Soonchunhyang Med Sci.  2011 Dec;17(2):72-74.

The Characteristics of Capgras Syndrome in Patients Diagnosed as Probable Alzheimer Disease

• Jang IM
• Roh H
• Ahn MY
• Yang YS
• Na HR
• Kim SY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We assessed the characteristics of Capgras syndrome in patients diagnosed as probable Alzheimer disease, and compared the clinical and imaging findings with other previous reports.
METHODS
We obtained medical records of patients with Capgras syndrome diagnosed as probable Alzheimer disease in three hospitals from March 2009 to March 2010. The basic characteristics, neuropsychologic tests, brain imaging data were investigated.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 74.7 years old and all of the patients experienced this syndrome in relation to a spouse. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed mild-to-moderate global atrophy, variable hippocampal atrophy in this study. The Mini-Mental State Examination mean scores were 18.78 and clinical dementia rating scores were from 1 to 2. All of the patients took medicine of acetycholine esterase inhibitors and two patients recovered with antipsychotic medication. Five patients had showed continuous Capgras syndrome, at the last follow-up day, for a year.
CONCLUSION
Capgras syndrome patients in this study who were diagnosed as probable Alzheimer disease showed similar results to the individuals from other reports. More study is needed to estimate the numbers and characteristics of patients with this syndrome.

Keyword

Capgras syndrome; Dementia; Alzheimer disease

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease
Atrophy
Brain
Capgras Syndrome
Dementia
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical Records
Neuroimaging
Neuropsychological Tests
Spouses