Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Among Hispanics: Results of the Maracaibo Aging Study

Authors

Mario Gil, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Ney Alliey-Rodriguez, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Vincent P. Diego, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Ciro Gaona
Ledys Mata
Rosa V. Pirela, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Carlos A. Chavez
Gabriel A. de Erausquin, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Jesus D. Melgarejo, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Gladys E. Maestre, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-22-2021

Abstract

Background:

Neuropsychiatric symptoms play an important role in diagnosing and clinical follow-up of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Objective:

We investigated the relationship between neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment, and dementia in Hispanics.

Methods:

We included 529 participants (age ≥40 years) from the Maracaibo Aging Study with standardized neuropsychiatric assessments, including the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Based on the Clinical Dementia Rating and the Mini-Mental State Examination scores, participants’ cognitive status was categorized into normal cognition, mild/moderate, and severe cognitive impairment. Diagnosis of dementia was established in a consensus conference. Statistical analyses included multivariable logistic regression models and area under the curve (AUC).

Results:

The mean age of participants was 59.3 years, and 71.8% were women. The proportion of dementia was 6.8%. Disturbed sleep, anxiety, and depression were the most common neuropsychiatric symptoms in the study sample. In crude analyses, the proportions of hallucinations, aberrant motor behavior, agitation/aggression, apathy, delusions, irritability, eating disturbance, depression, and euphoria were differently distributed among cognitive status groups (p < 0.05). After accounting for confounders, aberrant motor behavior and agitation/aggression remained significantly associated with cognitive impairment and dementia (p < 0.05). The inclusion of the NPI domains significantly improved the AUC to discriminate severe cognitive impairment and dementia above of a basic model that included sex, age, education, alcohol, obesity, serum glucose, total cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke.

Conclusion:

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with severe cognitive impairment and dementia. The addition of NPI items to the global cognitive assessment might help early detection of dementia in primary care settings.

Comments

Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-201144

Recommended Citation

Gil, M., Alliey-Rodriguez, N., Lopez-Alvarenga, J. C., Diego, V., Gaona, C. A., Mata, L., Pirela, R. V., Chavez, C. A., de Erausquin, G. A., Melgarejo, J. D., & Maestre, G. E. (2021). Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Among Hispanics: Results of the Maracaibo Aging Study. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 82(s1), S251–S261. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-201144

Publication Title

Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD

DOI

10.3233/JAD-201144

Academic Level

faculty

Mentor/PI Department

Office of Human Genetics