Oxytocin for frontotemporal dementia: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder impacting social cognition and behavior.
• Current treatment options for FTD are limited, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic agents.
• Oxytocin, a neuropeptide, plays a crucial role in social behavior and bonding.

Approach:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating oxytocin in FTD.
• Comprehensive literature search across major biomedical databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane).
• Inclusion of RCTs published in any language, with additional searches of bibliographic databases.

Key Points:

• Two RCTs identified evaluating oxytocin for FTD.
• Oxytocin administration reduced the identification of negative facial expressions in one study.
• Both studies reported good tolerability and short-term improvements in behavioral symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Oxytocin shows potential for improving social cognition and behavioral symptoms in FTD.
• The neuropeptide is well-tolerated in individuals with FTD.
• Larger, longer-duration RCTs are required to establish evidence-based recommendations for oxytocin use in FTD.