Prevalence and Severity of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Early- Versus Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to compare neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in people with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) and late-onset AD (LOAD). Methods: Fifty-six participants with LOAD and 24 participants with EOAD having mild dementia were assessed for NPS for their frequency, severity, and caregiver distress as measured by Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI) along with assessments of cognition and functional dependence. Results: Participants with EOAD and LOAD were not significantly different for total NPI score (P =.057). Early-onset Alzheimer disease had greater prevalence of all the NPS except apathy. Participants with EOAD were significantly worse on anxiety (P =.03), irritability (P =.01), and sleep (P