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<title>Alzheimer's Conference / Parkinson's Conference: ADPD 2009 - Prague, March 11-15 - Poster Presentations</title>
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    <td class="content"><h1>Poster Presentations</h1>
    <P><b>Session Title:</b> Alzheimer's Disease (AD) including Non-Cognitive Aspects<br><b>Presentation Date:</b> Friday, March 14 – Saturday, March 15, 2009</P><h2 align='left'><b>NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS AS PREDICTORS OF FUNCTIONAL DECLINE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE</b></h2>
<p align='left'><b>F. Lupo</b>, K. Palmer, G. Salamone, L. Cravello, R. Perri, M. Musicco, C. Caltagirone<br>
<em>IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Department of Clinical and Behavioural Neurology, Rome, Italy</em></p><br>
<p align='justify'><b><b>Background: </b></b> Neuropsychiatric symptoms often occur in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) but it is unclear what role they play on disease progression and functional decline. <br><b><b>Objectives: </b></b> To:<br> <ol> <li>evaluate the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD patients and; </li> <li>investigate whether symptoms predict rapid functional decline in AD. </li> </ol><b><b>Method: </b> </b>We followed 178 AD patients consecutively admitted to the Unit for Dementia Diagnosis at IRCCS Foundation Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy (mean age 73.0 (SD:8.2), 70.8% men). Symptoms were evaluated at first visit with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). As a marker of disease progression, functional decline was defined as a loss of ≥1 functional abilities in basic (ADL) or Instrumental (IADL) Activities of Daily Living. <br><b><b>Results: </b> </b>The most common NPI symptoms in AD were depression (46.6%), apathy (55.1%), and anxiety (38.2%). Functional decline on ADL and IADL was more common in patients with baseline anxiety, depression, apathy, disinhibition, irritability and difficulties sleeping. 30 (25.2%) patients had no NPI symptom at baseline. Only 6.7% of patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms declined in ADL over follow-up. Compared to these patients, the risk of functional decline was higher in patients with depression (HR=3.9: 0.9-16.3), anxiety (HR=5.4: 1.2-23.2), disinhibition (HR=6.4: 1.2-33.4), and irritability (HR=4.5: 1.0-19.1) after adjustment for age, sex, education, and baseline cognitive and functional status.<br><b><b>Conclusions: </b></b> Neuropsychiatric symptoms can be used as markers to predict functional decline in AD patients. Patients free from neuropsychiatric symptoms are less likely to suffer a rapid decline in functioning. These results may help long-term planning of care and treatment in AD.</p>
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