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Psychosis in Alzheimer’s Disease: a Review of Recent Research Findings

  • Geropsychiatry & Cognitive Disorders of Late Life (P Newhouse, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review paper is to examine the latest research findings in psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and to reconcile conflicting perspectives regarding whether psychotic symptoms should be considered individually (as delusions/hallucinations) or as a whole.

Recent Findings

AD patients with psychosis demonstrate accelerated onset of cognitive decline prior to the onset of psychosis and are at increased risk of conversion to AD, emphasizing the importance of early detection. Data from neurobiological studies, including imaging and neuropathological studies, suggest there may be merit in breaking down symptoms into delusions and hallucinations while epidemiologic and genetic studies suggest the opposite conclusion.

Summary

It is conceivable based on the research to date that genetic factors interact with neurodegeneration to create a vulnerability to the development of psychosis in AD. Future studies are required to clarify the specific mechanisms that lead to individual symptoms (delusions/hallucinations).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1T8, Canada

    Corinne E. Fischer

  2. Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada

    Corinne E. Fischer

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada

    Corinne E. Fischer

  4. Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Robert A. Sweet

  5. VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, USA

    Robert A. Sweet

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  1. Corinne E. Fischer
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Correspondence to Corinne E. Fischer.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Corinne E Fischer declares that she has no conflict of interest. Dr. Robert A. Sweet reports grants from NIH (# AG027224) and VHA (# BX000452), during the conduct of the study, and personal fees from AbbVie, outside the submitted work. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the United States Government.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geropsychiatry & Cognitive Disorders of Late Life

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Fischer, C.E., Sweet, R.A. Psychosis in Alzheimer’s Disease: a Review of Recent Research Findings. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 3, 308–317 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-016-0095-0

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