[Frontal variant of frontotemporal dementia]

Abstract

The behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), characterized by early behavioral disorders, is a rare disease (about 5.000 cases in France). Diagnostic criteria have been revised in 2011 and propose three levels of diagnostic probability. However, it still could be difficult to discriminate FTD from other cerebral affections or psychiatric diseases. Genetic and molecular research has greatly expanded during the past fifteen years. About ten mutations have been discovered, bringing to describe particular phenotypes. To date, there is no curative treatment. Memantine had aroused some hope but is now abandoned. Inhibitors of serotonine recapture often permit to temporarily reduce behavioral troubles. But the caregiver's burden is high. The evolution of the bvFTD is faster than that of AD, particularly when associated with motor neuron disease (15% of cases). The therapeutic hope relies today on potential disease modifying drugs which could ensue from genetic discoveries.

Keywords: behavioral scales; behavioral symptoms; diagnostic criteria; frontotemporal dementia; genetic.