Amyloid A beta(40) CSF concentrations correlate to frontal lobe atrophy infrontotemporal dementia

We wanted to further study amyloid A beta protein alterations in non-AD neu rodegenerative diseases. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of the amyloid A beta protein with 40 (A beta(40)) and 42 (A beta(42)) amino acid residues were measured in eleven patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A bet a(40) and A beta(42) concentrations were related to the degree of frontal l obe atrophy as assessed with MRI volumetry. A beta(40) concentrations showe d a statistically significant linear correlation with degree of frontal lob e atrophy (r=-0.77, p<0.02). Similar results have not been found in previou s studies of CSF A beta(40) concentrations and atrophy in patients with AD which suggest that the role of A beta(40) differs between the pathological processes of FTD and AD. NeuroReport 11:287-290 (C) 2000 Lippincott William s & Wilkins.