Psychometric Properties of the Greek Apathy Evaluation Scale Clinician Version (AES-C) in MCI Patients and Cognitively Healthy Older Adults

Apathy is a neuropsychiatric symptom that is present in various disorders, including dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Patients with MCI who exhibit symptoms of apathy are at a higher risk of progressing to dementia compared to those with depressive symptoms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the clinician-rated version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-C) in a Greek sample of MCI patients and healthy older adults. The translation and adaptation of the scale were conducted using the forward–backward method. The final sample consisted of 100 participants, 14 men (n = 14) and 86 women (n = 86), with a mean age of 72 years. Participants were administered the translated and adapted version of the AES-C, as well as the Greek version of the Beck Depression Inventory. In terms of reliability, Cronbach’s alpha was found to be high (α = 0.91), indicating excellent internal consistency. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed a one-factor solution with a very good model fit (RMSEA = 0.018, CFI = 0.985, TLI = 0.983, SRMR = 0.076). The AES-C can serve as an important addition to neuropsychological assessment for detecting apathy symptoms in patients with MCI, thereby contributing to the early prognosis of dementia.