Frontotemporal dementia

Question 1

define, aetiology and RF of frontotemporal dementia/picks disease

Answer 1

Aetiology - atrophy of fronto-temporal regions
early onset 0 40-60y/o
60% sporadic, rest genetic

2 pathological causes - tau positive-hyperphosphorylated tau ( Picks, CBD, PSP)
and tau negative - FTLD with ubiquinqted inclusions)

Question 2

Sx of frontotemporal dementia/picks disease

Answer 2

classically -early onset dementia -> child like behaviour

but 3 presentations–
1-frontotemporal- frontal lobe sx (disinhbition, social/personality changes)
2- semantic- progressive loss of understanding of verbal and visual meaning
3- progressive non fluent aphasia- 1st naming issues, 2nd-mutism

Question 3

Mx and prognosis of frontotemporal dementia/picks disease

Answer 3

Biological -antidepressants help treat frontal lobe syndrome (SSRI)
psychosocial - same as AD -see alzheimers

might need more SALT, Physio and OT

prog -death in 5/10 years