Are Premorbid Personality Traits Linked to the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Abstract

Background: The identification of the premorbid manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) usually is carried out retrospectively by eliciting information from caregivers. However, the study of subjects with familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) not yet affected by AD allows the direct identification of premorbid characteristics of the disease. Methods: This is a psychometric assessment of 3 mutated and 5 control subjects, belonging to an Italian family associated with a missense mutation linked to the presenilin 2 gene. The assessment included an evaluation of personality traits, cognitive and affective condition, social disabilities, experiential and familial context. Results: According to the MMPI, the mutated subjects did not show consistent personality traits. Also other questionnaires (HADS, WAIS, BDQ) were negative for definite cognitive or behavioural patterns. ApoE genotypes did not differentiate mutated from control subjects. Conclusions: Our results may be considered important for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of AD. The heuristic and practical importance of longitudinal prospective studies is emphasised.

Cognitive Deficits in Familial Alzheimer’s Disease Associated with M239V Mutation of Presenilin 2

“…While the results of the neuropsychological tests in this study provided a map of preserved and impaired brain functions, the assessment of personality and mood in the same family did not highlight any specific pattern [10] , preventing precise neuroanatomical correlation. Such discrepancies may reflect different specificity of neuropsychological and personality/mood assessment instruments, which can determine different cortical functions and explore limited limbic functions and even reflect reactive affects [12] .…”

“…In 1 patient belonging to the FLO10 family, dramatic psychopathological and behavioural disturbances began many years before the cognitive decline [9] . The attempt to pinpoint psychopathological changes preceding dementia was unsuccessful in the 3 non-demented carriers of the mutation, who did not show differences in affective and personality profiles in comparison with the non-carriers of the mutation belonging to the same family [10] . The present study was thought to define specific cognitive deficits associated with the mutation comparing the neuropsychological performances of 7 members (1 patient, 3 non-demented carriers of the mutation and 3 non-carriers of the mutation) of the FLO10 kindred.…”

Identification of New Presenilin Gene Mutations in Early-Onset Familial Alzheimer Disease

“…13 The family with this new PS2 mutation is characterized by long disease duration and a clinical course of mild cognitive impairment for several years before complete development of dementia. We previously described 14,15 an Italian family with a PS2 mutation with some family members severely affected by age 50 years and others with long-lasting mild memory complaints without other cognitive symptoms.…”