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Right Temporal Lobe Atrophy: A Case That Initially Presented as Excessive Piety
D Erik Everhart1, Eric M Watson1, Kelly L Bickel1
1a Department of Psychology , East Carolina University , Greenville , NC , USA.
The Clinical Neuropsychologist
|November 6, 2015
Summary
This case study highlights a rare variant of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) characterized by right temporal lobe atrophy (RTLA). It underscores the importance of assessing affect processing for diagnosing FTLD subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) presents with diverse clinical, pathological, and neuroanatomical features.
- Emerging research suggests a rare variant involving focal atrophy of the right temporal lobe (RTLA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To present case data and discussion of an individual with RTLA.
- To aid in the conceptualization of this specific FTLD variant.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of a 60-year-old male with RTLA.
- Assessment of behavioral, psychiatric, and personality changes including hyper-religiosity, depression, and social disinhibition.
- Neuropsychological evaluation focusing on affect processing and emotion recognition.
Main Results:
- The patient exhibited hallmark behavioral and psychiatric features, with personality alterations initially overlooked due to his profession.
- Severe impairment in emotion recognition and prosopagnosia were observed, exceeding deficits in traditional cognitive measures.
- Cognitive deficits were also noted alongside severe affect processing impairments.
Conclusions:
- This case supports the existence of an FTLD right temporal lobe variant.
- Highlights the critical role of neuropsychological evaluation of affect processing in FTLD diagnosis and treatment planning.
