Negative symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to demonstrate that negative symptoms are prominent in patients with Alzheimer's disease and are distinct from depression.

METHOD

patients with Alzheimer's disease (N=24) and a group of cognitively intact older adults (N=26) were compared in terms of scores on the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease.

RESULTS

Negative symptoms were more severe in patients with Alzheimer's disease than in the healthy elderly comparison subjects. Among the patients with Alzheimer's disease, negative symptoms were correlated with dementia severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Alzheimer's disease display little interest in self-care, work and household tasks, social and family activities, and emotional needs of others, despite an absence of depressive symptoms, positive symptoms, comorbid systemic illnesses, or medication exposure. Such negative symptoms may contribute to functional disability and thus complicate management of such patients.