PERFORMANCE ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS RELATED TO SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY FINDINGS IN FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA

Background. This study examines relations between regional cerebral bl ood flow (rCBF) and neuropsychological test results, age at onset and duration of disease in patients with frontotemporal-type dementia (FTD ). Method. Sixteen patients with a diagnosis of probable FTD were exam ined using single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) with Tc-99m-HMPAO as the tracer. The rCBF of 14 regions of interest relati ve to cerebellar brood flow was calculated. Psychological tests assess ing language, verbal fluency, memory and visuospatial constructive abi lity were given. Results. Correlations were demonstrated between a glo bal impairment score and relative blood flow in lateral frontal, media l frontal and left orbital frontal areas. Verbal fluency scores correl ated with left lateral frontal, medial frontal and left anterior infer ior temporal blood flow No relationships between decrease in CBF and a ge at onset or duration af disease, or between impaired cognitive func tion and age at onset or duration of disease, were found. Conclusions. The present study demonstrates a close coupling between reduced rCBF and specific neuropsychological deficits In FTD.