Frontotemporal Dementia Flashcards
1
Q
What is frontotemporal dementia?
A
A primary neurodegenerative condition characterised by progressive illness with behaviour changes and language problems
2
Q
What are the risk factors for FTD?
A
- Family history: mutations in MAPT gene or GRN gene (Autosomal dominant inheritance)
3
Q
What is the pathophysiology of FTD?
A
- Symmetrical atrophy of frontal lobes with some temporal lobe involvement
- Histology shows Tau inclusion bodies and inclusions of FTLD-U
4
Q
How does FTD present?
A
- Behavioural changes including apathy, disinhibition, loss of empathy, decline in social conduct
- Difficulty with speech including aphasia, language difficulty, object naming
- Decline in planning and concentration
- Short term memory problems
- Behaviour/Speech problems normally picked up before memory decline which helps differentiate from other dementias
5
Q
How should FTD be investigated?
A
- Full screen: FBC, TFTs, LFTs, B12/Folate, U+Es
- Cognitive testing: MMSE, MoCA
- CT/MRI may show atrophy
6
Q
How should FTD be managed?
A
- Specialist management
- Patient and family education
- First line: non pharm therapy including group therapy
- Benzos used for acute distress
- SSRI for associated mood problems, irritability
- Acetylcholinterase/Memantine NOT recommended
