Open AccessEffects of white matter hyperintensities, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognition on activities of daily living: Differences between Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies
Author(s) -
Mirza Saira Saeed,
Saeed Usman,
Ramirez Joel,
Herrmann Nathan,
Stuss Donald T.,
Black Sandra E.,
Masellis Mario
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: diagnosis, assessment and disease monitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.497
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2352-8729
DOI - 10.1002/dad2.12306
Subject(s) - dementia with lewy bodies , dementia , hyperintensity , cognition , psychology , alzheimer's disease , disease , cognitive decline , medical diagnosis , lewy body , activities of daily living , white matter , psychiatry , medicine , pathology , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
Disability is common across Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are prevalent in both diagnoses and associated with disability; both diagnoses show neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and impaired cognition. Methods In AD and DLB, we examined if WMHs, NPS, and cognition associate with basic and/or instrumental activities of daily living (BADLs and/or IADLs) cross‐sectionally, and longitudinally over ≈1.4 years. Results Across both diagnoses, NPS were not only associated with greater disability in performing both BADLs and IADLs, but were also associated with a decline in the ability to perform BADLs in the AD group. In the DLB group only, higher WMH volume was associated with greater disability in performing both BADLs and IADLs, and was associated with a decline in the ability to perform BADL over time. Discussion Management of NPS and WMHs, particularly in DLB, might help maintain functionality in dementia patients for longer.