Apathy can be an early symptom of dementia in some patients, research has suggested.
A Cambridge University-led study indicated that apathy, defined as a lack of interest or motivation, can begin in your mid-forties – decades before other symptoms of disease.
Spotting the early warning sign could allow doctors to diagnose the condition earlier and allow for pre-emptive treatment.
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A Cambridge University-led study indicated that apathy – defined as a lack of interest or motivation – can begin decades before other symptoms of dementia (stock)
The study's joint senior author, Professor James Rowe, of Cambridge's Department of Clinical Neurosciences, said that diagnosing the disease earlier would give a greater 'window of opportunity' to try to treat it.