Behavioral symptoms related to cognitive impairment

DILLON, C; SERRANO, CM; HEISECKE, SL; TARAGANO, FE

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.

Dove Press

Lugar: Manchester; Año: 2013 vol. 9 p. 1443 - 1455

1178-2021

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are core features of Alzheimer?s disease andrelated dementias. On one hand, behavioral symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) can indicate an increased risk of progressing to dementia. On the other hand,mild behavioral impairment (MBI) in patients who usually have normal cognition indicates anincreased risk of developing dementia. Whatever the cause, all dementias carry a high rate ofNPI. These symptoms can be observed at any stage of the disease, may fluctuate over its course,are a leading cause of stress and overload for caregivers, and increase rates of hospitalization andearly institutionalization for patients with dementia. The clinician should be able to promptlyrecognize NPI through the use of instruments capable of measuring their frequency and severityto support diagnosis, and to help monitor the treatment of behavioral symptoms. The aimsof this review are to describe and update the construct ?MBI? and to revise the reported NPSrelated to prodromal stages of dementia (MCI and MBI) and dementia stages of Alzheimer?sdisease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration