Apathy in Dementia: Clinical and Sociodemographic Correlates

Abstract

The authors examine prevalence and the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of apathy in dementia. Apathy was assessed in 121 outpatients in a behavioral neurology clinic using the Informant and Clinician versions of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-I, AES-C). Apathy was found to be very prevalent across the dementias. Functional impairment, aberrant motor behavior, and irritability were associated with a greater likelihood of being apathetic upon evaluation with the AES-I. Additionally, with the AES-C, persons with dementia who lived with individuals other than their spouses were more likely to suffer apathy compared to those who lived with their spouses. These findings have clinical and research implications.