Regional cerebral blood flow in behavioral variant of FTD: hypoperfusion patterns and clinical associations.

Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: Italy NLM ID: 0247035 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2240-2993 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03009009 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Acta Neurol Belg Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2012- : Milan : Springer
Original Publication: 1970-2011: Bruxelles : Acta Medica Belgica,

Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Frontotemporal Dementia*/diagnostic imaging ; Frontotemporal Dementia*/physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation*/physiology; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Brain/diagnostic imaging ; Brain/blood supply ; Brain/physiopathology

Background: Findings from functional neuroimaging techniques, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), may add useful evidence improving Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate patterns of hypoperfusion in a group of patients diagnosed with the behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD) and to explore the relationship between brain perfusion and clinical characteristics.
Materials and Methods: Brain perfusion of 23 bvFTD patients was measured with SPECT scintigraphy in lobes and Brodmann areas (BAs) and the NeurogamTM software was used for image analysis. To assess behavioral disturbances and dementia severity, patients' informants completed the Frontotempotal Behavioral Inventory and the Frontotemporal Dementia Rating Scale. Descriptive statistics were used for the detection of pathological hypoperfusion in lobes and selected BAs. Associations among patients' clinical characteristics and perfusion in lobes were explored via non-parametric correlations.
Results: Participants presented pathological hypoperfusion in frontal, limbic and temporal lobes. The most prominent deficit was observed in limbic lobes, where all participants showed pathological hypoperfusion. Decreased perfusion was also observed in limbic, frontal and temporal BAs. Perfusion in the left and right frontal lobe was associated with behavioral disturbances and disease severity, which was also correlated with perfusion in right limbic, left and right temporal areas.
Conclusion: Patterns of limbic, frontal and temporal hypopefusion were reported in the present study, along with associations between brain perfusion, behavioral disturbance and severity of dementia. Perfusion patterns can help to understand further associated brain biomarkers, contributing to early diagnosis and intervention in bvFTD.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declared no other potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Ethical approval: The study protocol was approved by the Bioethics and Ethics Committee of School of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The study was conducted in accordance with the APA ethical standards and the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants gave written informed consent to participate.
(© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Belgian Neurological Society.)

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50177/602657 Research Committee of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Keywords: Behavioral disturbance; Behavioral variant,; Disease severity; Frontotemporal dementia,; Regional cerebral blood flow; SPECT

Date Created: 20241025 Date Completed: 20241204 Latest Revision: 20241204

20241204

10.1007/s13760-024-02584-z

39453559