Left/right asymmetry of atrophy in semantic dementia: behavioral-cognitive implications - PubMed (original) (raw)
Left/right asymmetry of atrophy in semantic dementia: behavioral-cognitive implications
Siân A Thompson et al. Neurology. 2003.
Abstract
Objective: To characterize presenting symptomatology in patients with semantic dementia (SD) and to investigate whether left and right temporal variants of the disease have distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles.
Methods: Retrospective examination of case notes was performed in 47 consecutive referrals of patients with a clinical diagnosis of SD. Patients (and informants) were interviewed and underwent neuropsychological testing within 6 months of assessment. Patients were designated as having predominantly left (L > R; n = 36) or right (R > L; n = 11) temporal lobe atrophy based on MRI or CT of the brain.
Results: R > L and L > R SD groups did not differ in terms of presenting age (mean 63.4 +/- 7.4 years), symptom duration (3.6 +/- 2.3 years), or Mini-Mental State Examination scores (22.1 +/- 6.7). The most frequently reported behavioral symptoms were food fads, irritability, depression, and preoccupation with puzzles; cognitive deficits included word-finding difficulties, reduced comprehension, difficulty with person identification, and reduced conversation. The frequency of several symptoms differed significantly between groups. The following aspects were more likely to be associated with major right temporal atrophy: social awkwardness, job loss, loss of insight, and difficulty with person identification. Word-finding difficulties and reduced comprehension were more salient features of L > R patients. Both groups showed deficits on semantic memory tests, as expected for this syndrome, but several items yielded greater impairment for L > R than R > L.
Conclusions: Patients with left and right predominant SD present with distinct behavioral-cognitive profiles. Characterization of these features may assist in the early and accurate diagnosis of SD.
Similar articles
- [Frontal dementia or dementia praecox? A case report of a psychotic disorder with a severe decline].
Vanderzeypen F, Bier JC, Genevrois C, Mendlewicz J, Lotstra F. Vanderzeypen F, et al. Encephale. 2003 Mar-Apr;29(2):172-80. Encephale. 2003. PMID: 14567169 French. - The natural history of temporal variant frontotemporal dementia.
Seeley WW, Bauer AM, Miller BL, Gorno-Tempini ML, Kramer JH, Weiner M, Rosen HJ. Seeley WW, et al. Neurology. 2005 Apr 26;64(8):1384-90. doi: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000158425.46019.5C. Neurology. 2005. PMID: 15851728 Free PMC article. - Cognitive and behavioral profile in a case of right anterior temporal lobe neurodegeneration.
Gorno-Tempini ML, Rankin KP, Woolley JD, Rosen HJ, Phengrasamy L, Miller BL. Gorno-Tempini ML, et al. Cortex. 2004 Sep-Dec;40(4-5):631-44. doi: 10.1016/s0010-9452(08)70159-x. Cortex. 2004. PMID: 15505973 - [Semantic dementia: reflexions of a French working group for diagnostic criteria and constitution of a patient cohort].
Moreaud O, Belliard S, Snowden J, Auriacombe S, Basaglia-Pappas S, Bernard F, Bon L, Boutantin J, Boutoleau-Bretonnière C, Charnallet A, Coutant E, David D, Deramecourt V, Gaestel Y, Garnier S, Guichart E, Hahn-Barma V, Lebail B, Lebrun-Givois C, Lamy E, Le Carret N, Lemesle B, Memin A, Parienté J, Pasquier F, Renou P, Rouaud O, Sarazin M, Thomas-Antérion C, Vercelletto M, Virat-Brassaud ME. Moreaud O, et al. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2008 Apr;164(4):343-53. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2008.02.031. Epub 2008 Apr 3. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2008. PMID: 18439926 Review. French. - [Semantic dementia: clinical profile and cognitive-neuropsychological relevance].
Eisfeld IS. Eisfeld IS. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2004 Jul;72(7):383-96. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-818393. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2004. PMID: 15252752 Review. German.
Cited by
- MEM&SO protocol: understanding the determinants of social learning in neurodegenerative diseases.
Saliou P, Chavant J, Belliard S, Merck C, de La Sayette V, Wallon D, Martinaud O, Eustache F, Laisney M. Saliou P, et al. BMC Psychol. 2024 May 28;12(1):307. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01791-w. BMC Psychol. 2024. PMID: 38807183 Free PMC article. - Hemispheric asymmetries in hippocampal volume related to memory in left and right temporal variants of frontotemporal degeneration.
Hurley RS, Lapin B, Jones SE, Crawford A, Leverenz JB, Bonner-Jackson A, Pillai JA. Hurley RS, et al. Front Neurol. 2024 Apr 29;15:1374827. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1374827. eCollection 2024. Front Neurol. 2024. PMID: 38742046 Free PMC article. - Volumetric analysis of hippocampal subregions and subfields in left and right semantic dementia.
Carlos AF, Weigand SD, Duffy JR, Clark HM, Utianski RL, Machulda MM, Botha H, Thu Pham NT, Lowe VJ, Schwarz CG, Whitwell JL, Josephs KA. Carlos AF, et al. Brain Commun. 2024 Mar 25;6(2):fcae097. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae097. eCollection 2024. Brain Commun. 2024. PMID: 38572268 Free PMC article. - Behavioral disinhibition in stroke.
Tang WK, Hui E, Leung TWH. Tang WK, et al. Front Neurol. 2024 Mar 4;15:1345756. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1345756. eCollection 2024. Front Neurol. 2024. PMID: 38500811 Free PMC article. - Phenotypically concordant distribution of pick bodies in aphasic versus behavioral dementias.
Kawles A, Keszycki R, Minogue G, Zouridakis A, Ayala I, Gill N, Macomber A, Lubbat V, Coventry C, Rogalski E, Weintraub S, Mao Q, Flanagan ME, Zhang H, Castellani R, Bigio EH, Mesulam MM, Geula C, Gefen T. Kawles A, et al. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2024 Feb 22;12(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s40478-024-01738-7. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2024. PMID: 38389095 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical