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Stereotypical movements and frontotemporal dementia.
Mario F Mendez1, Jill S Shapira, Bruce L Miller
1Department of Neurology, University of California at Los Angeles, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. mmendez@ucla.edu
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients exhibit more stereotypical movements than Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. These movements, often compulsive-like, improved with sertraline, indicating a potential treatment avenue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Stereotypical movements are common in autism and intellectual disability.
- These movements can also manifest in dementia, especially frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of stereotypical movements in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- To investigate the characteristics and potential treatment of stereotypical movements in FTD.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) to 18 FTD patients and 18 AD patients.
- Assessed patients at initial presentation before antipsychotic medication.
- Observed for compulsive-like behaviors and response to sertraline.
Main Results:
- FTD patients showed significantly more stereotypical movements than AD patients.
- Observed behaviors included rubbing and self-injurious acts.
- All FTD patients with stereotypical movements exhibited compulsive-like behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Stereotypical movements are more prevalent in FTD than AD.
- Compulsive-like behaviors may share a pathophysiologic origin with stereotypical movements in FTD.
- Sertraline demonstrated efficacy in reducing stereotypical movements in most FTD patients.