Apathy in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia predicts cognitive decline and is driven by structural brain changes.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Apathy adversely affects prognosis and survival of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We test whether apathy develops in presymptomatic genetic FTD, and is associated with cognitive decline and brain atrophy.

Methods

Presymptomatic carriers of MAPT, GRN or C9orf72 mutations (N = 304), and relatives without mutations (N = 296) underwent clinical assessments and MRI at baseline, and annually for 2 years. Longitudinal changes in apathy, cognition, gray matter volumes, and their relationships were analyzed with latent growth curve modeling.

Results

Apathy severity increased over time in presymptomatic carriers, but not in non-carriers. In presymptomatic carriers, baseline apathy predicted cognitive decline over two years, but not vice versa. Apathy

SUBMITTER: Malpetti M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8247340 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature