Does AD Presentation Vary by Age?

The first cognitive or behavioral symptom experienced by patients with Alzheimer disease vary in presentation, with younger patients increasingly experiencing nonmemory-related cognitive changes, according to a review of patients from the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center database.

Researchers used multinomial logistic regression to investigate Alzheimer presentation and age among 7,815 patients with the disease, and found: 

• Younger age is associated with increased odds of a nonmemory-related first cognitive symptom, such as impaired judgment, problem solving, language, and visuospatial function.

• Younger patients were also more likely to have depression or other behavioral symptoms.

• Older age was associated with a greater risk of psychosis, with no increase in behavioral symptoms. 

Citation: Barnes J, Dickerson B, Frost C, Jiskoot LC, Wolk D, van der Flier WM. Alzheimer's disease first symptoms are age dependent: evidence from the NACC data set. Alzheimers Dement. 2015. pii: S1552-5260(15)00117-X. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.12.007.