Automatic MRI Quantifying Methods in Behavioral-Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis

Aims: We assessed the value of automated MRI quantification methods in the differential diagnosis of behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) from Alzheimer disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), and subjective memory complaints (SMC). We also examined the role of the C9ORF72-related genetic status in the differentiation sensitivity. Methods: The MRI scans of 50 patients with bvFTD (17 C9ORF72 expansion carriers) were analyzed using 6 quantification methods as follows: voxel-based morphometry (VBM), tensor-based morphometry, volumetry (VOL), manifold learning, grading, and white-matter hyperintensities. Each patient was then individually compared to an independent reference group in order to attain diagnostic suggestions. Results: Only VBM and VOL showed utility in correctly identifying bvFTD from our set of data. The overall classification sensitivity of bvFTD with VOL + VBM achieved a total sensitivity of 60%. Using VOL + VBM, 32% were misclassified as having LBD. There was a trend of higher values for classification sensitivity of the C9ORF72 expansion carriers than noncarriers. Conclusion: VOL, VBM, and their combination are effective in differential diagnostics between bvFTD and AD or SMC. However, MRI atrophy profiles for bvFTD and LBD are too similar for a reliable differentiation with the quantification methods tested in this study.

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Differential Lipid Mediator Involvement in the Different Forms of Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia: Novel Insights into Neuroinflammation

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-210559 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Aitana Sogorb-Esteve ◽

Romain A. Colas ◽

Jesmond Dalli ◽

Jonathan D. Rohrer

Keyword(s):

Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Docosapentaenoic Acid ◽

Lipid Mediators ◽

Lipid Mediator ◽

C9orf72 Expansion ◽

Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry ◽

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽

Mapt Mutation ◽

Homeostatic State

Background: The pathophysiology of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is poorly understood but recent studies implicate neuroinflammation as an important factor. However, little is known so far about the role of the resolution pathway, the response to inflammation that allows tissue to return to a homeostatic state. Objective: We aimed to measure the concentrations of lipid mediators including specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs) and proinflammatory eicosanoids in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of people with FTD. Methods: 15 people with genetic FTD (5 with C9orf72 expansions, 5 with GRN mutations, and 5 with MAPT mutations) were recruited to the study along with 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry techniques were used to measure the CSF concentrations of lipid mediators in the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), n-3 docosapentaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolomes. Results: Only the C9orf72 expansion carriers had higher concentrations of SPMs (DHA-derived maresins and DHA-derived resolvins) compared with controls. In contrast, GRN and MAPT mutation carriers had normal concentrations of SPMs but significantly higher concentrations of the proinflammatory AA-derived leukotrienes and AA-derived thromboxane compared with controls. Additionally, the C9orf72 expansion carriers also had significantly higher concentrations of AA-derived leukotrienes. Conclusion: This initial pilot study of lipid mediators provides a window into a novel biological pathway not previously investigated in FTD, showing differential patterns of alterations between those with C9orf72 expansions (where SPMs are higher) and GRN and MAPT mutations (where only proinflammatory eicosanoids are higher).

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Role of brain infarcts in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

Neurobiology of Aging ◽

10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.06.026 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (10) ◽

pp. 2861-2868 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Teresa Torralva ◽

Luciano A. Sposato ◽

Patricia M. Riccio ◽

Ezequiel Gleichgerrcht ◽

María Roca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Brain Infarcts

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Motor speech signature of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000004248 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 837-844 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Adam P. Vogel ◽

Matthew L. Poole ◽

Hugh Pemberton ◽

Marja W.J. Caverlé ◽

Frederique M.C. Boonstra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Speech Rate ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Precentral Gyrus ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Motor Speech ◽

Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Speech Timing ◽

Mri Scans

Objective:To provide a comprehensive description of motor speech function in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD).Methods:Forty-eight individuals (24 bvFTD and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy controls) provided speech samples. These varied in complexity and thus cognitive demand. Their language was assessed using the Progressive Aphasia Language Scale and verbal fluency tasks. Speech was analyzed perceptually to describe the nature of deficits and acoustically to quantify differences between patients with bvFTD and healthy controls. Cortical thickness and subcortical volume derived from MRI scans were correlated with speech outcomes in patients with bvFTD.Results:Speech of affected individuals was significantly different from that of healthy controls. The speech signature of patients with bvFTD is characterized by a reduced rate (75%) and accuracy (65%) on alternating syllable production tasks, and prosodic deficits including reduced speech rate (45%), prolonged intervals (54%), and use of short phrases (41%). Groups differed on acoustic measures derived from the reading, unprepared monologue, and diadochokinetic tasks but not the days of the week or sustained vowel tasks. Variability of silence length was associated with cortical thickness of the inferior frontal gyrus and insula and speech rate with the precentral gyrus.Conclusions:One in 8 patients presented with moderate speech timing deficits with a further two-thirds rated as mild or subclinical. Subtle but measurable deficits in prosody are common in bvFTD and should be considered during disease management. Language function correlated with speech timing measures derived from the unprepared monologue only.

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Cognitive Health Counseling 40+

Zeitschrift für Gesundheitspsychologie ◽

10.1026/0943-8149/a000085 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 24-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anne Eschen ◽

Franzisca Zehnder ◽

Mike Martin

Keyword(s):

Outcome Variable ◽

Pilot Phase ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Cognitive Health ◽

Health Counseling ◽

Agents Of Change ◽

Main Outcome Variable ◽

Further Development

This article introduces Cognitive Health Counseling 40+ (CH.CO40+), an individualized intervention that is conceptually based on the orchestration model of quality-of-life management ( Martin & Kliegel, 2010 ) and aims at improving satisfaction with cognitive health in adults aged 40 years and older. We describe the theoretically deduced characteristics of CH.CO40+, its target group, its multifactorial nature, its individualization, the application of subjective and objective measures, the role of participants as agents of change, and the rationale for choosing participants’ satisfaction with their cognitive health as main outcome variable. A pilot phase with 15 middle-aged and six older adults suggests that CH.CO40+ attracts, and may be particularly suitable for, subjective memory complainers. Implications of the pilot data for the further development of the intervention are discussed.

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