Predictors of Decline in bvFTD

 
   Lead Investigator:    Reena Gottesman
   Institution      :    Columbia University
   E-Mail           :    rtg2120@cumc.columbia.edu
   Proposal ID      :    1500



   Proposal Description:
   Background: There is increased recognition of the need to identify neurodegenerative diseases as early as possible. To date, the prodromal state of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) has not been operationalized. BvFTD can be difficult to distinguish from atypical presentations of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer?s disease(AD), and therefore diagnostic criteria should assist with making that distinction. Additionally, there is evidence of heterogeneity in disease presentation and progression. Understanding early clinical factors that predict faster decline and mortality is meaningful for patients and their caregivers and is important for patient counseling. It is also important for purposes of risk stratification for interventions. There is evidence that neuropsychiatric features predict more rapid decline in Alzheimer?s disease, while the relationship between clinical features and risk of faster decline in bvFTD is less clear.     Goal 1: To develop and test a set of diagnostic criteria for prodromal bvFTD.     Goal 2: To further investigate early clinical features that predict decline and mortality in pathology-confirmed cases of bvFTD.