Early thalamic and cortical hypometabolism in adult-onset dementia due to metachromatic leukodystrophy.

A case of early-onset adult dementia with family history of dementia is reported, characterised by neuropsychological deficits, suggesting frontal involvement, with mild non specific white matter abnormalities on CT scan. Familial Alzheimer's disease was suspected but the neuropathological diagnosis on brain biopsy was metachromatic leukodystrophy. 18FDG-PET revealed a very peculiar pattern of metabolic impairment in thalamic areas, in medial and frontopolar regions, and in occipital lobes.

Cognitive impairment in depressive disorders. Neuropsychological evaluation of memory and behavioural disturbances.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the contribution that clinical neuropsychology and neuropsychological assessment can conter to neuropsychiatry, particularly in the evaluation of cognitive disturbances and pharmacological treatment of depression. Six patients (4 females, 2 males; age: 16-54 years old) suffering from depressive disorders underwent a clinical neuropsychological examination. Depending on the memory scores obtained on the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, the patients were classified as having mild or no memory impairment (< 20% decrease), moderate memory impairment (20-40% decrease) or severe memory alteration (> 60% deterioration).

Traumatic brain injury, cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Impact of clinical neuropsychology research.

It is well established that head injury often causes brain damage leading to long term physical, cognitive and behavioural changes in the injured patients. Whereas the physical effects ranging from sensori-motor disturbances to posttraumatic epilepsy are often reported as well as cognitive sequelae, deteriorations of emotional and behavioural aspects are often neglected. Recent advances in imaging technology and clinical neuropsychology research have greatly contributed to increase our understanding of the effect of traumatic brain injury on diverse behavioural functions.

Stereotaxy and behavioural disorders.

A series of 35 selected non senile patients was investigated with stereotactic brain biopsies in frontal and temporal lobes including the rhinencephalon. Results of neuropathological studies are confronted with clinical proposals. Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed in about 10% of the cases under 50 years of age, but more than 50% after 50.