Background: The rate of cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) changes across individuals. Objectives: Our purpose was to assess whether the concept of "fast decline" really fits its definition and whether cognitive and functional variables at onset can predict the progression of AD. Methods: 324 AD patients were included. We retrospectively examined their Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) total score and sub-items, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) at baseline and every six months for a 4-year follow-up. Patients were divided into "fast decliners" (n = 62), defined by a loss â¥5 points on the MMSE score within the first year from the baseline; "intermediate decliners" (n = 37), by a loss â¥5 points after the first year and before the 18th month; or "slow decliners" (n = 225), composed of the remaining patients. Results: At baseline, the groups did not differ on demographic, clinical, and cognitive variables. The decline at the end of the 4-year follow-up period seems to be similar among the different decline clusters. Predictors of disease progression have not been identified; only the MMSE total score at 12 months <14/30 was indicative of a poor prognosis. Conclusions: Even with the limitation due to the small sample size, the lack of differences in the disease progression in time in the different clusters suggest the inconsistency of the so-called "fast decliners". This study was unable to show any significant difference among clusters of AD progression within a 4-year time interval. Further studies should better clarify whether a more consistent distinction exists between slow and fast decliners.
The Progression of Alzheimer's Disease: Are Fast Decliners Really Fast? A Four-Year Follow-Up / Barocco, Federica; Spallazzi, Marco; Concari, Letizia; Gardini, Simona; Pelosi, Annalisa; Caffarra, Paolo. - In: JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. - ISSN 1387-2877. - 57:3(2017), pp. 775-786. [10.3233/JAD-161264]
The Progression of Alzheimer's Disease: Are Fast Decliners Really Fast? A Four-Year Follow-Up
BAROCCO, Federica;SPALLAZZI, Marco;CONCARI, Letizia;GARDINI, Simona;PELOSI, Annalisa;CAFFARRA, Paolo
2017-01-01
Abstract
Background: The rate of cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) changes across individuals. Objectives: Our purpose was to assess whether the concept of "fast decline" really fits its definition and whether cognitive and functional variables at onset can predict the progression of AD. Methods: 324 AD patients were included. We retrospectively examined their Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) total score and sub-items, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) at baseline and every six months for a 4-year follow-up. Patients were divided into "fast decliners" (n = 62), defined by a loss â¥5 points on the MMSE score within the first year from the baseline; "intermediate decliners" (n = 37), by a loss â¥5 points after the first year and before the 18th month; or "slow decliners" (n = 225), composed of the remaining patients. Results: At baseline, the groups did not differ on demographic, clinical, and cognitive variables. The decline at the end of the 4-year follow-up period seems to be similar among the different decline clusters. Predictors of disease progression have not been identified; only the MMSE total score at 12 months <14/30 was indicative of a poor prognosis. Conclusions: Even with the limitation due to the small sample size, the lack of differences in the disease progression in time in the different clusters suggest the inconsistency of the so-called "fast decliners". This study was unable to show any significant difference among clusters of AD progression within a 4-year time interval. Further studies should better clarify whether a more consistent distinction exists between slow and fast decliners.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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