Moyra Mortby

Apathy is a common neuropsychiatric symptom linked to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Apathy is associated with increased functional and cognitive disability, reduced quality of life, increased progression from MCI to AD, earlier institutionalisation and more caregiver burden. While the brain structures associated with apathy in AD are well understood, little is known about them in MCI or people who do not meet the clinical criteria for dementia. With estimates predicting the worldwide incidence of AD to rise to 115.4 million people by 2050, it is vital to identify risk factors early and better understand how the development and progression of AD can be prevented. 

This project will investigate whether apathy in people who do not meet the clinical criteria for dementia is associated with changes to brain structures and whether these brain structures can help us to better understand how 1) apathy contributes to the risk of developing dementia; 2) treatment of apathy can be improved; and 3) the personal, emotional, social and financial burden of apathy can be reduced. A better understanding may provide a useful biomarker for earlier and more accurate AD diagnosis, improved understanding of apathetic symptom progression, and apathy-related increased dementia risk.

Dr Mortby spoke about her research in the Dementia News podcast.

Dr Mortby is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, at the Australian National University in Canberra.