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. 2024 Dec 2;7(12):e2448601.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.48601.

Altered Empathy Processing in Frontotemporal Dementia

Olof Lindberg  1 , Tie-Qiang Li  2   3 , Cecilia Lind  4 , Susanna Vestberg  5 , Ove Almkvist  1   6 , Mikael Stiernstedt  7 , Anita Ericson  4 , Nenad Bogdanovic  1 , Oskar Hansson  8   9 , Luke Harper  8 , Eric Westman  1 , Caroline Graff  1   10   11 , Theofanis Tsevis  1   10 , Peter Mannfolk  12 , Håkan Fischer  6   13   14 , Gustav Nilsonne  6   15 , Predrag Petrovic  16   17 , Lars Nyberg  7   18   19 , Lars-Olof Wahlund  1 , Alexander F Santillo  8
Affiliations

Altered Empathy Processing in Frontotemporal Dementia

Olof Lindberg et al. JAMA Netw Open. .
No abstract available

Plain language summary

This case-control study examines differences in empathetic response of patients experiencing behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Hansson reported receiving grants from ADx, AVID Radiopharmaceuticals, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Eisai, Fujirebio, GE Healthcare, Pfizer, and Roche; he reported receiving consulting or speaker fees from AC Immune, Amylyx, Alzpath, BioArctic, Biogen, Bristol Meyer Squibb, Cerveau, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Fujirebio, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Sanofi, and Siemens. Dr Graff reported grants from Schörling Foundation, Hjärnfonden, Alzheimerfonden, ALF-project Region Stockholm, and Swedish Medical Research Council during the conduct of the study. Dr Nyberg reported personal fees for work as a reviewer from Alzheimer Foundation outside the submitted work. Dr Santillo reported receiving grants from The Bundy Academy, the Schörling Foundation, and the Kockska Foundation during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Experimental fMRI Paradigm and BOLD Signal Change in the Empathy of Pain Contrast
The figure shows 1 example of the 20 images of Q-tip touching a hand (A) and 1 example of the 20 images of a needle pricking a hand (B) displayed during the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. A fixation cross is displayed for 3 to 5 seconds, followed by the text “What is the hand feeling?” displayed for 3 seconds. Subsequently the image is displayed for 3.5 seconds, after which a black image is displayed for 4.5 seconds before a new cycle is initiated with a new fixation cross. Areas with significant increased blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) signal in control participants (C) and in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (D) in the empathy of pain contrast. The color bar displays z-scores (red z > 3.1, yellow z = 4.5). From left to right sagittal, coronal, and axial slices at MNI coordinates x = −2, y = 12, z = −2. Last axial slice at MNI coordinates x = 62, y = −32, z = 32.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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