Regional cerebral blood flow in behavioral variant of FTD: hypoperfusion patterns and clinical associations

Findings from functional neuroimaging techniques, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), may add useful evidence improving Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate patterns of hypoperfusion in a group of patients diagnosed with the behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD) and to explore the relationship between brain perfusion and clinical characteristics.

Brain perfusion of 23 bvFTD patients was measured with SPECT scintigraphy in lobes and Brodmann areas (BAs) and the NeurogamTM software was used for image analysis. To assess behavioral disturbances and dementia severity, patients' informants completed the Frontotempotal Behavioral Inventory and the Frontotemporal Dementia Rating Scale. Descriptive statistics were used for the detection of pathological hypoperfusion in lobes and selected BAs. Associations among patients' clinical characteristics and perfusion in lobes were explored via non-parametric correlations.

Participants presented pathological hypoperfusion in frontal, limbic and temporal lobes. The most prominent deficit was observed in limbic lobes, where all participants showed pathological hypoperfusion. Decreased perfusion was also observed in limbic, frontal and temporal BAs. Perfusion in the left and right frontal lobe was associated with behavioral disturbances and disease severity, which was also correlated with perfusion in right limbic, left and right temporal areas.

Patterns of limbic, frontal and temporal hypopefusion were reported in the present study, along with associations between brain perfusion, behavioral disturbance and severity of dementia. Perfusion patterns can help to understand further associated brain biomarkers, contributing to early diagnosis and intervention in bvFTD.