Let me tell you, folks, we’ve got something huge here. We’re talking about the big, big problem of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and how they’re not just annoying little things. No, they’re big red flags for dementia and other brain issues like Alzheimer’s, cerebrovascular disease, and Parkinson’s. We took a deep, deep dive into this, looking at people with these conditions right at the start and then again two years later. And let me tell you, we checked everything – how thick their brain parts were, how big some parts were, the whole nine yards.

Now, here’s what we found – and it’s incredible. If you’re losing your appetite or feeling apathetic, it’s not just in your head. Well, actually, it is – because those feelings are tied to some very specific brain circuits getting thinner or smaller, especially in folks with mild cognitive impairment or cerebrovascular disease. And it gets even more interesting over time. Changes in how apathetic someone feels? It’s linked to changes in their brain, particularly in those with mild cognitive impairment.

But wait, there’s more. In people with cerebrovascular disease, if they’re getting more agitated or having trouble at night, it’s connected to these brain circuits we’re talking about. And in Parkinson’s? Changes in disinhibition and apathy are actually linked to how these brain circuits are doing.

So, what’s the bottom line here? It’s that these symptoms are a big deal. They’re not just passing issues; they’re signs of what’s happening in the brain. And this study – it’s huge, folks – shows us that we need to keep looking at these changes over time to really understand what’s going on. It’s clear, we’ve got to do more of these longitudinal studies to get the real picture. And let me tell you, it’s going to be huge for understanding and eventually tackling these diseases.