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Apathy in Dementia: A Pilot Study Providing Insights from Neuropsychiatric and Radiological Perspectives
Özlem Totuk, Şevki Şahin. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025-03-08
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Apathy was significantly more prevalent in dementia and MCI patients compared to HC. However, there were no significant differences in apathy prevalence among dementia subtypes. Apathy showed no significant correlation with depression, anxiety, or cognitive performance. Notably, MRI analysis revealed a strong association between apathy and orbitofrontal (OF) sulci atrophy. Apathy is a critical symptom in dementia, linked to OF atrophy and presenting challenges in management. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating apathy assessments in clinical practice. Larger, longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the pathophysiology and management of apathy in dementia.
Key findings
- Apathy was significantly more prevalent in dementia and MCI patients compared to HC.
- However, there were no significant differences in apathy prevalence among dementia subtypes.
- Apathy showed no significant correlation with depression, anxiety, or cognitive performance.
- Notably, MRI analysis revealed a strong association between apathy and orbitofrontal (OF) sulci atrophy.
- Apathy is a critical symptom in dementia, linked to OF atrophy and presenting challenges in management.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional pilot study, apathy was more common in dementia and MCI patients than in healthy controls and was strongly associated with orbitofrontal sulci atrophy, with no significant correlation to depression, anxiety, or cognitive performance. The authors emphasize integrating apathy assessments into clinical practice and say larger, longitudinal studies are needed; this does not test any treatment.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants200
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Clinical Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Medicine: journal h-index 188 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 200 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Şevki Şahin: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi: institution h-index 161 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40142629) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/jcm14061822
- PubMed: 40142629
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Clinical Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Totuk, Ö., & Şahin, Ş. (2025). Apathy in Dementia: A Pilot Study Providing Insights from Neuropsychiatric and Radiological Perspectives. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14061822
Vancouver
Totuk Ö, Şahin Ş. Apathy in Dementia: A Pilot Study Providing Insights from Neuropsychiatric and Radiological Perspectives. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025. doi:10.3390/jcm14061822. PMID: 40142629.
BibTeX
@article{totuk2025-40142629,
author = {Totuk, Özlem and Şahin, Şevki},
title = {{Apathy in Dementia: A Pilot Study Providing Insights from Neuropsychiatric and Radiological Perspectives}},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/jcm14061822},
pmid = {40142629},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14061822}
}
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