P01-383 - Relationships Between Executive-cognitive Performances and Apathetic Dimension in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Apathy could be considered as the reduction or loss of capacity to plan, organize and make emotionally motivated behaviours. It is related to an altered functioning of prefrontal cortex; and it can be found in many both psychiatric and neurological disorders, although temperamental traits of apathy could be identified also in healthy subjects.

Objectives

The aim of our study is to assess the degree of apathetic dimension in healthy subjects and its correlation with the cognitive-executive functioning.

Materials and methods

Healthy subjects of both sex (n=50) were evaluated with Wisconsin Card SortingTest (WCST), Stroop Color/Word InterferenceTest and AB-AC Test for the neurocognitive assessment; the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) was used to quantify the degree of apathy.

Results

Positive correlation between the degree of apathy and the number of WCST perseverations were observed (ρ=0.022), no correlations between the Stroop Test (ρ=0.702) and the AB-AC Test (ρ=0.448) with Apathy Evaluation Scale were observed.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that apathy is related to widespread prefrontal cortex functioning in healthy subjects, but not with specific areas of prefrontal cortex.