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Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia in a 23-year-old man
Tania C Ghazarian1,2, Matthew G H Hall3, Leslie A Horton4,5
1College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA.
Neurocase
|March 31, 2023
Summary
A young man initially diagnosed with psychosis and schizophrenia later developed severe frontotemporal dementia. Imaging revealed progressive brain atrophy, highlighting diagnostic challenges in early-onset neurodegenerative diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Early-onset behavioral changes can mimic psychiatric disorders.
- Distinguishing between primary psychiatric conditions and neurodegenerative diseases is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- A 23-year-old man presented with behavioral disinhibition, apathy, and affect changes, initially diagnosed as unspecified psychosis and later schizophrenia.
- Serial CT and MRI scans revealed progressive generalized and frontotemporal cerebral atrophy.
Findings:
- The patient was ultimately diagnosed with probable behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) after initial misdiagnoses.
- Despite genetic testing, no definitive disease-causing variants were identified, complicating the etiological understanding.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering neurodegenerative etiologies in young adults with unexplained behavioral and cognitive decline.
- It highlights the potential for misdiagnosis and delayed treatment when psychiatric and neurological symptoms overlap.
- Further research is needed to improve early detection and diagnostic criteria for bvFTD in younger populations.
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