Apathy and the Brain

Apathy is defined as an absence or suppression of passion, emotion or excitement. For patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia this is one of the most common psychological problems. Determining if this symptom is medical or emotional has been a question scientists have been trying to answer. The Sahlgrenska Academy and University Hospital in Sweden revealed a patient study that concluded dementia patients with certain types of changes in the brain’s white matter are more likely to exhibit signs of apathy.

Changes in the brain’s white matter appear as blurred patches on CT and MRI images and are common among the elderly and dementia patients. These changes impact the neural pathways that run from this part of the brain to frontal lobes which control initiative and the ability to plan. The study involving 176 Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, 82 percent with changes in their white matter exhibited signs of apathy and just over half of the dementia patients suffer from lack of motivation. This study implies that indifference was far more common in patients with the white matter brain characteristics, suggesting that there may be a biological reason behind apathy.

Michael Jonsson, consulting psychiatrist at the University’s hospital’s memory clinic, says “Even though we think we know a bit about which pathways are affected in cases of apathy, we still need to find out more about the anatomy and chemistry behind the development of these symptoms. This is vital if we are to develop medication to treat apathy.”

Apathy reduces a patient’s quality of life. In combination with engaging and stimulating activities, perhaps medication can one day help cure the apathy of dementia patients and allow them to fully enjoy the remaining years of their life to its fullest potential.