Study: Alzheimer Sufferers Develop Personality Change After Onset

Most Alzheimer's disease sufferers develop a change in their personality after symptoms of the disease appear, according to researchers at the University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Researchers studied 40 men and women over the age of 60 with Alzheimer's, giving their caregivers two tests to describe the patients' personalities before and after the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.

The tests listed a series of personality characteristics including shyness, easily upset by others, avoids going out, anxious about meeting people, eccentric, odd ideas, aloof, suspicious, blames others, defends others, moody, up and down, always gloomy, always optimistic, full of energy, houseproud, extremely conscientious, high standards, stubborn, perfectionist, a born worrier, worries easily, never relaxes, inadequate, cannot cope with life's normal demands, always ill, no energy, irresponsible, aggressive, cold and callous, always in trouble, impatient, dramatizes, unreliable, craves attention, over dependent and shallow.

The personality characteristics were divided into three groups: characteristics patients had before the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms but disappeared after the disease started; those that appeared for the first time after the development of Alzheimer's symptoms; and those that the patient had before and after the development of Alzheimer's symptoms.

Caregivers reported changes in personality in 37 out of the 40 patients. Eighteen out of 37 patients had characteristics of personality emerge for the first time after the development of Alzheimer's symptoms. Sixteen out of the 40 patients avoided going out after Alzheimer's symptoms began and 23 out of 40 became irresponsible.

Other sources: Encephalos