Leszek Bidzan, Mariola Bidzan

The influence of vascular factors on the psycho-pathological picture in Alzheimer s  Disease             79-84

Summary

Aim. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of vascular factors on the psychopathology of

Alzheimer's Disease.

Material. The study included 50 people with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease who met the following criteria: they agreed to take part in the study, they had a caregiver who could provide the researchers with all the necessary biographical details about their lives.

Methods. The patients were evaluated with the use of the following scales: Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale - cognitive part (ADAS - cog) and non-cognitive part (ADAS-ncog), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS), Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL). Additionally, patients were evaluated by means of the AMDP scale and Hachinski's Ischemic Scale, the score on which was the basis for dividing the study group into those patients who had a minor vascular component (score on Hachinski's scale was 0 - 1 points) and a major vascular component (2 - 4 points).

Results. Statistically significant differences were found between people who had a minor vascular component and those who had a major vascular component. These differences were related to somatic symptoms and orientation, thought disorders, emotional disturbances and "other" symptoms.

Conclusion. In summary, we must mention that the presence of vascular factors did affect the clinical profile in people diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Studies show that vascular factors do not exacerbate the depth of dementia itself but are related to the occurrence of non-cognitive symptoms.