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Neuropsychiatric correlates of white matter hyperintensities in Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Berlow Yosef A.,
Wells William M.,
Ellison James M.,
Sung Young Hoon,
Renshaw Perry F.,
Harper David G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.2418
Subject(s) - hyperintensity , dementia , psychology , atrophy , disinhibition , alzheimer's disease , white matter , memory clinic , magnetic resonance imaging , brain size , apathy , medicine , audiology , psychiatry , cardiology , disease , cognition , radiology
Abstract Objective To investigate the association of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of brain atrophy and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Methods Thirty‐seven patients with probable AD received the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE), and an MRI scan as part of their initial evaluation at the Outpatient Memory Diagnostic Clinic at McLean Hospital. MRI‐based volumetric measurements of whole brain atrophy, hippocampal volumes, and WMH were obtained. Analysis of covariance models, using age as a covariate and the presence of specific BPSD as independent variables, were used to test for differences in whole brain volumes, hippocampal volumes and WMH volumes. Results Increased WMH were associated with symptoms of anxiety, aberrant motor behavior, and night time disturbance, while symptoms of disinhibition were linked to lower WMH volume. No associations were found for whole brain or hippocampal volumes and BPSD. Conclusions These findings suggest that white matter changes are associated with the presence of BPSD in AD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.