Apathy and loss of insight as correlates of behavior in Alzheimer's
disease (AD) were studied in 40 patients by using clinical scales and
cerebral blood flow measurements from SPECT imaging. Apathy was
significantly correlated with decreased right temporoparietal perfusion and
problem behaviors. Loss of insight was significantly correlated with
decreased right temporo-occipital perfusion and impairment in daily
functioning. Dementia severity as measured by the Mini-Mental State
Examination (MMSE) was a poor predictor of behavioral problems or daily
functioning. These data suggest that global measures of cognitive ability,
which are weighted toward measuring left hemisphere function, are less
important as indicators of management problems in AD than are measures of
right hemisphere function such as motivation and insight.Abstract Teaser