Apathy: The Forgotten Symptom of Dementia

New data from the University of Exeter suggests that apathy is present in nearly half of people living with dementia, reports Medical Xpress . In spite of its prevalence among older adults with dementia, apathy is frequently forgotten in care settings where health professionals are focused on other, seemingly more immediate symptoms like aggression and the loss of memory. The researchers from the University of Exeter found that 45 percent of their study participants had apathy, while 20 percent reported persistent apathy over time. They also found that a significant number had apathy but not depression, and so theorized that apathy has a unique biological profile and can be fully separated from depression. Dr. Miguel de Silva Vasconcelos, who is affiliated with the University of Exeter, said that the study results may lead to an overdue re-examination of apathy in older adults living with dementia. "It can be overlooked because people with apathy seem less disruptive and less engaging, but it has a huge impact on the quality of life," he said.