Flora Gossink1, Sigfried Schouws2, Welmoed Krudop3, Philip Scheltens3, Max Stek2, Yolande Pijnenburg4, Annemiek Dols4. 1. Department of Old Age Psychiatry, GGZinGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Alzheimer Centre & Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: f.gossink@vumc.nl. 2. Department of Old Age Psychiatry, GGZinGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Alzheimer Centre & Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Old Age Psychiatry, GGZinGeest, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Alzheimer Centre & Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although deficits in social cognition are established as core features in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), it remains unresolved if impaired social cognition distinguishes bvFTD from the broad differential diagnoses in clinical practice. Our aim was to study whether social cognition discriminates bvFTD from other neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders in patients presenting with late-onset frontal symptoms. Next, we studied the association of social cognition with frontal symptoms and cognitive functioning. METHODS: In this longitudinal multicenter study, besides clinical rating scales for frontal symptoms, social cognition was determined by Ekman 60 Faces test and Faux Pas in addition to neuropsychological tests for other cognitive domains in patients with probable and definite bvFTD (N = 22), other neurodegenerative diseases (N = 24), and psychiatric disorders (N = 33). Median symptom duration was 2.8 years, and patients were prospectively followed over 2 years. RESULTS: Total scores from Ekman 60 Faces test were significantly lower in bvFTD than in other neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. Ekman 60 Faces test explained 91.2% of the variance of psychiatric disorders and other neurodegenerative diseases versus bvFTD (χ2 = 11.02, df = 1, p = 0.001) and was associated with all other cognitive domains. Faux Pas and the other cognitive domains did not differ between these diagnostic groups. CONCLUSION: In this clinical sample Ekman 60 Faces test distinguished bvFTD successfully from other neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. Although associated with social cognition, other cognitive domains were not discriminative. This study provides arguments to add the Ekman 60 Faces test to the neuropsychological examination in the diagnostic procedure of bvFTD.
OBJECTIVE: Although deficits in social cognition are established as core features in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), it remains unresolved if impaired social cognition distinguishes bvFTD from the broad differential diagnoses in clinical practice. Our aim was to study whether social cognition discriminates bvFTD from other neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders in patients presenting with late-onset frontal symptoms. Next, we studied the association of social cognition with frontal symptoms and cognitive functioning. METHODS: In this longitudinal multicenter study, besides clinical rating scales for frontal symptoms, social cognition was determined by Ekman 60 Faces test and Faux Pas in addition to neuropsychological tests for other cognitive domains in patients with probable and definite bvFTD (N = 22), other neurodegenerative diseases (N = 24), and psychiatric disorders (N = 33). Median symptom duration was 2.8 years, and patients were prospectively followed over 2 years. RESULTS: Total scores from Ekman 60 Faces test were significantly lower in bvFTD than in other neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. Ekman 60 Faces test explained 91.2% of the variance of psychiatric disorders and other neurodegenerative diseases versus bvFTD (χ2 = 11.02, df = 1, p = 0.001) and was associated with all other cognitive domains. Faux Pas and the other cognitive domains did not differ between these diagnostic groups. CONCLUSION: In this clinical sample Ekman 60 Faces test distinguished bvFTD successfully from other neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. Although associated with social cognition, other cognitive domains were not discriminative. This study provides arguments to add the Ekman 60 Faces test to the neuropsychological examination in the diagnostic procedure of bvFTD.
Authors: Emma Beeldman; Rosanne Govaarts; Marianne de Visser; Michael A van Es; Yolande A L Pijnenburg; Ben A Schmand; Joost Raaphorst Journal: J Neurol Date: 2021-02-06 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: Lucy L Russell; Caroline V Greaves; Rhian S Convery; Jennifer Nicholas; Jason D Warren; Diego Kaski; Jonathan D Rohrer Journal: Alzheimers Res Ther Date: 2021-02-08 Impact factor: 6.982
Authors: Jochum J van 't Hooft; Jay L P Fieldhouse; Ellen H Singleton; Artur C Jaschke; Jason D Warren; Betty M Tijms; Yolande A L Pijnenburg Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2022-09 Impact factor: 3.850
Authors: Simon Ducharme; Annemiek Dols; Robert Laforce; Emma Devenney; Fiona Kumfor; Jan van den Stock; Caroline Dallaire-Théroux; Harro Seelaar; Flora Gossink; Everard Vijverberg; Edward Huey; Mathieu Vandenbulcke; Mario Masellis; Calvin Trieu; Chiadi Onyike; Paulo Caramelli; Leonardo Cruz de Souza; Alexander Santillo; Maria Landqvist Waldö; Ramon Landin-Romero; Olivier Piguet; Wendy Kelso; Dhamidhu Eratne; Dennis Velakoulis; Manabu Ikeda; David Perry; Peter Pressman; Bradley Boeve; Rik Vandenberghe; Mario Mendez; Carole Azuar; Richard Levy; Isabelle Le Ber; Sandra Baez; Alan Lerner; Ratnavalli Ellajosyula; Florence Pasquier; Daniela Galimberti; Elio Scarpini; John van Swieten; Michael Hornberger; Howard Rosen; John Hodges; Janine Diehl-Schmid; Yolande Pijnenburg Journal: Brain Date: 2020-06-01 Impact factor: 13.501