Positive neuropsychiatric features (paranoia, delusions, hallucinations)
and negative features (disinterest/withdrawal, apathy, reduced speech
output, reduced physical activity) occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD),
although most studies have focused on positive features alone. Positive
features may be associated with a more severe and rapidly progressive
subtype of AD. A retrospective analysis of prospectively obtained research
data (101 probable AD patients) revealed that patients with positive
features had been ill longer but were otherwise similar to patients with
negative features. Patients with any neuropsychiatric features had more
rapid progression and more severe cognitive and comprehension deficits than
patients without such features. Neuropsychiatric features in AD likely
reflect variations in mesocortical and mesolimbic degeneration rather than
an etiologic or prognostic subtype.Abstract Teaser