Neural Basis of Agitated Behaviors in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND

Aggression, a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD), can impose a significant burden on caregivers, necessitating early institutionalization.

OBJECTIVE

The current study examined the neural basis of aggression and its expression mechanism, to advance the development of effective treatment strategies for aggression in patients with AD.

METHODS

The study sample included 257 patients; 180 were diagnosed with AD and 77 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Factor analysis of the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) aggression scores was performed, and the correlation between each factor and cerebral blood flow (CBF) was examined via diagnosis of AD or aMCI using statistical parametric mapping.

RESULTS

Refusal of care was correlated with reduced CBF in the right hippocampus of patients with AD while no specific related regions could be identified in patients with aMCI. Violent behavior was associated with decreased CBF in the right temporal pole and medial frontal lobe of patients with AD and aMCI.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that aggression, measured using NPI includes two distinct symptoms, refusal of care and violent behavior, having different underlying neural bases.