26^th European Neurology Congress

Introduction: Dementia is one of the most common neurological disorders globally with cases expected to double by 2031 in Canada alone. Although memory loss is a hallmark symptom, neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and agitation are early markers. Mild behavioral impairment (MBI) is an at-risk state for dementia characterized by sustained neuropsychiatric symptoms. We developed the MBI checklist (MBI-C) to assess motivation, mood, impulse control, social appropriateness and perception in pre-dementia patients.

 

Methods: Th e MBI-C has been administered in the cognitive neuroscience clinic at the University of Calgary, Canada (n=227). We analyzed baseline MBI-C and gold standard neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire (NPI-Q) scores in relation to MoCA scores in normal cognition (n=38), mild cognitive impairment (n=93) and dementia (n=74) patients using linear regression.

 

Results: With increasing severity of cognitive diagnosis, neuropsychiatric symptoms worsen (MBI-C and NPI-Q scores increase) and cognition declines (MoCA score decreases). Th ose with worsened cognition tend to be older, female and have less education. We found for every one point increase in MBI-C score, there is a 0.082 point decrease in MoCA score (p=0.007). For every one point increase in NPI-Q score, there is a 0.192 point decrease in MoCA score (p=0.006). There is no modification but age and education are confounders.

 

Conclusion: Given that the MBI-C is more sensitive in detecting neuropsychiatric symptoms in pre-dementia populations, there is a shallower point change in MoCA score. Th e MBI-C may be used to detect neuropsychiatric symptoms in normal cognition and MCI patients. Both cognitive and behavioral scales should be used to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive decline in patients.