Data-driven analysis of regional brain metabolism in behavioral frontotemporal dementia and late-onset primary psychiatric diseases with frontal lobe syndrome: A PET/MRI study

Neurobiol Aging. 2024 Feb 3;137:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.01.015. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTLate-onset primary psychiatric disease (PPD) and behavioral frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) present with a similar frontal lobe syndrome. We compare brain glucose metabolism in bvFTD and late-onset PPD and investigate the metabolic correlates of cognitive and behavioral disturbances through FDG-PET/MRI. We studied 37 bvFTD and 20 late-onset PPD with a mean clinical follow-up of three years. At baseline evaluation, metabolism of the dorsolateral, ventrolateral, orbitofrontal regions and caudate could classify the patients with a diagnostic accuracy of 91% (95% CI: 0.81-0.98%). 45% of PPD showed low-grade hypometabolism in the anterior cingulate and/or parietal regions. Frontal lobe metabolism was normal in 32% of genetic bvFTD and bvFTD with motor neuron signs. Hypometabolism of the frontal and caudate regions could help in distinguishing bvFTD from PPD, except in cases with motor neuron signs and/or genetic bvFTD for which brain metabolism may be less informative.PMID:38422798 | DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.01.015
Source: Neurobiology of Aging - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: research