Apathy in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: Results From A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose:

Here we evaluate an interdisciplinary occupational and sport therapy intervention for dementia patients suffering from apathy.

Subjects and methods:

A prospective, controlled, rater-blinded, clinical trial with two follow-ups was conducted as part of a larger cluster-randomized trial in 18 nursing homes in Berlin. n = 117 dementia patients with apathy, defined as a score of 40 or more on the apathy evaluation scale (AES) or presence of apathy on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), were randomly assigned to intervention or control group. The intervention included 10 months of brief activities, provided once a week. The primary outcome measure was the total score on the AES scale measured directly after the intervention period and again after 12 months.

Results:

We found significant group differences with respect to apathy during the 10 month intervention period (F2,82 = 7.79, P < 0.01), which reflected an increase in apathy in the control group, but not in the intervention group. Within one year after the intervention was ceased, the treatment group worsened and no longer differed significantly from the control group (P = 0.55).

Conclusions:

Our intervention was effective for the therapy of apathy in dementia, when applied, but not one year after cessation of therapy.

Effect of music intervention on apathy in nursing home residents with dementia

This study examined the effectiveness of group music intervention in the treatment of nursing home residents with apathy. Apathy can clinically defined with a score of 40 or above on the apathy evaluation scale (AES). Seventy-seven residents were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group was given a music intervention programme, which included listening to traditional music, including nostalgic songs, and playing musical instruments three times a week, for a total of twelve weeks. Results demonstrated a decrease in apathy scores in the intervention group (z = 4.667, P <0.01), but not in the control group (z = -1.810, P > 0.05). Cognitive function, as assessed by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, was stable in the intervention group (t = 1.720, P > 0.05), but declined in the control group (t = -1.973, P <0.05). We conclude that music intervention has the potential to be an effective therapy for the treatment of apathy in the early stages of dementia.

Apathy in Dementia Care

Abstract. Apathy is a diminished goal-directed behavior stemming from a lack of motivation. It is one of the most common symptoms in dementia. While the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) has proved to be a psychometrically robust measure for assessing apathy, the German version (AESD) requires further validation. Associations of apathy with important variables in dementia care, such as cognitive impairment or caregiver burden, were repeatedly found, though contradictory findings have also been reported. The present study assessed apathy in 100 community-dwelling persons with dementia. Their informal and formal caregivers used the German informant version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AESD-I) to investigate the severity of dementia and cognitive deficits as measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), respectively. A reliability analysis was performed to estimate the internal consistency of the AESD-I, and the data were tested for potential correlations with results from a shortened version of the AESD-I (AESD16-I). Cronbach’s α was .880 for the AESD-I and .904 for the AESD16-I. The prevalence of apathy was 77%, its severity was on average moderate to high. Significant (p < .05) negative correlations were shown between the AESD16-I, the Barthel Index (BI), and the Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD). Correlations between the AESD16-I, GDS, and Zarit Burden Interview were positive. After Bonferroni correction, the only correlations that remained significant were between the AESD16-I and BI and QOL-AD. The present study underlines the favorable psychometric properties of the AESD-I and confirms the high prevalence of apathy with considerable severity in the sample of community-dwelling persons with dementia. In addition, it contributes to the diversity of evidence on clinical correlates of apathy which require further clarification.