title: A systematic review of neurotransmitter deficits and treatments in frontotemporal dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate neurotransmitter deficiencies and neurotransmitter-based treatments for frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature on the mechanism and treatment of FTD and a meta-analysis of treatment studies of antidepressants for the behavioral symptoms of FTD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with FTD show deficiencies in the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems, while the acetylcholine system appears relatively intact. Antidepressant treatment significantly improves behavioral symptoms in FTD, but most studies are small and uncontrolled. Serotonergic treatments appear to improve the behavioral but not cognitive symptoms of FTD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies of neurotransmitter deficiencies in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) can be helpful in developing treatments. Treatment studies on FTD are scarce, given the prevalence and severity of this illness. Larger, well-controlled treatment studies are required to reach more definitive conclusions about treatment efficacy. Multicenter studies are likely the best way to complete treatment studies in a timely manner.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Section, NINDS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. hueye@ninds.nih.gov
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Huey
authors.forename: Karen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Putnam
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grafman
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003704:Dementia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000172:deficiency; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000172:deficiency; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine