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PET and SPECT in Psychiatry pp 731–742Cite as

SPECT and PET Imaging of Apathy

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Abstract

Apathy is a frequent behavioural syndrome which is now characterised by precise criteria. It can be found in various neurological diseases. In Alzheimer’s disease in particular, it is present at all stages and, in MCI patients, is a risk factor for conversion.

Anterior cingulate-subcortical circuit which originates from the anterior cingulate cortex in Brodmann’s areas (BA) 24 and 32 and projects to the limbic striatum, globus pallidus and thalamus is the anatomical support of motivated behaviour. Lesions of this cortico-subcortical circuit are responsible for apathetic syndromes.

SPECT perfusion studies first demonstrated in vivo the relationships between apathy and lesions of this circuit. FDG PET studies confirmed these findings in particular in AD. In degenerative diseases, apathy is generally related to anterior cingulate hypoperfusion or hypometabolism. This is a recognisable pattern for image interpretation.

In post-stroke patients, the situation is different, apathy being mostly due to lesions located at the subcortical levels of the circuit.

More neurotransmission imaging studies are necessary to complete the understanding of the pathophysiology of this syndrome and to participate to specific treatment developments.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Medicine Department, Centre Antoine Lacassagne. UMR CEA TIRO, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, 33 Avenue de Valombrose, 06189, Nice, France

    Jacques Darcourt & Renaud Guignard

  2. Memory Center CMRR – CHU Nice, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, 4 Avenue Reine Victoria, 06003, Nice, France

    Renaud David & Philippe Robert

Authors
  1. Jacques Darcourt
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  2. Renaud David
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  3. Renaud Guignard
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  4. Philippe Robert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacques Darcourt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Rudi A.J.O. Dierckx

  2. Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Applied Sciences Offenburg, Offenburg, Germany

    Andreas Otte

  3. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Erik F. J. de Vries

  4. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Aren van Waarde

  5. Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands

    Johan A. den Boer

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Darcourt, J., David, R., Guignard, R., Robert, P. (2014). SPECT and PET Imaging of Apathy. In: Dierckx, R., Otte, A., de Vries, E., van Waarde, A., den Boer, J. (eds) PET and SPECT in Psychiatry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40384-2_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40384-2_32

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