Functional near‐infrared spectroscopy detects brain changes for apathy and pain in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Study findings suggest that fNIRS may provide valuable biomarkers for apathy and depression in ADRD, with differential patterns based on cognitive function, suggesting neuropsychiatric symptoms may manifest differently depending on the patient's cognitive status. This could help clinicians better understand the severity and nature of neuropsychiatric symptoms and tailor interventions more effectively. Future studies should explore its utility in larger, diverse samples and clinical interventions targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms.