THE PATTERNS OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS ACROSS PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TAUOPATHIES: CAREGIVER’S AND PATIENT’S REPORTS

The profiles of neuropsychiatric symptoms in tauopathies

  • Milica Jecmenica Lukic Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4255-7192
  • Gorana Mandić Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Tanja Stojkovic Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Aleksandra Tomic Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • NIkola Kresojevic Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Vladana Marković Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Iva Stankovic Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Igor Petrovic Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Aleksandra Kacar Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Vladimir Kostic Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Marina Svetel Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/medi57-50986
Keywords: tauopathies, Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, neuropsychiatric symptoms

Abstract


Introduction/Aims: Knowing the differences in neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) across tauopathies, especially in early disease courses, may contribute to differential diagnosis. Aims: a) to examine the patterns of NPSs in primary (frontotemporal dementia-FTD and progressive supranuclear palsy-PSP) and secondary (Alzheimer's disease-AD) tauopathies; b) to examine the differences in NPSs reported by patients and caregivers.

Methods: The study included 312 patients, of which 176 with disease duration ≤3 years. The presence of NPSs based on caregiver’s report was assessed by neuropsychiatric questionnaire (NPI). Patient's assessment of NPSs was examined by Hamilton’s Depression and Anxiety Scales and the Apathy Scale.

Results: The most common and severe NPS in AD are mood disorders/apathy, while in FTD and PSP symptoms from the agitation subsyndrome also play a significant role. The profile of NPSs in FTD and PSP is similar, but irritability and aberrant motor behavior are more pronounced in FTD, while sleep disturbances are dominant features of PSP. The prevalence of NPSs reported by caregivers on NPI was higher than that reported by patients.

Conclusions: FTD and PSP are characterized by more frequent and severe NPSs, and have distinct psychiatric patterns compared to AD, even in the early disease course. Caregiver’s observations of the patient’s behavior could be of key importance in distinguishing these tauopathies, particularly in the absence of hard motor and cognitive symptoms in early disease course. Assessments of depression, anxiety, and apathy by patients themselves and their caregivers differ significantly, and data from these two sources cannot be considered interchangeable and comparable.

Published
2024/09/10
Issue
Vol. 57 No. 3 (2024): Medicinska istraživanja
Section
Članci