The clinical pathological correlates of lobar atrophy

Three clinical syndromes associated with fronto-temporal cerebral atrophy, studied in one centre are discussed: dementia of frontal type (DFT), DFT and motor neurone disease (MND) and progressive aphasia (PA). The pathological findings in DFT (13 brains), DFT and MND (5 brains) and PA (5 brains) permit a number of clinical pathological groupings. The nosological status of fronto-temporal atrophy is discussed with reference to the literature and it is suggested that a common underlying pathology, including Picks disease as strictly defined by the presence of inclusion bodies, underlies the clinical syndromes, each being determined by the anatomical distribution of the pathology.