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Isolated theory of mind deficits and risk for frontotemporal dementia: A longitudinal pilot study

Authors

Pardini, M., Emberti Gialloreti, L., Mascolo, M., Benassi, F., Abate, L., Guida, S., Viani, E., Dal Monte, O., Schintu, S., Krueger, F., Cocito, L.

Journal

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Volume: 84, No.: 7, Pages.: 818-821

Year of Publication

2013

Abstract

Objective: Recent data suggest that theory of mind (ToM) deficits represent an early symptom of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, longitudinal data on the natural history of subjects presenting with isolated ToM deficits are lacking. The aim of the study was to verify if isolated ToM deficits represent an at-risk state for prefrontal dysfunction and bvFTD. Methods: A population of healthy subjects (n = 4150, age range: 50–60 years) completed a clinical and neuropsychological evaluation including the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), a widely used ToM task. From this group, we recruited a low-RMET group (n = 83) including subjects with RMET scores lower than 2 SDs but an otherwise normal neuropsychological evaluation and a control group. All subjects underwent evaluation at baseline and after 2 years. Results: Subjects in the low-RMET group showed decline in prefrontal functions at follow-up. Moreover, at follow-up 12 subjects in the low-RMET group presented with findings suggestive of bvFTD. Neuropsychological performance was stable in the control group. Conclusions: Our data suggest that isolated ToM deficits could represent an at-risk situation for the development of future prefrontal dysfunction and bvFTD. ToM evaluation should be included in neuropsychological protocols aimed to evaluate the early phases of dementia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract)

Bibtex Citation

@article{Pardini_2012, doi = {10.1136/jnnp-2012-303684}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2012-303684}, year = 2012, month = {nov}, publisher = {{BMJ}}, volume = {84}, number = {7}, pages = {818--821}, author = {M. Pardini and L. Emberti Gialloreti and M. Mascolo and F. Benassi and L. Abate and S. Guida and E. Viani and O. Dal Monte and S. Schintu and F. Krueger and L. Cocito}, title = {Isolated theory of mind deficits and risk for frontotemporal dementia: a longitudinal pilot study}, journal = {Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery {&} Psychiatry} }

Keywords

dementia, frontotemporal dementia, neuropsychology, risk factors, theory of mind, theory of mind deficits

Countries of Study

Italy

Types of Dementia

Fronto Temporal (also known as Pick’s Disease)

Types of Study

Cohort Study

Type of Outcomes

Cognition

Settings

Community

Type of Interventions

Diagnostic Target Identification

Diagnostic Targets

Biological Testing