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Dementia of frontal lobe type
D Neary1, J S Snowden, B Northen
1Department of Neurology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Dementia of Frontal Lobe Type (DFT) presents distinct symptoms like personality changes and speech difficulties, differing from Alzheimer's disease. This condition, potentially linked to Pick's disease, may be more prevalent than previously thought.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- A notable percentage of presenile dementia cases attributed to primary cerebral atrophy are not Alzheimer's disease.
- Dementia of Frontal Lobe Type (DFT) is a distinct non-Alzheimer dementia characterized by specific neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings.
Observation:
- Seven patient case histories illustrate DFT, marked by social misconduct, personality changes, and disinhibition with minimal physical signs.
- Neuropsychological assessments revealed concrete speech, verbal stereotypes, variable memory deficits, and significant frontal lobe task abnormalities.
- Visuospatial impairments were consistently absent in these patients.
Findings:
- Qualitative distinctions were observed between DFT and Alzheimer's disease patients across clinical presentation, neurological signs, and cognitive profiles.
- Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) findings corroborated the frontal lobe dysfunction characteristic of DFT.
- EEG and demographic data also showed differences between DFT and Alzheimer's disease.
Implications:
- DFT may encompass certain forms of Pick's disease and could be more common than currently recognized.
- Understanding DFT's unique profile is crucial for accurate diagnosis and differential diagnosis in dementia patients.
- Further research into DFT prevalence and underlying pathology is warranted.