Vascular and Lewy body pathologies and vascular risk factors modify the risk of psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published November 30, 2015, in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Researchers reviewed a group of patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease who had neuropathology data, as well as a group of neuropathologically definite cases of Alzheimer’s disease. They investigated the relationships between psychosis and clinical variables, neuropathologic correlates, and vascular risk factors. In all, 1,073 participants were included in this study. A total of 34% of clinically diagnosed patients and 37% of neuropathologically definite cases had psychotic symptoms during their illness. Overall, Lewy body pathology, subcortical arteriosclerotic leukoencephalopathy, and vascular risk factors, including a history of hypertension and diabetes, were associated with the development of psychosis.
—Kimberly Williams