Evaluation of the severity of dementia using expectation control function.

The results of an animal experiment without anesthesia suggested the presence of expectation control in which sympathetic nerve tone increases at rest immediately before behaviors to prepare for the subsequent behavior. We investigated whether such function is present in humans in their daily living and whether patients with dementia could be differentiated from healthy adults based on this finding. Using a Holter electrocardiograph with an acceleration sensor, electrocardiograms (ECG) and behavioral states were recorded.