The effetcs of insomnia, apathy and depression on cognitive functions of alzheimer's patients and healthy elderly

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship and the nature of the relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and insommia, apathy and depression to able to asses whether insomnia, apathy and/or depression is a risk factor for AD. Determining the risk factors may allow for interventions to slown down the cognitive loss. This research has been conducted in Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat Üniversity Training and Research Hospital with AD patients and a healthy cohort. Research groups consist of 2 separate experimental groups (total of 32 participants) and 1 control group (20 participants). Participants have been evaulated by using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) and also mini-mental (MMSE) score has been calculated from ACE-R; Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES); LEVEL 2—Sleep Disturbance—Adult (PROMIS—Sleep Disturbance—Short Form). The statistical analyzes that conducted is independent t-test, Pearson correlation; simple linear regression analyze; MANOVA and MANCOVA analyze. Results: The cognitive scores are statistically significantly higher (p<0,001) in control group comparing to ATD groups. AES scores are statistically significantly higher (p<0,05) in ATD groups comparing to control group. PROMIS scores are statistically significantly higher in ATD-In group (p<0,05) and Non-In group (p<0,01) comparing to control group. MADRS scores are statistically significantly higher in ATD-In group (p<0,05) comparing to control group. Cognitive scores are statistically significantly different between groups based on CDR levels (p<0,01). The interaction of CDR-depression; CDR-insomnia; CDR-apathy scores are statistically significantly different between groups (p<0,05). Conclusion: According to results cognitive performances show differences based on the severity of insomnia, apathy and depression syptoms. The decreas in severity of apathy and depression succesfully preditcs the increase in cognitive performance. These results suggest to be sensitive to the symptoms of insomnia, apathy and depression for the geriatric populations in clinical settings.