Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia such as depression and apathy in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with a lower quality of life.

Objective: We aimed to determine the efficacy of two antidepressants and one antipathy drug in the treatment of depression and apathy in AD patients.

Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of sertraline (n = 11; average dose = 31.8 mg), escitalopram (n = 13; average dose = 7.3 mg), and nicergoline (n = 9; average dose = 14.5 mg) in treating depression and apathy over a period of 3 months (M).The 33 patients with AD demonstrated high Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (>5) or a high Apathy Scale (AS) (>16) scores.

Results: The patients receiving escitalopram treatment showed a significant improvement in GDS score from baseline (8.2±3.5) to 3 M (5.7±2.6, p = 0.04), and the patients receiving sertraline treatment showed a significant improvement in AS score from baseline (20.8±5.2) to 3 M (16.8±6.1, p = 0.05); however, no significant changes were noted in patients receiving nicergoline.

Conclusion: These results provide novel information on the efficacy of sertraline and escitalopram in the treatment of apathy and depression, respectively, in patients with AD.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200247DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

depression apathy
20
efficacy sertraline
12
patients receiving
12
sertraline escitalopram
8
treatment depression
8
alzheimer's disease
8
escitalopram treatment
8
treatment improvement
8
score baseline
8
depression
7

Similar Publications

Lipopolysaccharide preconditioning disrupts the behavioral and molecular response to restraint stress in male mice.

Neuroscience

January 2025

Center of Health Sciences, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Center of Health Sciences, Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder potentially influenced by factors such as stress and inflammation. Chronic stress can lead to maladaptive brain changes that may trigger immune hyperactivation, contributing to MDD's pathogenesis. While the involvement of inflammation in MDD is well established, the effects of inflammatory preconditioning in animals subsequently exposed to chronic stress remain unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Late-life psychological symptoms in older adults such as depression and apathy have been increasingly associated with increased risk of cognitive and functional decline. The goal of this study was to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), pooling 3 unique cohorts of older adults to 1) develop a novel measurement model that distinguishes apathy from other domains of depression including dysphoria and cognitive concern and 2) evaluate if the measurement model distinguishes older adult populations with varied risk for cognitive decline.

Methods: We pooled the baseline waves of three older adult cohorts (N=1421).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Purpose: Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts the quality of life via both motor and nonmotor symptoms. Exercise is a valuable nonpharmacological intervention that can alleviate PD symptoms and slow disease progression. Understanding the factors that motivate and restrict exercise in PD patients is essential for promoting engagement.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Impact of Brain Tumors on Emotional and Behavioral Functioning.

Cureus

December 2024

Department of General Surgery, General Medicine Practice Program and Surgery, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, SAU.

While the physical manifestations of brain tumors are well-documented, their impact on the emotional and psychological landscape of patients is of equal importance. Patients frequently experience a range of challenges from depression, apathy, and increased aggression to personality changes. The complexity of these changes and their effects on emotional functioning are shaped by tumor characteristics, including location, growth rate, and the corresponding hormonal imbalances.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The fibronectin domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), or irisin, is an adipo-myokine hormone produced during exercise, which shows therapeutic potential for conditions like metabolic disorders, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review explores its potential across various pathophysiological processes that are often considered independent. Elevated in healthy states but reduced in diseases, irisin improves muscle-adipose communication, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic balance by enhancing mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!