Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

Original Research Article

Anosognosia in Very Mild Alzheimer’s Disease but Not in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Kalbe E.a · Salmon E.b · Perani D.c · Holthoff V.d · Sorbi S.e · Elsner A.a · Weisenbach S.a · Brand M.f · Lenz O.a · Kessler J.a · Luedecke S.d · Ortelli P.c · Herholz K.a

Author affiliations

aDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital, and Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Cologne, Germany; bCyclotron Research Centre, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium; cVita Salute San Raffaele University, and Department of Neurology San Raffaele-Ville Turro, Milan, Italy; dDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany; eDepartment of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; fDepartment of Physiological Psychology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany

Keywords: AnosognosiaSelf-awarenessInsightDementiaCognitive dysfunctionAlzheimer’s diseaseMild cognitive impairment

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Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2005;19:349–356
https://doi.org/10.1159/000084704

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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Research Article

Received: September 09, 2004
Published online: April 29, 2005
Issue release date: May 2005

Number of Print Pages: 8
Number of Figures: 2
Number of Tables: 3

ISSN: 1420-8008 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DEM

Abstract

Objective: To study awareness of cognitive dysfunction in patients with very mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A complaint interview covering 13 cognitive domains was administered to 82 AD and 79 MCI patients and their caregivers. The patient groups were comparable according to age and education, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were ≧24 in all cases. The discrepancy between the patients’ and caregivers’ estimations of impairments was taken as a measure of anosognosia. Results: Self-reports of cognitive difficulties were comparable for AD and MCI patients. However, while in comparison to caregivers MCI patients reported significantly more cognitive impairment (p < 0.05), AD patients complained significantly less cognitive dysfunctions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: While most MCI patients tend to overestimate cognitive deficits when compared to their caregiver’s assessment, AD patients in early stages of disease underestimate cognitive dysfunctions. Anosognosia can thus be regarded as a characteristic symptom at a stage of very mild AD (MMSE ≧24) but not MCI. Accordingly, medical history even in mildly affected patients should always include information from both patient and caregiver.

© 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel



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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Research Article

Received: September 09, 2004
Published online: April 29, 2005
Issue release date: May 2005

Number of Print Pages: 8
Number of Figures: 2
Number of Tables: 3

ISSN: 1420-8008 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DEM

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2005, Vol.19, No. 5-6

May 2005

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