We aimed to assess associations between clinical, imaging, pathologic, and genetic features and frontal lobe asymmetry in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Volumes of the left and right dorsolateral, medial, and orbital frontal lobes were measured in 80 bvFTD subjects and subjects were classified into 3 groups according to the degree of asymmetry (asymmetric left, asymmetric right, symmetric) using cluster analysis. The majority of subjects were symmetric (65%), with 20% asymmetric left and 15% asymmetric right. There were no clinical differences across groups, although there was a trend for greater behavioral dyscontrol in right asymmetric compared with left asymmetric subjects. More widespread atrophy involving the parietal lobe was observed in the symmetric group. Genetic features differed across groups with symmetric frontal lobes associated with C9ORF72 and tau mutations, while asymmetric frontal lobes were associated with progranulin mutations. These findings therefore suggest that neuroanatomical patterns of frontal lobe atrophy in bvFTD are influenced by specific gene mutations.
Pubmed ID: 22502999 RIS Download
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Software package for analysis of brain imaging data sequences. Sequences can be a series of images from different cohorts, or time-series from same subject. Current release is designed for analysis of fMRI, PET, SPECT, EEG and MEG.
View all literature mentionsA research center associated with the University of Pittsburgh that specializes in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The overall objective of the ADRC is to study the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, with the aim of improving the reliability of diagnosis of Alzheimer's and developing effective treatment strategies. Current research foci emphasize neuropsychiatry and neuropsychology, molecular genetics and epidemiology, basic neuroscience, and structural and functional imaging that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Specific services at the ADRC include: comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia; evaluation of memory, language, judgment, and other cognitive abilities; and education and counseling for patients and families.
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