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Longitudinal Course of Behavioral Problems During Alzheimer's Disease

Linear Versus Curvilinear Patterns of Decline

^a Departments of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
^b Departments of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
^c Department of Gerontology, University of South Florida, Tampa

David L. Roth, Department of Psychology, 415 Campbell Hall, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 E-mail: droth{at}uab.edu.

Decision Editor: William B. Ershler, MD

Background. Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are commonly assumed to experience a linear decline in behavioral functioning that parallels progressive cognitive decline. However, some researchers have suggested that specific behavioral problems either decline at different rates or improve in late dementia.

Methods. The present analyses examined 150 AD patients at an initial assessment, 61 of whom were also evaluated annually on two additional occasions. Measures of cognitive impairment and behavioral problems were obtained.

Results. Cross-sectional results indicated curvilinear associations between dementia severity and certain behavioral problems (forgetful behaviors, and emotional and impulsive behaviors). Longitudinal analyses further indicated trends for curvilinear rates of behavioral disturbance across time, with some problem areas showing improvement as AD progresses through the most severe stages.

Conclusions. Even though Alzheimer's disease is a progressive dementia characterized by increasing cognitive deterioration, it appears to be inaccurate to expect behavioral functioning to show the same linear decline across time.

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