A novel method for objective quantification of apathy based on gaze and physiological reactivity to stimuli presented in a virtual reality environment.
Ramit Ravona-Springer, Or Koren, Noam Galor, Michal Lapid, Yotam Bahat, Ronen Fluss, Meytal Wilf, Shlomit Zorani, Uri Rosenblum, Michal Schnaider Beeri, Meir Plotnik
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: We developed a tool for objective quantification of apathy.
Methods: Participants (n = 97; 67 with cognitive impairment, 30 cognitively normal; mean age = 74.3 ± 6.2 years, 56.7% females) were exposed to emotional and cognitive stimuli in a virtual reality environment. Gaze metrics (time to first fixation [TTFF] and total fixation duration [TFD]) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity were measured. Apathy and depression were clinically assessed using the Lille Apathy Rating Scale short version and the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version, respectively. Cutoffs of ≥ -7 and ≥ 5 were used to define apathy and depression, respectively.
Results: The sample comprised 14 participants with apathy only, 9 with depression only, 10 with both, 63 with neither, and 1 with missing data. For all emotional stimuli, participants with apathy only showed longer TTFF (P = 0.039, effect sizes [ES] = 0.798), and shorter TFD (P = 0.023, ES = 0.578) compared to those without apathy or depression. ANS reactivity was not associated with apathy.
Discussion: Apathy is associated with decreased gaze engagement at emotional stimuli.
Highlights: Apathy measurement via questionnaires is limited by subjectivity biases.Apathy measurement via questionnaires is limited by simplistic scoring.We present a novel method for objective measurement of apathy.Gaze characteristics reflect the emotional and cognitive components of apathy.
期刊介绍：
Alzheimer''s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring (DADM) is an open access, peer-reviewed, journal from the Alzheimer''s Association® that will publish new research that reports the discovery, development and validation of instruments, technologies, algorithms, and innovative processes. Papers will cover a range of topics interested in the early and accurate detection of individuals with memory complaints and/or among asymptomatic individuals at elevated risk for various forms of memory disorders. The expectation for published papers will be to translate fundamental knowledge about the neurobiology of the disease into practical reports that describe both the conceptual and methodological aspects of the submitted scientific inquiry. Published topics will explore the development of biomarkers, surrogate markers, and conceptual/methodological challenges. Publication priority will be given to papers that 1) describe putative surrogate markers that accurately track disease progression, 2) biomarkers that fulfill international regulatory requirements, 3) reports from large, well-characterized population-based cohorts that comprise the heterogeneity and diversity of asymptomatic individuals and 4) algorithmic development that considers multi-marker arrays (e.g., integrated-omics, genetics, biofluids, imaging, etc.) and advanced computational analytics and technologies.
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