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Phillips JS, Adluru N, Chung MK, Radhakrishnan H, Olm CA, Cook PA, Gee JC, Cousins KAQ, Arezoumandan S, Wolk DA, McMillan CT, Grossman M, Irwin DJ. Greater white matter degeneration and lower structural connectivity in non-amnestic vs. amnestic Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1353306. [PMID: 38567286 PMCID: PMC10986184 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1353306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multimodal evidence indicates Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by early white matter (WM) changes that precede overt cognitive impairment. WM changes have overwhelmingly been investigated in typical, amnestic mild cognitive impairment and AD; fewer studies have addressed WM change in atypical, non-amnestic syndromes. We hypothesized each non-amnestic AD syndrome would exhibit WM differences from amnestic and other non-amnestic syndromes. Materials and methods Participants included 45 cognitively normal (CN) individuals; 41 amnestic AD patients; and 67 patients with non-amnestic AD syndromes including logopenic-variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA, n = 32), posterior cortical atrophy (PCA, n = 17), behavioral variant AD (bvAD, n = 10), and corticobasal syndrome (CBS, n = 8). All had T1-weighted MRI and 30-direction diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). We performed whole-brain deterministic tractography between 148 cortical and subcortical regions; connection strength was quantified by tractwise mean generalized fractional anisotropy. Regression models assessed effects of group and phenotype as well as associations with grey matter volume. Topological analyses assessed differences in persistent homology (numbers of graph components and cycles). Additionally, we tested associations of topological metrics with global cognition, disease duration, and DWI microstructural metrics. Results Both amnestic and non-amnestic patients exhibited lower WM connection strength than CN participants in corpus callosum, cingulum, and inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi. Overall, non-amnestic patients had more WM disease than amnestic patients. LvPPA patients had left-lateralized WM degeneration; PCA patients had reductions in connections to bilateral posterior parietal, occipital, and temporal areas. Topological analysis showed the non-amnestic but not the amnestic group had more connected components than controls, indicating persistently lower connectivity. Longer disease duration and cognitive impairment were associated with more connected components and fewer cycles in individuals' brain graphs. Discussion We have previously reported syndromic differences in GM degeneration and tau accumulation between AD syndromes; here we find corresponding differences in WM tracts connecting syndrome-specific epicenters. Determining the reasons for selective WM degeneration in non-amnestic AD is a research priority that will require integration of knowledge from neuroimaging, biomarker, autopsy, and functional genetic studies. Furthermore, longitudinal studies to determine the chronology of WM vs. GM degeneration will be key to assessing evidence for WM-mediated tau spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S. Phillips
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nagesh Adluru
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Moo K. Chung
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Hamsanandini Radhakrishnan
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Christopher A. Olm
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Philip A. Cook
- Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - James C. Gee
- Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Katheryn A. Q. Cousins
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sanaz Arezoumandan
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David A. Wolk
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Corey T. McMillan
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Murray Grossman
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David J. Irwin
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Santi GC, Conca F, Esposito V, Polito C, Caminiti SP, Boccalini C, Morinelli C, Berti V, Mazzeo S, Bessi V, Marcone A, Iannaccone S, Kim SK, Sorbi S, Perani D, Cappa SF, Catricalà E. Heterogeneity and overlap in the continuum of linguistic profile of logopenic and semantic variants of primary progressive aphasia: a Profile Analysis based on Multidimensional Scaling study. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:49. [PMID: 38448894 PMCID: PMC10918940 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01403-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) diagnostic criteria underestimate the complex presentation of semantic (sv) and logopenic (lv) variants, in which symptoms partially overlap, and mixed clinical presentation (mixed-PPA) and heterogenous profile (lvPPA +) are frequent. Conceptualization of similarities and differences of these clinical conditions is still scarce. METHODS Lexical, semantic, phonological, and working memory errors from nine language tasks of sixty-seven PPA were analyzed using Profile Analysis based on Multidimensional Scaling, which allowed us to create a distributed representation of patients' linguistic performance in a shared space. Patients had been studied with [18F] FDG-PET. Correlations were performed between metabolic and behavioral data. RESULTS Patients' profiles were distributed across a continuum. All PPA, but two, presented a lexical retrieval impairment, in terms of reduced production of verbs and nouns. svPPA patients occupied a fairly clumped space along the continuum, showing a preponderant semantic deficit, which correlated to fusiform gyrus hypometabolism, while only few presented working memory deficits. Adjacently, lvPPA + presented a semantic impairment combined with phonological deficits, which correlated with metabolism in the anterior fusiform gyrus and posterior middle temporal gyrus. Starting from the shared phonological deficit side, a large portion of the space was occupied by all lvPPA, showing a combination of phonological, lexical, and working memory deficits, with the latter correlating with posterior temporo-parietal hypometabolism. Mixed PPA did not show unique profile, distributing across the space. DISCUSSION Different clinical PPA entities exist but overlaps are frequent. Identifying shared and unique clinical markers is critical for research and clinical practice. Further research is needed to identify the role of genetic and pathological factors in such distribution, including also higher sample size of less represented groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Chiara Santi
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Carmen Morinelli
- Research and Innovation Centre for Dementia-CRIDEM, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Berti
- Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mazzeo
- Research and Innovation Centre for Dementia-CRIDEM, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Bessi
- Research and Innovation Centre for Dementia-CRIDEM, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marcone
- Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Iannaccone
- Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Se-Kang Kim
- Department of Paediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre for Dementia-CRIDEM, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Perani
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano F Cappa
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia, Italy.
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Catricalà
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia, Italy
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Jebahi F, Nickels KV, Kielar A. Patterns of performance on the animal fluency task in logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia: A reflection of phonological and semantic skills. JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2024; 108:106405. [PMID: 38324949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2024.106405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to characterize the quantitative (total number of correct words generated) and qualitative (psycholinguistic properties of correct words generated) performance patterns on the animal fluency task in individuals with the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia and to investigate the influence of phonological and semantic abilities to these patterns. METHODS Fifteen participants with lvPPA and twenty neurotypical adults completed the animal fluency task and an assessment battery to characterize their phonological and semantic abilities. We recorded the total number of correct words produced and their psycholinguistic properties. Group differences were analyzed using independent samples t-tests and analysis of covariance. Stepwise and multiple linear regression analyses were implemented to investigate the contribution of psycholinguistic properties on word generation as well as the role of phonological and semantic abilities on performance. We also investigated the mediating role of phonological and semantic abilities on the relationship between relevant psycholinguistic properties and word generation output. RESULTS Compared to neurotypical controls, participants with lvPPA produced fewer correct responses and more words with lower age of acquisition. The total number of correct words generated was predicted by the age of word acquisition, such that individuals who generated more responses, produced words acquired later in life. Phonology and semantics influenced the number of correct words generated and their frequency, age of acquisition, and semantic neighborhood density. Familiarity and arousal were driven by semantic abilities. Phonological abilities partially mediated the relationship between age of acquisition and word generation output. CONCLUSIONS This study provides valuable insights into the performance patterns of the animal fluency task in lvPPA. Individuals with lvPPA with more intact phonological and semantic abilities generated greater number of words with more complex psycholinguistic properties. Our findings contribute to the understanding of language processes underlying word retrieval in lvPPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Jebahi
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Cognitive Science Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Katlyn V Nickels
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Cognitive Science Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Aneta Kielar
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Cognitive Science Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Belder CRS, Marshall CR, Jiang J, Mazzeo S, Chokesuwattanaskul A, Rohrer JD, Volkmer A, Hardy CJD, Warren JD. Primary progressive aphasia: six questions in search of an answer. J Neurol 2024; 271:1028-1046. [PMID: 37906327 PMCID: PMC10827918 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12030-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Here, we review recent progress in the diagnosis and management of primary progressive aphasia-the language-led dementias. We pose six key unanswered questions that challenge current assumptions and highlight the unresolved difficulties that surround these diseases. How many syndromes of primary progressive aphasia are there-and is syndromic diagnosis even useful? Are these truly 'language-led' dementias? How can we diagnose (and track) primary progressive aphasia better? Can brain pathology be predicted in these diseases? What is their core pathophysiology? In addition, how can primary progressive aphasia best be treated? We propose that pathophysiological mechanisms linking proteinopathies to phenotypes may help resolve the clinical complexity of primary progressive aphasia, and may suggest novel diagnostic tools and markers and guide the deployment of effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R S Belder
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Charles R Marshall
- Preventive Neurology Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jessica Jiang
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Salvatore Mazzeo
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Anthipa Chokesuwattanaskul
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Cognitive Clinical and Computational Neuroscience Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Anna Volkmer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Chris J D Hardy
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jason D Warren
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 8 - 11 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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Hardy CJD, Taylor‐Rubin C, Taylor B, Harding E, Gonzalez AS, Jiang J, Thompson L, Kingma R, Chokesuwattanaskul A, Walker F, Barker S, Brotherhood E, Waddington C, Wood O, Zimmermann N, Kupeli N, Yong KXX, Camic PM, Stott J, Marshall CR, Oxtoby NP, Rohrer JD, Volkmer A, Crutch SJ, Warren JD. Symptom-led staging for semantic and non-fluent/agrammatic variants of primary progressive aphasia. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:195-210. [PMID: 37548125 PMCID: PMC10917001 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Here we set out to create a symptom-led staging system for the canonical semantic and non-fluent/agrammatic variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA), which present unique diagnostic and management challenges not well captured by functional scales developed for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. METHODS An international PPA caregiver cohort was surveyed on symptom development under six provisional clinical stages and feedback was analyzed using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. RESULTS Both PPA syndromes were characterized by initial communication dysfunction and non-verbal behavioral changes, with increasing syndromic convergence and functional dependency at later stages. Milestone symptoms were distilled to create a prototypical progression and severity scale of functional impairment: the PPA Progression Planning Aid ("PPA-Squared"). DISCUSSION This work introduces a symptom-led staging scheme and functional scale for semantic and non-fluent/agrammatic variants of PPA. Our findings have implications for diagnostic and care pathway guidelines, trial design, and personalized prognosis and treatment for PPA. HIGHLIGHTS We introduce new symptom-led perspectives on primary progressive aphasia (PPA). The focus is on non-fluent/agrammatic (nfvPPA) and semantic (svPPA) variants. Foregrounding of early and non-verbal features of PPA and clinical trajectories is featured. We introduce a symptom-led staging scheme for PPA. We propose a prototype for a functional impairment scale, the PPA Progression Planning Aid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J. D. Hardy
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Cathleen Taylor‐Rubin
- Uniting War Memorial HospitalSydneyAustralia
- Faculty of MedicineHealth and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyAustralia
| | - Beatrice Taylor
- Centre for Medical Image ComputingDepartment of Computer ScienceUCLLondonUK
| | - Emma Harding
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | | | - Jessica Jiang
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | | | | | - Anthipa Chokesuwattanaskul
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
- Division of NeurologyDepartment of Internal MedicineKing Chulalongkorn Memorial HospitalBangkokThailand
- Cognitive Clinical and Computational Neuroscience Research UnitFaculty of MedicineChulalongkorn UniversityBangkokThailand
| | | | - Suzie Barker
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Emilie Brotherhood
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Claire Waddington
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Olivia Wood
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Nikki Zimmermann
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Nuriye Kupeli
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research DepartmentDivision of PsychiatryUCLLondonUK
| | - Keir X. X. Yong
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Paul M. Camic
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Joshua Stott
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
- ADAPT LabResearch Department of ClinicalEducational and Health PsychologyUCLLondonUK
| | | | - Neil P. Oxtoby
- Centre for Medical Image ComputingDepartment of Computer ScienceUCLLondonUK
| | - Jonathan D. Rohrer
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
| | - Anna Volkmer
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
- Psychology and Language Sciences (PALS)UCLLondonUK
| | | | - Jason D. Warren
- Dementia Research CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUCLLondonUK
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Ramanan S, Halai AD, Garcia-Penton L, Perry AG, Patel N, Peterson KA, Ingram RU, Storey I, Cappa SF, Catricala E, Patterson K, Rowe JB, Garrard P, Ralph MAL. The neural substrates of transdiagnostic cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity in primary progressive aphasia. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:219. [PMID: 38102724 PMCID: PMC10724982 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01350-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) are diagnosed based on characteristic patterns of language deficits, supported by corresponding neural changes on brain imaging. However, there is (i) considerable phenotypic variability within and between each diagnostic category with partially overlapping profiles of language performance between variants and (ii) accompanying non-linguistic cognitive impairments that may be independent of aphasia magnitude and disease severity. The neurobiological basis of this cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity remains unclear. Understanding the relationship between these variables would improve PPA clinical/research characterisation and strengthen clinical trial and symptomatic treatment design. We address these knowledge gaps using a data-driven transdiagnostic approach to chart cognitive-linguistic differences and their associations with grey/white matter degeneration across multiple PPA variants. METHODS Forty-seven patients (13 semantic, 15 non-fluent, and 19 logopenic variant PPA) underwent assessment of general cognition, errors on language performance, and structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to index whole-brain grey and white matter changes. Behavioural data were entered into varimax-rotated principal component analyses to derive orthogonal dimensions explaining the majority of cognitive variance. To uncover neural correlates of cognitive heterogeneity, derived components were used as covariates in neuroimaging analyses of grey matter (voxel-based morphometry) and white matter (network-based statistics of structural connectomes). RESULTS Four behavioural components emerged: general cognition, semantic memory, working memory, and motor speech/phonology. Performance patterns on the latter three principal components were in keeping with each variant's characteristic profile, but with a spectrum rather than categorical distribution across the cohort. General cognitive changes were most marked in logopenic variant PPA. Regardless of clinical diagnosis, general cognitive impairment was associated with inferior/posterior parietal grey/white matter involvement, semantic memory deficits with bilateral anterior temporal grey/white matter changes, working memory impairment with temporoparietal and frontostriatal grey/white matter involvement, and motor speech/phonology deficits with inferior/middle frontal grey matter alterations. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity in PPA closely relates to individual-level variations on multiple behavioural dimensions and grey/white matter degeneration of regions within and beyond the language network. We further show that employment of transdiagnostic approaches may help to understand clinical symptom boundaries and reveal clinical and neural profiles that are shared across categorically defined variants of PPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Ramanan
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK.
| | - Ajay D Halai
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Lorna Garcia-Penton
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Alistair G Perry
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nikil Patel
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Katie A Peterson
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ruth U Ingram
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ian Storey
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Stefano F Cappa
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience Center (ICoN), University Institute of Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
- Dementia Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Catricala
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience Center (ICoN), University Institute of Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
- Dementia Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Karalyn Patterson
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Garrard
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Matthew A Lambon Ralph
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
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García AM, de Leon J, Tee BL, Blasi DE, Gorno-Tempini ML. Speech and language markers of neurodegeneration: a call for global equity. Brain 2023; 146:4870-4879. [PMID: 37497623 PMCID: PMC10690018 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of neurodegeneration, speech and language assessments are useful for diagnosing aphasic syndromes and for characterizing other disorders. As a complement to classic tests, scalable and low-cost digital tools can capture relevant anomalies automatically, potentially supporting the quest for globally equitable markers of brain health. However, this promise remains unfulfilled due to limited linguistic diversity in scientific works and clinical instruments. Here we argue for cross-linguistic research as a core strategy to counter this problem. First, we survey the contributions of linguistic assessments in the study of primary progressive aphasia and the three most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders worldwide-Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. Second, we address two forms of linguistic unfairness in the literature: the neglect of most of the world's 7000 languages and the preponderance of English-speaking cohorts. Third, we review studies showing that linguistic dysfunctions in a given disorder may vary depending on the patient's language and that English speakers offer a suboptimal benchmark for other language groups. Finally, we highlight different approaches, tools and initiatives for cross-linguistic research, identifying core challenges for their deployment. Overall, we seek to inspire timely actions to counter a looming source of inequity in behavioural neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo M García
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
- Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat) Institute, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Avenida Diagonal Las Torres 2640 (7941169), Santiago, Peñalolén, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Jessica de Leon
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Boon Lead Tee
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Damián E Blasi
- Data Science Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Mendez MF, Sheppard A, Chavez D, Holiday KA. Jargonaphasia in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia. J Neurol Sci 2023; 453:120779. [PMID: 37660525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA), which is most commonly an early onset variant of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a progressive impairment in word retrieval and language expression. Clinicians often misdiagnose these patients when they present with severely unintelligible speech consistent with jargonaphasia. METHODS We reviewed all patients presenting to a behavioral neurology program over a 23-year period who met criteria for lvPPA after completion of an evaluation extending to positron emission tomography (PET) of the brain. Among these lvPPA patients, we additionally identified and characterized those whose presentation involved incomprehensible yet fluent verbal output. RESULTS Out of 95 patients with lvPPA, 9 (9.47%) had jargonaphasia on presentation. These patients differed from the remaining 86 patients in lacking awareness or concern for their impaired communication, having worse mental status scale scores, greater auditory comprehension difficulty, and more bilateral temporo-parietal hypometabolism. In addition, 44.4% of those with jargonaphasia, compared to 14% of those without, were bi/multilingual. CONCLUSION Nearly 1 in 10 patients with lvPPA present with severely unintelligible speech. These patients have disease extending to bilateral temporoparietal areas affecting language comprehension and disease awareness. Jargonaphasia can be a confusing presentation of AD and must be differentiated from other progressive aphasias, Wernicke's aphasia, and the word salad of "schizoaphasia".
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F Mendez
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), USA; Neurology Service, Neurobehavior Unit, V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA.
| | - Alexander Sheppard
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), USA.
| | - Diana Chavez
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), USA; Neurology Service, Neurobehavior Unit, V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA.
| | - Kelsey A Holiday
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), USA; Neurology Service, Neurobehavior Unit, V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA.
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9
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Wauters LD, Croot K, Dial HR, Duffy JR, Grasso SM, Kim E, Schaffer Mendez K, Ballard KJ, Clark HM, Kohley L, Murray LL, Rogalski EJ, Figeys M, Milman L, Henry ML. Behavioral Treatment for Speech and Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia and Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2023:10.1007/s11065-023-09607-1. [PMID: 37792075 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-023-09607-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) are neurodegenerative syndromes characterized by progressive decline in language or speech. There is a growing number of studies investigating speech-language interventions for PPA/PPAOS. An updated systematic evaluation of the treatment evidence is warranted to inform best clinical practice and guide future treatment research. We systematically reviewed the evidence for behavioral treatment for speech and language in this population. Reviewed articles were published in peer-reviewed journals through 31 May 2021. We evaluated level of evidence, reporting quality, and risk of bias using a modified version of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Levels of Evidence, an appraisal point system, additional reporting quality and internal/external validity items, and, as appropriate, the Single Case Experimental Design Scale or the Physiotherapy Evidence Database - PsycBITE Rating Scale for Randomized and Non-Randomized Controlled Trials. Results were synthesized using quantitative summaries and narrative review. A total of 103 studies reported treatment outcomes for 626 individuals with PPA; no studies used the diagnostic label PPAOS. Most studies evaluated interventions for word retrieval. The highest-quality evidence was provided by 45 experimental and quasi-experimental studies (16 controlled group studies, 29 single-subject designs). All (k = 45/45) reported improvement on a primary outcome measure; most reported generalization (k = 34/43), maintenance (k = 34/39), or social validity (k = 17/19) of treatment for at least one participant. The available evidence supports speech-language intervention for persons with PPA; however, treatment for PPAOS awaits systematic investigation. Implications and limitations of the evidence and the review are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Wauters
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2504A Whitis Ave. (A1100), 78712, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Karen Croot
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Heather R Dial
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Joseph R Duffy
- Department of Neurology, Division of Speech Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Stephanie M Grasso
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2504A Whitis Ave. (A1100), 78712, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Esther Kim
- US Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, T6G 2R3, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Kirrie J Ballard
- Faculty of Medicine & Health and Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Heather M Clark
- Department of Neurology, Division of Speech Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Leeah Kohley
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2504A Whitis Ave. (A1100), 78712, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laura L Murray
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Emily J Rogalski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mathieu Figeys
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Lisa Milman
- Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Maya L Henry
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2504A Whitis Ave. (A1100), 78712, Austin, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA.
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10
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Polito C, Conca F, Santi GC, Esposito V, Caminiti SP, Boccalini C, Berti V, Morinelli C, Mazzeo S, Marcone A, Iannaccone S, Bessi V, Sorbi S, Perani D, Cappa SF, Catricalà E. Comparing two picture naming tasks in primary progressive aphasia: Insights from behavioural and neural results. Cortex 2023; 166:1-18. [PMID: 37295234 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Picture naming tests are widely used to evaluate language impairments in neurodegenerative diseases, especially in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). The available tests differ for many factors affecting the performance, e.g. format of stimuli and their psycholinguistic properties. We aim to identify the most appropriate naming test to be used on PPA according to the clinical and research demands. We investigated the behavioural characteristics, i.e. proportion of correct responses and error type, and their neural correlates in two Italian naming tests, CaGi naming (CaGi) and naming subtest of the Screening for Aphasia in NeuroDegeneration battery (SAND), administered to 52 PPA patients who underwent an FDG-PET scan. We analysed the effectiveness of the tests in distinguishing PPA versus controls and among PPA variants, considering the psycholinguistic variables affecting performance. We explored the brain metabolic correlates of behavioural performance in the tests. SAND, differently from CaGi, has time limits for the response and its items are less frequent and acquired later. SAND and CaGi differed in terms of number of correct responses and error profile, suggesting a higher difficulty to name SAND items compared to CaGi. Semantic errors predominated in CaGi, while anomic and semantic errors were equally frequent in SAND. Both tests distinguished PPA from controls, but SAND outperformed CaGi in discriminating among PPA variants. FDG-PET imaging revealed a shared metabolic involvement of temporal areas associated with lexico-semantic processing, encompassing anterior fusiform, temporal pole, and extending to posterior fusiform in sv-PPA. Concluding, a picture naming test with response time limit and items which are less frequent and acquired later in life, as SAND, may be effective at highlighting subtle distinctions between PPA variants, improving the diagnosis. Conversely, a naming test without time limit for the response, as CaGi, may be useful for a better characterization of the nature of the naming impairment at the behavioural level, eliciting more naming errors than anomia, possibly helping in the development of rehabilitation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gaia C Santi
- ICoN Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Silvia P Caminiti
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy; In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy; Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Boccalini
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy; In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Berti
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Italy
| | - Carmen Morinelli
- SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mazzeo
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy; NEUROFARBA, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marcone
- Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Iannaccone
- Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Bessi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy; SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; NEUROFARBA, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy; SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; NEUROFARBA, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Perani
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy; In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy; Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano F Cappa
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; ICoN Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, IUSS, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Catricalà
- ICoN Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, IUSS, Pavia, Italy
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11
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Mandelli ML, Lorca‐Puls DL, Lukic S, Montembeault M, Gajardo‐Vidal A, Licata A, Scheffler A, Battistella G, Grasso SM, Bogley R, Ratnasiri BM, La Joie R, Mundada NS, Europa E, Rabinovici G, Miller BL, De Leon J, Henry ML, Miller Z, Gorno‐Tempini ML. Network anatomy in logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:4390-4406. [PMID: 37306089 PMCID: PMC10318204 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized linguistically by gradual loss of repetition and naming skills resulting from left posterior temporal and inferior parietal atrophy. Here, we sought to identify which specific cortical loci are initially targeted by the disease (epicenters) and investigate whether atrophy spreads through predetermined networks. First, we used cross-sectional structural MRI data from individuals with lvPPA to define putative disease epicenters using a surface-based approach paired with an anatomically fine-grained parcellation of the cortical surface (i.e., HCP-MMP1.0 atlas). Second, we combined cross-sectional functional MRI data from healthy controls and longitudinal structural MRI data from individuals with lvPPA to derive the epicenter-seeded resting-state networks most relevant to lvPPA symptomatology and ascertain whether functional connectivity in these networks predicts longitudinal atrophy spread in lvPPA. Our results show that two partially distinct brain networks anchored to the left anterior angular and posterior superior temporal gyri epicenters were preferentially associated with sentence repetition and naming skills in lvPPA. Critically, the strength of connectivity within these two networks in the neurologically-intact brain significantly predicted longitudinal atrophy progression in lvPPA. Taken together, our findings indicate that atrophy progression in lvPPA, starting from inferior parietal and temporoparietal junction regions, predominantly follows at least two partially nonoverlapping pathways, which may influence the heterogeneity in clinical presentation and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Mandelli
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Diego L. Lorca‐Puls
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Sección de Neurología, Departamento de Especialidades, Facultad de MedicinaUniversidad de ConcepciónConcepciónChile
| | - Sladjana Lukic
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Communication Sciences and DisordersAdelphi UniversityGarden CityNew YorkUSA
| | - Maxime Montembeault
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of PsychiatryDouglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill UniversityMontréalCanada
| | - Andrea Gajardo‐Vidal
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Faculty of Health SciencesUniversidad del DesarrolloConcepciónChile
| | - Abigail Licata
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Aaron Scheffler
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Giovanni Battistella
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Stephanie M. Grasso
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing SciencesUniversity of TexasAustinTexasUSA
| | - Rian Bogley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Buddhika M. Ratnasiri
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Renaud La Joie
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nidhi S. Mundada
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eduardo Europa
- Department of Communicative Disorders and SciencesSan Jose State UniversitySan JoseCaliforniaUSA
| | - Gil Rabinovici
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jessica De Leon
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Maya L. Henry
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing SciencesUniversity of TexasAustinTexasUSA
| | - Zachary Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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12
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Benussi A, Borroni B. Advances in the treatment and management of frontotemporal dementia. Expert Rev Neurother 2023; 23:621-639. [PMID: 37357688 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2228491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a wide range of pathological conditions associated with the buildup of proteins such as tau and TDP-43. With a strong hereditary component, FTD often results from genetic variants in three genes - MAPT, GRN, and C9orf72. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors explore abnormal protein accumulation in FTD and forthcoming treatments, providing a detailed analysis of new diagnostic advancements, including innovative markers. They analyze how these discoveries have influenced therapeutic strategies, particularly disease-modifying treatments, which could potentially transform FTD management. This comprehensive exploration of FTD from its molecular underpinnings to its therapeutic prospects offers a compelling overview of the current state of FTD research. EXPERT OPINION Notable challenges in FTD management involve identifying reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and response monitoring. Genetic forms of FTD, particularly those linked to C9orf72 and GRN, show promise, with targeted therapies resulting in substantial progress in disease-modifying strategies. The potential of neuromodulation techniques, like tDCS and rTMS, is being explored, requiring further study. Ongoing trials and multi-disciplinary care highlight the continued push toward effective FTD treatments. With increasing understanding of FTD's molecular and clinical intricacies, the hope for developing effective interventions grows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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13
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Montembeault M, Migliaccio R. Atypical forms of Alzheimer's disease: patients not to forget. Curr Opin Neurol 2023; Publish Ahead of Print:00019052-990000000-00085. [PMID: 37365819 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this paper is to summarize the latest work on neuroimaging in atypical Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and to emphasize innovative aspects in the clinic and research. The paper will mostly cover language (logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia; lvPPA), visual (posterior cortical atrophy; PCA), behavioral (bvAD) and dysexecutive (dAD) variants of AD. RECENT FINDINGS MRI and PET can detect and differentiate typical and atypical AD variants, and novel imaging markers like brain iron deposition, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cortical mean diffusivity, and brain total creatine can also contribute. Together, these approaches have helped to characterize variant-specific distinct imaging profiles. Even within each variant, various subtypes that capture the heterogeneity of cases have been revealed. Finally, in-vivo pathology markers have led to significant advances in the atypical AD neuroimaging field. SUMMARY Overall, the recent neuroimaging literature on atypical AD variants contribute to increase knowledge of these lesser-known AD variants and are key to generate atypical variant-specific clinical trial endpoints, which are required for inclusion of these patients in clinical trials assessing treatments. In return, studying these patients can inform the neurobiology of various cognitive functions, such as language, executive, memory, and visuospatial abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Montembeault
- Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Quebec H4H 1R3
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Raffaella Migliaccio
- FrontLab, INSERM U1127, Institut du cerveau, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière
- Centre de Référence des Démences Rares ou Précoces
- Institute of Memory and Alzheimer's Disease, Centre of Excellence of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
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