Apathy associated with neurocognitive disorders: recent progress and future directions

Introduction: Apathy is common in neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. Although the definition of apathy is inconsistent in the literature, apathy is primarily defined as a loss of motivation and decreased interest in daily activities. Methods: The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Neuropsychiatric Syndromes Professional Interest Area (NPS-PIA) Apathy workgroup reviewed the latest research regarding apathy in NCDs. Results: Progress has recently been made in three areas relevant to apathy: (1) phenomenology, including the use of diagnostic criteria and novel instruments for measurement, (2) neurobiology, including neuroimaging, neuropathological and biomarker correlates, and (3) interventions, including pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, and noninvasive neuromodulatory approaches. Discussion: Recent progress confirms that apathy has a significant impact on those with major NCD and those with mild NCDs. As such, it is an important target for research and intervention. ; K.L.L. and P.B.R. are funded by the National Institute of Aging for “Apathy in Alzheimer’s Disease Methylphenidate Trial II (ADMET II)” (award number R01AG046543). Z.I. is funded by the Alzheimer Society Calgary, via the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. M.E.M. is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)— Australian Research Council (ARC) Dementia Research Development Fellowship (grant #1102028) and by an Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation (AADRF) grant (#13F00029). C.U.O. is supported by NIH/NIA grants P50AG05146 and U19AG033655, NIH/ NINDS grant 1U54NS092089-01, TRx 237-007 from Tau Therapeutics, the Jane Tanger Black Fund for YoungOnset Dementia Research, and the Robert and Nancy Hall family. This work was supported in part by the Department of Veterans Affairs (Merit Review Award, Dr. Sultzer). P.R.P. is funded by South Central VA Health Care Network Research Grant Program from ...