학술논문

Apathy as Marker of Frail Status.
Document Type
Article
Source
Journal of Aging Research. 2012, p1-5. 5p. 1 Diagram.
Subject
*BRAIN anatomy
*COGNITION
*EMOTIONS
*FRAIL elderly
*HEALTH status indicators
Language
ISSN
2090-2204
Abstract
Frailty is a complex and dynamic condition associated with aging. This condition is characterised by the difficult adaptation of an old subject to new challenges occurring during life. Frailty is supposed to be due to the progressive decrease of physiological reserves and multiorgan and multisystem change. It coincides with a reduced or absent resilience. In general comorbidities like hypertension, heart disease, inflammation and infectious diseases are potential risk factors for and psychophysical decline. The aim of this work is to highlight the importance of impaired cognition as factor predisposing to frailty. The authors are convinced and suggest that the presence of neurobehavioral disturbance like apathy associated to impaired executive function could be the major predisposing factor for frailty and unsuccessful aging. Unfortunately available literature largely underestimates the presence of these factors. Thus to better identify markers of frailty, a good neuropsychological assessment and the evaluation of behavioural disturbances are suggested [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]