Topiramate for abnormal eating behaviour in frontotemporal dementia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
• Behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) often presents with significant changes in eating habits and behavior.
• Abnormal eating behaviors in bvFTD can include hyperphagia, food fads, and pica.

Observation:

• This report details a case of a male patient diagnosed with bvFTD.
• The patient exhibited pronounced abnormal eating behaviors characteristic of bvFTD.
• These eating disturbances appeared to improve with the administration of topiramate.

Findings:

• Topiramate, an anticonvulsant medication, demonstrated a positive effect on the patient's abnormal eating behaviors.
• The study suggests a potential therapeutic role for topiramate in managing eating disturbances associated with bvFTD.
• The physiological basis of eating behavior in FTD and topiramate's mechanisms of action were explored.

Implications:

• Topiramate may offer a novel treatment strategy for managing eating disorders in FTD.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of topiramate for this indication.
• Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of eating behavior in FTD can guide future therapeutic interventions.