title: Magnetic resonance imaging in frontotemporal dementia shows subcortical atrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The clinical syndrome of the frontotemporal dementias (FTD) overlaps with frontal-subcortical circuit syndromes. We explored the extent to which subcortical atrophy on structural magnetic resonance imaging may indicate a subcortical contribution to the progression of FTD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional case-control study compared striatal and thalamic gray matter volumes and functional levels from 30 FTD cases and 30 age- and gender-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FTD group had significantly more atrophy in all gray matter subcortical regions, correlating with ipsilateral frontocortical atrophy. Subcortical atrophy was also associated with functional disability. Subcortical asymmetry was most marked in subjects with primary progressive aphasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subcortical gray matter atrophy may contribute as significantly to symptoms of FTD as cortical atrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada. tchow@rotman-baycrest.on.ca
authors.forename: Tiffany W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izenberg
authors.forename: Malcolm A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Binns
authors.forename: Morris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Donald T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Stuss
authors.forename: Chris J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001284:Atrophy; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*