Neuropsychiatric symptoms and comorbidity: Associations with dementia progression rate in a memory clinic cohort

Objectives Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are associated with dementia severity and progression rate. NPS clusters have different neurobiological underpinnings; therefore, their effect on may differ. Further, little is known about whether individual comorbidities affect We investigated the of progression. Methods A memory clinic cohort all-cause (N = 442), was followed for up to three years from diagnosis. Previously, we found trajectory groups in this cohort: one slow two rapid In present study, using principal component analysis, symptom were Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q): agitation, affective, psychosis clusters. Data regarding comorbidity collected by linkage Norwegian patient registry. Multinomial logistic regression applied explore association between trajectory-group membership. Results Adjusted demographics, aetiology, comorbidity, cognition, that, at time diagnosis, every point within cluster NPI-Q, risk increased 53%; affective cluster, 29%. previous diagnosis mental behavioural disorders (excluding dementia) decreased 65%. Conclusions Psychosis dementia. Previous diagnoses This article protected copyright. All rights reserved.