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Theory of mind impairment in patients with behavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia (bv-FTD) increases caregiver burden.

ABSTRACT: Theory of mind (ToM), the capacity to infer the intention, beliefs and emotional states of others, is frequently impaired in behavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia patients (bv-FTDp); however, its impact on caregiver burden is unexplored.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health.bv-FTDp (n = 28), a subgroup of their caregivers (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 32).we applied a faux-pas (FP) task as a ToM measure in bv-FTDp and healthy controls and the Zarit Burden Interview as a measure of burden in patients' caregivers. Patients underwent structural MRI; we used voxel-based morphometry to examine relationships between regional atrophy and ToM impairment and caregiver burden.FP task performance was impaired in bv-FTDp and negatively associated with caregiver burden. Atrophy was found in areas involved in ToM. Caregiver burden increased with greater atrophy in left lateral premotor cortex, a region associated in animal models with the presence of mirror neurons, possibly involved in empathy.ToM impairment in bv-FTDp is associated with increased caregiver burden.

SUBMITTER: Brioschi Guevara A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4547924 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Theory of mind impairment in patients with behavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia (bv-FTD) increases caregiver burden.

Brioschi Guevara Andrea A Knutson Kristine M KM Wassermann Eric M EM Pulaski Sarah S Grafman Jordan J Krueger Frank F

Age and ageing 20150529 5

<h4>Background</h4>Theory of mind (ToM), the capacity to infer the intention, beliefs and emotional states of others, is frequently impaired in behavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia patients (bv-FTDp); however, its impact on caregiver burden is unexplored.<h4>Setting</h4>National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health.<h4>Subjects</h4>bv-FTDp (n = 28), a subgroup of their caregivers (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 32).<h4>Methods</h4>we applied a ...[more]

PMID: 26025914

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Project description:BackgroundBehavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia (bvFTD) is characterised by a progressive change in personality in association with atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes. Whilst language impairment has been described in people with bvFTD, little is currently known about the extent or type of linguistic difficulties that occur, particularly in the genetic forms.MethodsParticipants with genetic bvFTD along with healthy controls were recruited from the international multicentre Genetic FTD Initiative (GENFI). Linguistic symptoms were assessed using items from the Progressive Aphasia Severity Scale (PASS). Additionally, participants undertook the Boston Naming Test (BNT), modified Camel and Cactus Test (mCCT) and a category fluency test. Participants underwent a 3T volumetric T1-weighted MRI, with language network regional brain volumes measured and compared between the genetic groups and controls.Results76% of the genetic bvFTD cohort had impairment in at least one language symptom: 83% C9orf72, 80% MAPT and 56% GRN mutation carriers. All three genetic groups had significantly impaired functional communication, decreased fluency, and impaired sentence comprehension. C9orf72 mutation carriers also had significantly impaired articulation and word retrieval as well as dysgraphia whilst the MAPT mutation group also had impaired word retrieval and single word comprehension. All three groups had difficulties with naming, semantic knowledge and verbal fluency. Atrophy in key left perisylvian language regions differed between the groups, with generalised involvement in the C9orf72 group and more focal temporal and insula involvement in the other groups. Correlates of language symptoms and test scores also differed between the groups.ConclusionsLanguage deficits exist in a substantial proportion of people with familial bvFTD across all three genetic groups. Significant atrophy is seen in the dominant perisylvian language areas and correlates with language impairments within each of the genetic groups. Improved understanding of the language phenotype in the main genetic bvFTD subtypes will be helpful in future studies, particularly in clinical trials where accurate stratification and monitoring of disease progression is required.

Dataset Information

Theory of mind impairment in patients with behavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia (bv-FTD) increases caregiver burden.

Publications

Theory of mind impairment in patients with behavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia (bv-FTD) increases caregiver burden.

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