Frontal Lobe Degeneration and Alzheimers Disease: A Controlled Study on Clinical Findings, Volumetric Brain Changes and Quantitative Electroencephalography Data

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography findings in 28 patients with the clinical diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) were compared with the findings in a control group of 76 individuals without dementia or stroke. A pattern of frontal and temporal atrophy with predominantly frontal white matter changes was found in the FTD patients, and this was significantly different from the radiological findings in the control group. Six of the FTD patients have undergone autopsy. Histopathological evaluation showed a primary cortical degenerative disease (frontal lobe degeneration of non-Alzheimer type) in 3 of them, and primary white matter disorder, mainly frontal, of basically ischemic type (selective incomplete white matter infarction) in 3 of them. MRI could be a helpful tool to support the clinical diagnosis FTD, especially in young patients. MRI may also be helpful for the differentiation of a primary neurodegenerative from a mainly ischemic-vascular type of dementia.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histopathology in Dementia, Clinically of Frontotemporal Type

Larsson

Passant²,

Sundgren³

et al. 2000

“…However, few studies investigated relations between EEG parameters and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) [21][22][23][24][25] or structural abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) [26][27][28]. One study showed relations between EEG and cerebral blood flow in white matter in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of Quantitative Spectral Electroencephalography in Early Alzheimer’s Disease: Cognitive Function, Regional Cerebral Blood Flow, and Computed Tomography

Claus¹,

Visser²,

Bour³

et al. 2000

Electroencephalography (EEG) bands may have different clinical or physiological correlates at initial diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We studied 163 consecutive patients with probable (n = 105) and possible (n = 58) AD with measurements of cognitive function (CAMCOG), regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with single photon emission computed tomography using technetium-99m-labeled hexamethylpropylene amine oxime, and computed tomography (CT). Lower CAMCOG scores were significantly and most strongly associated with lower parieto-occipital and fronto-central alpha power. In a separate analysis of cognitive domains, disturbances in language, praxis, attention, and abstraction were also significantly and most consistently related to decrease in alpha power. Presence of cortical atrophy as measured on CT showed some statistically significant relations with EEG bands, but these associations were not consistent. Lower temporal and parietal rCBF were significantly related to lower parieto-occipital alpha activity. Presence of leukoaraiosis was significantly associated with lower beta values, but also with higher absolute theta and delta activity. The results suggest that alpha on EEG is most closely linked to cognitive function and rCBF, while beta and theta activity more likely reflect lower cortical or subcortical changes. Our study thus provides evidence that the EEG bands reflect differential pathophysiologic changes in AD.

“…In several studies language disturbances, such as lack of verbal spontaneity, anomia, and verbal stereotypes have been observed in the early stages of the disease [6,11,12]. Visuospatial abilities [9,13] and memory [8,13,14] are sometimes reported as relatively spared early in the disease course of FLD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive and Behavioral Differentiation of Frontal Lobe Degeneration of the Non-Alzheimer Type and Alzheimer’s Disease

Lindau

Almkvist

Johansson

et al. 1998

Neuropsychological differences between 14 patients with a clinical diagnosis of frontal lobe degeneration of non-Alzheimer type (FLD) and 15 patients with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were studied. The most efficient psychometric predictors of FLD were Digit Symbol, estimation tasks, word list recall, and particularly the FAS word fluency test. Behavioral predictors of FLD and AD showed a double dissociation: regression and impulsivity characterized FLD, whereas lack of motivation and slowness were typical of AD. Cognitive and behavioral differences between groups were not related to the degree of dementia, as measured by Mini Mental State Examination, indicating that differences remained during progression of the diseases.