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Neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease
Teng E, Lu PH, Cummings JL.. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 2007-08-14
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background Neuropsychiatric disturbances are common in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Depression and apathy may identify a subset of MCI subjects at higher risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains uncertain whether a broader spectrum of psychopathology is associated with progression to AD. Methods Fifty-one MCI subjects were assessed for neuropsychiatric symptoms using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Subjects were followed for an average of 2 years. Twelve subjects (23.5%) progressed from MCI to possible/probable AD and 39 subjects (76.5%) remained stable or improved. Baseline Neuropsychiatric Inventory indices were compared between groups. Results Subjects progressing to AD had a significantly higher prevalence of psychopathology than subjects who remained stable or improved (100 vs. 59%). Depression (67 vs. 31%) and apathy (50 vs. 18%) were more common in subjects who were later diagnosed with AD. After statistical adjustments for other baseline demographic variables, these specific symptoms were less robust predictors of progression to AD than the presence of any psychopathology. Conclusions These findings suggest that neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI are a predictor of progression to AD. Depression and apathy appear to be most useful for identifying MCI subjects at highest risk of developing dementia.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Teng, E., Lu, P. H., & Cummings, J. L. (2007). Neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. https://doi.org/10.1159/000107100
Vancouver
Teng E, Lu PH, Cummings JL. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. 2007. doi:10.1159/000107100. PMID: 17700021.
BibTeX
@article{teng2007-17700021,
author = {Teng, E. and Lu, P. H. and Cummings, J. L.},
title = {{Neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1159/000107100},
pmid = {17700021},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000107100}
}
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Key findings
- Depression and apathy may identify a subset of MCI subjects at higher risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- However, it remains uncertain whether a broader spectrum of psychopathology is associated with progression to AD.
- Results Subjects progressing to AD had a significantly higher prevalence of psychopathology than subjects who remained stable or improved (100 vs. 59%).
- Conclusions These findings suggest that neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI are a predictor of progression to AD.
Why it matters
In this small study of 51 people with mild cognitive impairment, those who progressed to Alzheimer's disease were more likely to have neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression and apathy at baseline. The authors suggest these symptoms may help identify people at highest risk, but this does not show that treating the symptoms prevents dementia.
Study details
- Participants39
- Effect size23.5%; 76.5%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders: journal h-index 149 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 39 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 209 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.0 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Jeffrey L. Cummings: h-index 175 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, Los Angeles: institution h-index 1,923 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17700021) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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