%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2022 %T A Comparison of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and BPSD Sub-Syndromes in Early-Onset and Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. %A Altomari, Natalia %A Bruno, Francesco %A Laganà, Valentina %A Smirne, Nicoletta %A Colao, Rosanna %A Curcio, Sabrina %A Di Lorenzo, Raffaele %A Frangipane, Francesca %A Maletta, Raffaele %A Puccio, Gianfranco %A Bruni, Amalia Cecilia %K Affective Symptoms %K Age of Onset %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Alzheimer Disease %K Apathy %K Behavioral Symptoms %K Dementia %K Female %K Humans %K Italy %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Neuropsychological Tests %K Psychiatric Status Rating Scales %K Psychomotor Agitation %K Psychotic Disorders %K Severity of Illness Index %X

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) have a large impact on the quality of life of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Few studies have compared BPSD between early-onset (EOAD) and late-onset (LOAD) patients, finding conflicting results.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to: 1) characterize the presence, overall prevalence, and time of occurrence of BPSD in EOAD versus LOAD; 2) estimate the prevalence over time and severity of each BPSD in EOAD versus LOAD in three stages: pre-T0 (before the onset of the disease), T0 (from onset to 5 years), and T1 (from 5 years onwards); 3) track the manifestation of BPSD sub-syndromes (i.e., hyperactivity, psychosis, affective, and apathy) in EOAD versus LOAD at T0 and T1.

METHODS: The sample includes 1,538 LOAD and 387 EOAD diagnosed from 1996 to 2018. Comprehensive assessment batteries, including the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), were administered at the first medical assessment and at different follow-up period.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence for the most of BPSD was significantly higher in EOAD compared to LOAD whereas most BPSD appeared significantly later in EOAD patients. Between the two groups, from pre-T0 to T1 we recorded a different pattern of BPSD prevalence over time as well as for BPSD sub-syndromes at T0 and T1. Results on severity of BPSD did not show significant differences.

CONCLUSION: EOAD and LOAD represent two different forms of a single entity not only from a neuropathological, cognitive, and functional level but also from a psychiatric point of view.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 85 %P 691-699 %8 2022 %G eng %N 2 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34864668?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-215061 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2018 %T Frequency of Cardiovascular Genetic Risk Factors in a Calabrian Population and Their Effects on Dementia. %A Maletta, Raffaele %A Smirne, Nicoletta %A Bernardi, Livia %A Anfossi, Maria %A Gallo, Maura %A Conidi, Maria Elena %A Colao, Rosanna %A Puccio, Gianfranco %A Curcio, Sabrina A M %A Laganà, Valentina %A Frangipane, Francesca %A Cupidi, Chiara %A Mirabelli, Maria %A Vasso, Franca %A Torchia, Giusi %A Muraca, Maria G %A Di Lorenzo, Raffaele %A Rose, Giuseppina %A Montesanto, Alberto %A Passarino, Giuseppe %A Bruni, Amalia C %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Alzheimer Disease %K Apolipoprotein E4 %K Case-Control Studies %K Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins %K Cohort Studies %K Dementia, Vascular %K Female %K Frontotemporal Dementia %K Gene Frequency %K Humans %K Italy %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Polymorphism, Genetic %K Risk Factors %X

BACKGROUND: Several genetic variants playing a key role in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and vascular dysfunction influence the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). The many meta-analysis studies carried out on large numbers of samples in different populations have not provided clear results to date, because a trans-ethnic shift of risk genotypes in different populations is often observed.

OBJECTIVES: To determine genotypes allele frequencies of the polymorphisms most frequently identified to be correlated with cardio-cerebrovascular disease and AD in a Southern Italy population and to investigate their possible association with dementia.

METHODS: The genotype and allele frequencies of 13 cardio-cerebrovascular risk polymorphisms were assessed and their possible association with dementia was investigated in a case-control study, including 221 consecutive unrelated subjects diagnosed with dementia (120 subjects affected by AD, 55 by frontotemporal dementia, and 33 by vascular dementia) and 218 matched controls of Calabrian origin.

RESULTS: Carriers of at least one APOEɛ4 allele resulted to be at higher risk of AD [OR(95% CI) = 2.721(1.477-5.011)] and VaD [OR(95% CI) = 6.205(2.356-16.342)] compared to non-carriers. Individuals with the IV genotype of the CETP polymorphism were more likely to have AD [OR(95% CI) = 2.427(1.364-4.319)] and VaD [OR(95% CI) = 3.649(1.455-9.152)] compared to subjects with the II-VV genotypes.

CONCLUSION: CETP I405V polymorphism is likely a risk factor for AD and VaD in our cohort, independent of APOEɛ4 status. Unmodifiable genetic risk factors should be taken into account to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent dementia.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 61 %P 1179-1187 %8 2018 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29332048?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-170687 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2018 %T Prevalence of Delirium in a Population of Elderly Outpatients with Dementia: A Retrospective Study. %A Addesi, Desirée %A Maio, Raffaele %A Smirne, Nicoletta %A Laganà, Valentina %A Altomari, Natalia %A Puccio, Gianfranco %A Colao, Rosanna %A Cupidi, Chiara %A Perticone, Francesco %A Bruni, Amalia Cecilia %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Antipsychotic Agents %K Cohort Studies %K Delirium %K Dementia %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Humans %K Male %K Outpatients %K Prevalence %K Severity of Illness Index %X

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a multifactorial geriatric syndrome and often occurs in patients with cognitive impairment. It also remains under-recognized, specifically in elderly outpatients, because signs of delirium might overlap with symptoms of dementia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to retrospectively apply the chart-based delirium instrument on a cohort of elderly outpatients with dementia, to assess prevalence and features of delirium in this population.

METHODS: We randomly selected 650 medical records of outpatients referred to the "Neurogenetic Regional Centre" (CRN) of Lamezia Terme. Each evaluation included demographics, medical history, drugs, type and severity of dementia, and cognitive and functional status. Delirium was identified by the application of the chart-based delirium instrument.

RESULTS: The prevalence of delirium was 13.3%. The study population was divided, according to the presence of delirium, into two subgroups. Compared to the no delirium group, the delirium group was significantly older and had greater cognitive impairment with lower MMSE scores both at baseline and at the end of the follow up. They also had a significant lower score on the ADL and IADL. In this group, a higher intake of antihypertensive and antipsychotic drugs, together with a lower intake of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the chart-based delirium instrument was applied to an outpatient population affected by dementia and followed for a long time. Our data confirm the importance that age and frailty play on the genesis of delirium and suggest attention should be paid to the pharmacological treatment of these patients.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 61 %P 251-257 %8 2018 %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29171993?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-170339