A review of mood and anxiety disturbances in Alzheimer's disease : implications for treatment outcomes

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease was identified almost 100 years ago and cognitive morbidity (deterioration in memory, attention, language, and executive functioning) was regarded as a sufficient index for the description and diagnosis of this disease. Within the cognitive discourse, the importance of neuropsychiatric and neurobehavioural referents were often eschewed. In the light of recent research, which shows the profound impact of the non-cognitive symptoms on patient and caregiver, the author reviewed literature on the phenomenon of mood and anxiety disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease. The purpose of this paper is to review the studies on these disturbances in Alzheimer's disease, examine its prevalence, discuss its manifestation with reference to neuropathology, and elucidate the potential for pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to management of symptoms. With the majority of the world’s elderly population residing in the developing countries, some reflections on Alzheimer’s disease and the cultural expression of symptoms in an African setting is included.