Cognitive and noncognitive psychiatric symptoms were systematically
evaluated in 21 patients with Alzheimer's disease by using the
Neurobehavioral Rating Scale. Regional cerebral metabolic activity was
measured in each patient by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Significant
correlations emerged between global cortical metabolic activity and the
Agitation/Disinhibition factor score, Cognition factor score, and total
score. Relationships between noncognitive symptoms and metabolic activity
were regionally specific, with significant correlations between
Agitation/Disinhibition factor score and metabolism in the frontal and
temporal lobes, between Psychosis factor score and metabolism in the
frontal lobe, and between Anxiety/Depression factor score and metabolism in
the parietal lobe. These results suggest that psychiatric symptoms are
fundamental expressions of the cortical dysfunction of Alzheimer's
disease.
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