Treating Apathy in the Elderly

Apathy is the most common behavioral symptom in Alzheimer’s disease. Defined as a state characterized by simultaneous diminution in the overt behavioral, cognitive, and emotional concomitants of goal-directed behavior,  apathy refers to impairments in motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. To date, there is little empirical foundation for how these three levels interact in patients suffering from apathy. In a paper published in a recent issue of GeroPsych: The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry, a team of  researchers provide an overview of apathy research by presenting neurobiological foundations as well as clinical correlations between the severity of apathy and impairments in motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. Furthermore, the authors present a literature review of the nonpharmacological treatment options of apathy in dementia. In the paper, the authors suggest that focusing on the motor, cognitive, and emotional aspects of apathy may help to implement successful treatment strategies. Multimodal, individualized approaches, including the use of physical activation and biography-based information to motivate dementia patients, seem to be of high relevance.

For the abstract.