In addition to memory problems and other cognitive symptoms, most people with Alzheimer’s disease also suffer from mental health issues.
It has long been unclear whether these occur because of tissue changes in the brain, or whether they represent psychological reactions to cognitive symptoms.
In a study from Lund University, scientists found mental health symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.
Cognitive symptoms combined with elevated levels of specific proteins form the basis for a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
In the study, the team examined the complex links between psychological symptoms, Alzheimer’s proteins, and cognitive symptoms.
They examined 356 people over the age of 65 with no cognitive symptoms at the start of the research.
In addition to analyzing the levels of Alzheimer’s biomarkers, participants’ anxiety, apathy, and overall cognitive function were also assessed on a biannual basis. Participants were followed for a total of eight years.
The researchers found a clear link between elevated levels of amyloid beta at the start of the study and the future development of anxiety and apathy.
The study showed that psychiatric symptoms, just like cognitive symptoms, occur mainly as a direct consequence of the underlying changes to the brain, due to increased levels of amyloid beta.
The researchers further found that amyloid beta drives the development of apathy predominately through direct effects, and that apathy only to a limited extent evolves secondary to cognitive decline.
Anxiety was not linked to cognitive change.
The findings thus argue against the idea that these early changes in emotion and motivation in Alzheimer’s disease are primarily psychological reactions to cognitive decline.
Instead, the results suggest that at least these occur due to the pathological accumulation of amyloid beta for apathy and anxiety.
The findings imply that psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease could be used as alternative outcome measures in treatment trials. Ultimately, this could lead to a more effective study design.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about a cancer drug that may help reverse Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
If you care about mental health, please read studies that a vegetarian diet may increase your depression risk, and Vitamin D could help reduce depression symptoms.
The study was conducted by Oskar Hansson et al and published in Biological Psychiatry.
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