Risk factors for delusion of theft in patients with Alzheimer's disease showing mild Dementia in Japan

Abstract

The mechanism underlying delusion in Alzheimer's disease patients has not been fully clarified; however, the occurrence of delusion is a critical issue for dementia patients and their caregivers. In Japan, delusion of theft is the most frequent delusion in AD patients. We examined the risk factors for delusion of theft in AD patients showing mild dementia. Fifty-six AD patients were administered HDS-R, MMSE and COGNISTAT, including the 'speech sample', to assess their neuropsychological and social cognitive functions. The age, years of education, presence of cohabiting family members and premorbid personality traits were obtained from family members. About 25.0% of AD patients showed delusion of theft (D-group), and 75% did not (non-D-group). About 33.3% of female patients and 5.9% of male patients were included in the D-group (p < 0.05). About 13.6% of patients who were cohabiting with family members and 66.7% of patients who were living alone were included in the D-group (p < 0.05). About 35.1% of patients who had a neurotic personality and 5.3% of patients who did not were included in the D-group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in scores on HDS-R, MMSE and COGNISTAT sub-scales, except for 'speech sample', between the two groups. In the 'speech sample', 38.7% of patients who understood a relationship between two boys and 12.0% of patients who did not were included in the D-group (p < 0.05). These results indicated that delusion of theft in AD patients was related to female gender, absence of cohabiting family members, neurotic personality and retained social cognitive function.

Study on the Effects of Individualized Learning Therapy on Cognitive Function and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in the Institutionalized Older Adults

“…Risk factors such as gender, premorbid personality traits, social cognitive function, and the external environment have been associated with delusions in patients with dementia (Murayama et al, 2009). The examination of the effect of cognitive intervention on delusion was limited in this study.…”

Relationship between Delusion of Theft and Cognitive Functions in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Despite the evidence from neuroimaging studies suggesting a distinctive association between episodic memory impairments and DT, few clinical studies have found this association. A previous study identified no significant differences in the scores on Hasegawa’s dementia scale (HDS-R), the MMSE or the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (COGNISTAT) sub-scales between the DT (n=14) and ND (n=42) groups [ 14 ]. In addition, another study indicated that delayed recall scores did not correlate significantly with the severity of DT in 22 AD subjects [ 15 ].…”

Neurobiology of Delusions in Alzheimer’s Disease

“…In the 49% of patients with AD and misplacements who had delusions, 36% were delusions of theft. A recent Japanese study assessed the prevalence and risk factors for delusions of theft in a sample of 56 AD patients: 25% of patients had delusions of theft, and these were associated with female gender, absence of cohabiting family members, neurotic personality, and retained social cognitive function [22].…”