Neurology Advisor (12/19, Saha) reported a study found that “early-emerging neuropsychiatric symptom patterns in older adults without cognitive impairment are strongly associated with differential risk for progression to mild cognitive impairment and dementia.” Using latent class analysis of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale items, “the researchers identified discrete neuropsychiatric phenotypes.” They found that “a total of 4 phenotypes emerged: low-all (71%), high-depression (17%), high-agitation, anxiety, and irritability (hAAI; 9%), and high-all (3%). Compared with the low-all phenotype, progression risk increased in a graded manner: High-depression (hazard ratio [HR], 1.41); hAAI (HR, 1.78); and High-all (HR, 2.48).” Researchers observed that “baseline cognition was lowest in the high-all and hAAI groups across multiple domains, and both phenotypes demonstrated reduced practice effects and faster decline in memory, attention, executive function, and language over follow-up. Neuropathologically, the hAAI phenotype was associated with greater amyloid burden compared with the low-all phenotype.” The study was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. (SOURCE: APA Headlines)