statistical Parametric Mapping 8 software. Results: The Behave-AD anxiety score was correlated with hyperperfusion in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortices and a reduction in the gray matter volume in the right precuneus and inferior parietal lobule. Conclusion: Our results suggest that anxiety in AD could overlap with the neural correlates of anxiety disorders, and that the specific degeneration associated with AD might be associated with anxiety.

On the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease from multimodal signals: A survey

“…Examples include the work of Tagai et al [301], who used MRI and SPECT imaging modalities to relate anxiety of AD patients to the brain biomarkers or Poulin et al [302] who also studied anxiety in relation to MRI markers. Delusions, apathy and agitation were also compared to markers on MRI images by others [303], as well as disinhibition and eating disorders with FDG-PET.…”

Anxiety, Anxiety Symptoms, and Their Correlates in Persons with Dementia in Norwegian Nursing Homes: A Cause for Concern

“…Anxiety is common in persons with dementia [4]. The prevalence of anxiety disorders, mainly generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), in persons with dementia ranges from 5 to 21% in various studies, whereas the prevalence of anxiety symptoms ranges from 8 to 71% [5,6].…”

A cross‐sectional study on clinical correlates of anxiety disorders in 613 community living older adults in Hong Kong

“…Indeed, several studies examined the association between anxiety disorders and AD (Ramakers et al, 2013;Beauquis et al, 2014;Tagai et al, 2014). Although lower frequency of cognitive activity is associated with increased risk of anxiety disorders in older people, it must be noted that the type and the engagement intensity of each cognitive task are heterogeneous in nature under the huge umbrella of cognitive activities.…”

“…For example, reading newspaper daily and playing mahjongs daily are both cognitive activities, but the former was apparently more passive in nature. Anxiety in AD could overlap with the neural correlates of anxiety disorders and that the specific degeneration associated with AD might be associated with anxiety (Tagai et al, 2014). It may be associated with anxiety through affecting physical and cognitive functioning.…”

“…This result seemed to suggest that anxiety symptoms may be more than just a mood symptom and could be associated with early cognitive impairment in healthy older people. Indeed, several studies examined the association between anxiety disorders and AD (Ramakers et al, 2013;Beauquis et al, 2014;Tagai et al, 2014). Ramakers et al (2013) investigated the correlation between early biomarkers for AD and neuropsychiatric symptom in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.…”