Psychosis in a 40-year-old man as debut of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Introduction

Psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease has an incidence of ~ 10% per year. Recent work has focused on the presence of psychosis in people with mild cognitive impairment, as a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Objectives

To study a case of Alzheimer’s disease presenting psychotic symptoms

Methods

Retrospective review of clinical records and complementary test, including psychiatry, electrophysiology and neurology.

Results

A 40-year-old goes to the emergency room due to hetero-aggression at home. He says that his father steals his money and prostitues have been hired in his house. The patient is oriented, partially collaborative and approachable. Psychomotor restlessness is observed. He has self-referral delusions, auditory hallucinations and insomnia. Provisional diagnosis of acute psychotic episode made and low dose risperidone was prescribed. During his stay on the hospital Ward, sedation, recent memory alterations, spatio-temporal disorientation lack of initiative and disorganized behaviors appear. Risperidone is withdrawn and complementary test are performed. Imaging tests show temporal and frontal atrophy. Increased TAU protein and low levels of amyloid in CSF are found. Brain biopsy is +. His mother died of Alzheimer’s disease with 36 years-old and another affected brother with 42 yeras-old. The definitive diagnosis is Alzheimer’s disease and genetic studies are currently being carried out.

Conclusions

Psychiatric symptoms may be present in Alzheimer’s desease. It is mandatory to carry out an adequate organic screening before a late first psychotic episode.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.