J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2013 Oct;17(2):69-73.

Neuroanatomical Correlation of Agitation/Aggression in Alzheimer's Disease

• Jung MS
• Lee YM
• Park JM
• Lee BD
• Moon ES
• Jeong HJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to identify the association between agitation/aggression and atrophy in specific brain areas in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
METHODS
Fifty six patients with mild or moderate AD participated in this study. Cognitive function was measured using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Agitation/aggression symptoms were measured using the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K-NPI). Atrophies of brain were analyzed using Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM).
RESULTS
Higher scores of agitation/aggression were correlated with the atrophy of left middle temporal, left fusiform, right middle temporal, left inferior temporal, right inferior temporal, left superior temporal, left middle occipital, right orbitofrontal, right superior frontal, left angular and right middle frontal gyrus (p<0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons, extent threshold=200 voxel).
CONCLUSION
Agitation/aggression was correlated with specific neuroanatomical changes in mild or moderate AD.

Keyword

Agitaion; Aggression; Neuroanatomy; Alzheimer's disease; Voxel based morphometry

MeSH Terms

Aggression
Alzheimer Disease*
Atrophy
Brain
Dementia
Humans
Neuroanatomy