Geriatrics - Frontotemporal Lobal Degeneration Flashcards
What are the three different types of frontotemporal lobal degeneration?
- Frontotemporal dementia (Pick’s disease)
- Progressive non-fluent aphasia (chronic progressive aphasia)
- Semantic dementia
What are the common features of frontotemporal lobar dementias?
- Gradual onset before 65
- Relatively preserved memory and visuospatial skills
- Personality change and social conduct problems
What is the most common frontotemporal lobal degeneration?
Pick’s disease
What are the symptoms of Pick’s disease?
PICKS Disease
- Preservation behaviours
- Increased appetite
- Change in personality
- Keep putting everything in mouth (hyperorality)
- Social conduct impairment
- Disinhibition
What microscopic changes are seen in Pick’s disease?
- Pick bodies (spherical aggregations of tau protein, silver-staining)
- Gliosis
- Neurofibrillary tangles
- Senile plaques
What macroscopic changes are seen in Pick’s disease?
Focal gyral atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes with knife-blade appearance
How is Pick’s disease managed?
Do not use AChEis or memantine
What is characteristic of chronic progressive aphasia?
Non-fluent speech
Comprehension is relatively preserved
What is characteristic of semantic dementia?
Fluent progressive aphasia
Speech is fluent, empty with little meaning
Memory is better than in Alzheimer’s for recent events
