Clinical profiles of late-onset semantic dementia, compared with early-onset semantic dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Semantic dementia (SD) has been recognized as a representative of dementia with presenile onset; however, recent epidemiological studies have shown that SD also occurs in the elderly. There have been few studies about the differences of clinical profiles between early-onset SD (EO-SD) and late-onset SD (LO-SD). Age-associated changes in the brain might cause some additional cognitive and behavioural profiles of LO-SD in contrast to the typical EO-SD cases.

Two cases of frontotemporal dementia with predominant temporal lobe atrophy.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which also includes semantic dementia (SD) and progressive non-fluent aphasia. Frontotemporal dementia is characterized by changes in personality and behavioral abnormalities, generally associated with predominant frontal lobe atrophy. Conversely, SD is typically characterized by Gogi (word meaning) aphasia based on semantic memory impairment and is associated with predominant temporal lobe atrophy.

Cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms in early- and late-onset frontotemporal dementia.

Background/aim: Some recent studies mentioned that late-onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is more common than previously assumed. Although much research has been done in the field, there are no systematic studies which have compared clinical characteristics of early- and late-onset FTD. The aim of this study was to compare cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms in patients with early- and late-onset FTD.

Frequency and clinical characteristics of early-onset dementia in consecutive patients in a memory clinic.

Aims: To investigate the frequency, rate of causes of dementia, and clinical characteristics of early-onset dementia in consecutive patients of a memory clinic.

Methods: A total of 668 consecutive demented patients were involved in this study. We examined the distribution of patients' diagnosis, differences in sex, education, dementia severity and cognitive function at the first visit, and the duration from onset to consultation.

Comparison of behavioral and psychological symptoms in early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Background: When comparing with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EO-AD) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LO-AD), some symptomatological differences in clinical features can be seen between them. Rapid progression, more severe language problems or visuospatial dysfunction occur more often in EO-AD patients. However, there have been very few reports about the differences in behavioral and psychological symptoms between these two groups.

Gene expression and association analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor in major depressive disorder.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in neuronal survival, neuroprotection, regeneration, growth, differentiation, and axonal outgrowth, which are known to be involved in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Recently, the VEGF mRNA expression in the peripheral leukocytes from Alzheimer's disease or cardiovascular disease was reported to be changed. We hypothesized that the expression of the VEGF mRNA in the peripheral leukocytes may be a good candidate for the biological marker for MDD.

[Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Caregiver Distress Scale (NPI D) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Brief Questionnaire Form (NPI-Q)].

Objective: Neuropsychiatric disturbances are common and burdensome symptoms of dementia. Assessment and measurement of neuropsychiatric disturbances are indispensable to the management of patients with dementia. Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is a comprehensive assessment tool that evaluates psychiatric symptoms in dementia.

Heterogeneity of cerebral blood flow in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.

This study was designed to quantify the heterogeneity on cerebral blood flow single-photon emission tomography (SPET) images in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a three-dimensional fractal analysis. Twenty-one FTLD patients, 21 AD patients and 11 healthy controls underwent technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime SPET scanning. Patients with FTLD and AD matched for sex, age and the severity of dementia as estimated with the Clinical Dementia Rating and were determined to be in the early stage of illness.

Efficacy of fluvoxamine as a treatment for behavioral symptoms in frontotemporal lobar degeneration patients.

Patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) present a profound personality change, social misconduct, overeating, and stereotyped behavior. We examined the hypothesis that many of the behavioral symptoms of FTLD will respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Sixteen FTLD patients were treated with an SSRI (fluvoxamine maleate) in an open 12-week trial.

Delusions of Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Delusions constitute one of the most prominent psychiatric complications in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is little consensus of the prevalence and associated factors for delusions in AD.

Aims: To reveal the characteristics of delusions among Japanese patients with AD.

[A case of motor neuron disease with progressive aphasia and dementia].

We report a 71-year-old woman showing rapidly progressive non-fluent aphasia and dementia accompanied by motor neuron disease (MND). There was no family history of dementia or motor neuron disease. There was 10 months history of dysarthria and dysphagia.

The Stereotypy Rating Inventory for frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

A many behavioral disturbances, Stereotypic behaviors are among the best discriminators of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). A recent preliminary report suggests many of the behavioral symptoms, including stereotypic behaviors in FTLD patients, respond to medication with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. However, there is no scale that evaluates stereotypic behaviors comprehensively.

Reducing the burden of caring for Alzheimer's disease through the amelioration of "delusions of theft" by drug therapy.

Background: Delusions of theft (delusions involving the theft of possessions) are one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: The current study investigated the presence and extent of such delusions before and after drug treatment in a group of AD patients, and the consequent effects on the burden of care on caregivers.

Method: The study was an open-label cohort design.