Abstract Details

Title Microstructural Characterization of Motor Pathway Disruption in Early Frontotemporal Dementia: A DTI Investigation on the FTD-ALS Continuum

Topic Behavioral Neurology

Presentation(s) P06 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 059

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: The FTD-ALS continuum hypothesis, considering Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis as extremes of a disease spectrum, is widely supported by clinical, pathological, genetic and neuroimaging evidences. Although neuron dysfunction has been reported in a proportion of FTD patients, the underlying microstructural features have not been completely characterised.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: 17 bvFTD patients, 16 non-demented ALS subjects, and 20 Healthy Controls (HC) underwent a Diffusion Tensor Imaging study. Whole-brain analyses of Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Mode of anisotropy (MO), and Mean Diffusivity (MD) were performed via Tract-Based Spatial Statistics.

Results RESULTS: BvFTD patients showed significant FA reduction compared with HC in the right limbic-prefrontal circuitry, the Forceps Minor and the Corpus Callosum (CC), and a corresponding, but more extensive, MD increase, involving also the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus, the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus and the Fornix. Interestingly, a consistent change of the type of anisotropy (MO) emerged along the anterior commissural fibers and in the right Corticospinal Tract (CST). ALS patients exhibited FA decrease compared with HC in the CC, and in the bilateral CST. Moreover, we found a MO decrease in the right CST. No significant differences were detected in MD. The conjunction analysis between bvFTD

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: We documented in early bvFTD, beyond a deep degeneration of limbic-prefrontal networks, an alteration of diffusion coherence along the motor pathway, mirroring the pattern observed in ALS, and providing a microstructural characterization of a subtle disruption of motor system in early FTD.

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
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	No disclosure on file
Sandro Iannaccone	No disclosure on file
Rohit Bakshi, MD, FAAN	Dr. Bakshi has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for EMD Serono. Dr. Bakshi has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi. The institution of Dr. Bakshi has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Journal of Neuroimaging. The institution of Dr. Bakshi has received research support from Bristol Myers Squibb. The institution of Dr. Bakshi has received research support from EMD Serono. The institution of Dr. Bakshi has received research support from Novartis.
Massimo Corbo	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Andrea Falini	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file

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