Apathy in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia predicts cognitive decline and is driven by structural brain changes.
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ABSTRACT: Introduction
Apathy adversely affects prognosis and survival of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We test whether apathy develops in presymptomatic genetic FTD, and is associated with cognitive decline and brain atrophy.Methods
Presymptomatic carriers of MAPT, GRN or C9orf72 mutations (N = 304), and relatives without mutations (N = 296) underwent clinical assessments and MRI at baseline, and annually for 2 years. Longitudinal changes in apathy, cognition, gray matter volumes, and their relationships were analyzed with latent growth curve modeling.Results
Apathy severity increased over time in presymptomatic carriers, but not in non-carriers. In presymptomatic carriers, baseline apathy predicted cognitive decline over two years, but not vice versa. Apathy progression was associated with baseline low gray matter volume in frontal and cingulate regions.Discussion
Apathy is an early marker of FTD-related changes and predicts a subsequent subclinical deterioration of cognition before dementia onset. Apathy may be a modifiable factor in those at risk of FTD.
SUBMITTER: Malpetti M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8247340 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Apathy in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia predicts cognitive decline and is driven by structural brain changes.
Malpetti Maura M Jones P Simon PS Tsvetanov Kamen A KA Rittman Timothy T van Swieten John C JC Borroni Barbara B Sanchez-Valle Raquel R Moreno Fermin F Laforce Robert R Graff Caroline C Synofzik Matthis M Galimberti Daniela D Masellis Mario M Tartaglia Maria Carmela MC Finger Elizabeth E Vandenberghe Rik R de Mendonça Alexandre A Tagliavini Fabrizio F Santana Isabel I Ducharme Simon S Butler Chris R CR Gerhard Alexander A Levin Johannes J Danek Adrian A Otto Markus M Frisoni Giovanni B GB Ghidoni Roberta R Sorbi Sandro S Heller Carolin C Todd Emily G EG Bocchetta Martina M Cash David M DM Convery Rhian S RS Peakman Georgia G Moore Katrina M KM Rohrer Jonathan D JD Kievit Rogier A RA Rowe James B JB
Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 20201214 6
<h4>Introduction</h4>Apathy adversely affects prognosis and survival of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We test whether apathy develops in presymptomatic genetic FTD, and is associated with cognitive decline and brain atrophy.<h4>Methods</h4>Presymptomatic carriers of MAPT, GRN or C9orf72 mutations (N = 304), and relatives without mutations (N = 296) underwent clinical assessments and MRI at baseline, and annually for 2 years. Longitudinal changes in apathy, cognition, gray matter v ...[more]
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