title: Quantitative electroencephalography in frontotemporal dementia with methylphenidate response: a case study.
abstract: Frontotemporal dementia is an underdiagnosed illness with predominant behavioral and executive manifestations. Historically, diagnosis has been based on a combination of clinical history, neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging. No effective treatment currently exists for this disorder. A case is presented using quantitative EEG with methylphenidate challenge correlated with SPECT. The patient underwent neuropsychological testing, a SPECT brain study, and a quantitative EEG, which was repeated after methylphenidate administration. SPECT was significant for hypoperfusion to the bilateral frontotemporal regions, with left-sided hypoperfusion greater than homologous right as demonstrated by LORETA analysis. QEEG correlated with SPECT, and demonstrated profound left greater than right bi-frontotemporal slowing, which normalized partially after methylphenidate administration. The patient has remained on methylphenidate as an outpatient, and has had significant behavioral improvement. Quantitative EEG may provide both diagnostic and therapeutic data with regard to frontotemporal dementia. Further studies of methylphenidate in this population are needed to confirm these data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Harold W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Goforth
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Konopka
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Primeau
authors.forename: Amity
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Roopal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poprawski
authors.forename: Parvez
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shirazi
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate