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Case Reports
. 2011 Feb 2:2011:bcr0920103303.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.09.2010.3303.

Development of frontotemporal dementia in a case of bipolar affective disorder: is there a link?

Aleksandar Pavlovic  1 , Justin Marley, Velusamy Sivakumar
Affiliations
Case Reports

Development of frontotemporal dementia in a case of bipolar affective disorder: is there a link?

Aleksandar Pavlovic et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

The authors present the case of a 68-year-old lady with a 35-year history of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) type I, who developed frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Description of the psychopathology is illustrated with examples of patient's writings in order to demonstrate cognitive abilities at different stages. The diagnosis is supported by MRI and SPECT scans. The authors discuss the difficulties in differentiating the clinical presentation of chronic BPAD and FTD and examine the evidence for two important questions: Is there a relationship between BPAD and FTD and is there a relationship between lithium and risk of dementia? This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported SPECT scan finding in a case of frontotemporal dementia following chronic bipolar affective disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MRI scan showing mild widening of frontal sulci and enlarged frontal horns of lateral ventricles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Clock drawing test and sentence writing task in October 2008.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sentence writing task in April 2009.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Tc99m HMPAO SPECT scan showing hypoperfusion in frontal and temporal lobes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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