Work

Neurobiology of apathy in Alzheimer's disease

Year: 2008

Type: review

Abstract: Apathy is considered the most frequent neuropsychiatric disturbance in dementia and its outcome is generally deleterious. Apathy can be related to a dysfunction of the anatomical-system that supports the generation of voluntary actions, namely the prefrontal cortex and/or the prefrontal-subcortical circuits. In Alzheimer's disease, pathological and neuroimaging data indicate that apathy is likely due to a dysfunction of the medial prefrontal cortex. Accordingly, in this review article, we propose a pathophysiological model to explain apathetic behavior in Alzheimer's disease, combining data from neuroimaging, neuropathology and experimental research on the role of orbito-frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, basal ganglia and dopamine in decision-making neurobiology.

Source: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria

DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x2008000300035

Authors: Henrique Cerqueira Guimarães, Richard Levy, Antônio Lúcio Teixeira, Rogério Gomes Beato, Paulo Caramelli

Institutions: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $200