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Diagnosis and Management of Behavioral Issues in Frontotemporal Dementia

  • Dementia (KS Marder, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration is an umbrella term for several different disorders. In behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), patients show deterioration in cognition and social behavior. New diagnostic criteria proposed by the International Behavioral Variant FTD Consortium provide greater sensitivity in diagnosing bvFTD. Current pharmacological management of symptoms relies on medications borrowed from treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and psychiatric disorders. The evidence for using AD medications such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is questionable. Psychiatric medications can be helpful. Trazodone or SSRIs can have some efficacy in reducing disinhibition, repetitive behaviors, sexually inappropriate behaviors, and hyperorality. Small doses of atypical antipsychotics may be helpful in decreasing agitation and verbal outbursts. Nonpharmacological management includes caregiver education and support and behavioral interventions. While symptomatic treatments are likely to remain important behavior management tools, targeting the underlying pathology of bvFTD with disease-modifying agents will hopefully be the future of treatment.

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  1. Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Masood Manoochehri & Edward D. Huey

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Correspondence to Edward D. Huey.

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Manoochehri, M., Huey, E.D. Diagnosis and Management of Behavioral Issues in Frontotemporal Dementia. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 12, 528–536 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0302-7

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