Use of Actigraphy to Measure Symptoms of Agitation in Dementia

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019 Aug;27(8):865-869. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2019.02.013. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and validity of actigraphy as a measurement of agitation in dementia.

Methods: Participants aged 65 and older, diagnosed with dementia, residing in a geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit or long-term care facility were included in a cross-sectional study. Agitation was assessed using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Actigraphy was measured over seven days and compared across groups categorized as low or high agitation based on a CMAI cutoff score of 50.

Results: Twenty participants were enrolled (mean age = 74.3 years, standard deviation [SD] = 8.69). The 24-hour mean motor activity as measured with actigraphy was significantly different between the low and high agitation groups (180.23, SD = 86.34 versus 81.51, SD = 30.29, Z = 2.29; p = 0.02). Most actigraph variables had significant correlations with CMAI and NPI scores.

Conclusion: Actigraphy was highly correlated with informant-based methods for measuring agitation in individuals with dementia and actigraphy may be useful tool for measuring agitation.

Keywords: Dementia; actigraphy; agitation; measurement; neuropsychiatric.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actigraphy / standards*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Dementia / complications
  • Dementia / diagnosis*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / diagnosis*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / etiology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index*