Apathy in small vessel cerebrovascular disease is associated with deficits in effort-based decision making.

ABSTRACT: Patients with small vessel cerebrovascular disease frequently suffer from apathy, a debilitating neuropsychiatric syndrome, the underlying mechanisms of which remain to be established. Here we investigated the hypothesis that apathy is associated with disrupted decision making in effort-based decision making, and that these alterations are associated with abnormalities in the white matter network connecting brain regions that underpin such decisions. Eighty-two patients with MRI evidence of small vessel disease were assessed using a behavioural paradigm as well as diffusion weighted MRI. The decision-making task involved accepting or rejecting monetary rewards in return for performing different levels of physical effort (hand grip force). Choice data and reaction times were integrated into

SUBMITTER: Saleh Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8240747 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature