Whitney Fitts

Caregiver report of apathy predicts dementia in Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION Apathy is a common, troublesome symptom in Parkinsons disease (PD). However, little is known about its relationship with long-term cognition. We sought to determine if a caregiver-reported apathy measure predicts the development of PD dementia. METHODS Non-demented PD patients were recruited as part of a longitudinal study of cognition. Demographics, medications, Dementia Rating Scale-2, Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q) ratings were obtained. Apathy was defined as an NPI-Q apathy score ≥1. Participants were evaluated annually with cognitive and functional assessments until the end of the study period or a physician consensus diagnosis of dementia was assigned. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the effects of baseline apathy on dementia development while controlling for other clinical and demographic factors. RESULTS Of 132 PD patients 12.1% (N = 16) scored in the apathetic range at baseline. A total of 19.6% (N = 26) individuals developed dementia over the course of the study, 8 of whom (30.8% of future dementia patients) had baseline apathy. In bivariate analyses baseline apathy, older age, and worse cognitive, motor, and depressive symptom scores predicted the development of dementia. In a multivariate analysis the predictive effects of baseline apathy were still significant (HR = 3.56; 95% CI = 1.09-11.62; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS A simple, caregiver-reported measure of apathy is an independent predictor of progression to dementia in PD. This highlights the importance of apathy as a clinical characteristic of PD and could prove useful for the prediction of future dementia.

Associations and implications of low health literacy in Parkinson's Disease.

Low health literacy (HL) indicates a limited ability to understand and use basic information to make appropriate health care decisions. Whereas low HL is associated with higher morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in multiple chronic conditions, little is known about HL and its associations in Parkinsons disease (PD).

Parkinsonian signs are a risk factor for falls

BACKGROUND Parkinsonian signs are common, non-specific findings in older adults and associated with increased rates of dementia and mortality. It is important to understand which motor outcomes are associated with parkinsonian signs. OBJECTIVES To determine the role of parkinsonian signs on fall rates among older adults. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal study of primary care patients from the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Adults over 55 years were assessed at baseline through surveys and a neurological examination. We recorded falls over the following 2 years. Parkinsonian signs were defined as the presence of 2 of 4 cardinal signs. Incident falls were compared between subjects with and without parkinsonian signs, and modified Poisson regression used to adjust for potential confounders in the relationship between parkinsonian signs and falls. RESULTS 982 subjects with a mean age of 68 (s.d. 8.8) years participated. 29% of participants fell and 12% exhibited parkinsonian signs at baseline. The unadjusted RR for falls among individuals with parkinsonian signs was 1.36 (95% CI 1.05-1.76, p=0.02). After adjusting for age, cognitive function, urinary incontinence, depression, diabetes, stroke and arthritis, individuals with parkinsonian signs were still 38% more likely to fall than those without parkinsonian signs (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.04-1.82; p=0.03). Falls among those with parkinsonian signs were more likely to lead to injury (53% vs 37%; p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS Parkinsonian signs are a significant, independent risk factor for falls. Early detection of this clinical state is important in order to implement fall prevention programs among primary care patients.

Computerized assessment of goal-directed behavior in Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT Introduction: Apathy is a syndrome characterized by a reduction in goal-directed behavior. Neurodegenerative diseases frequently exhibit apathy. However, we lack an objective measure of apathy. The Philadelphia Apathy Computerized Task (PACT) measures impairments in goal-directed behavior that contribute to apathy, including initiation, planning, and motivation. We sought to examine these mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Method: PD patients and healthy controls with a caregiver were recruited for the study. Participants were administered the PACT, a novel computerized assessment of goal-directed behavior based on reaction times, and the Starkstein Apathy Scale (AS). Care partners completed the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Baseline demographic characteristics of PD and control participants were compared using t tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Linear regressions were used to compare PD patients to controls on each of the three PACT subtasks (initiation, planning, and motivation) while controlling for motor slowing. We then compared performance on each PACT subtask between PD subjects defined as apathetic using the NPI and Starkstein Apathy Scale and controls. Results: We included 30 PD and 15 control participants in the analysis. When controlling for motor slowing, both all PD and PD apathetic subjects were significantly slower than controls on the planning task and on the initiation task. There were no significant differences between PD patients and controls on the motivation tasks. Conclusions: PD patients showed specific initiation and planning deficits compared to control participants. After using traditional scales to define apathy, PD apathetic patients still exhibited impaired initiation and planning behaviors. These results suggest that the PACT measures aspects of impaired goal-directed behavior that may contribute to apathy in PD.