Frontal-executive versus posterior-perceptual mental status deficits in early-onset dementias.
BACKGROUND
Compared to late-onset dementias, early-onset dementias (EODs) may have greater focal cognitive involvement with differences in frontal-executive compared to posterior-perceptual deficits.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated whether mental status screening based on this frontal-posterior axis can distinguish EODs.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients each with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (eAD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), or subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD), and 20 normal controls underwent the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the Perceptual Assessment Battery (PAB).


RESULTS
Compared to controls, SIVD and FTD groups were impaired on the FAB whereas eAD and SIVD groups were impaired on the PAB. The FAB/PAB ratio further differentiated the groups (F(3,85) = 26.49, P < .001). For sensitivities and specificities of 93%, a cut-off score of 1.25 on the FAB/PAB distinguished eAD, and a cut-off of 0.83 distinguishing FTD.


CONCLUSIONS
Although preliminary, this study indicates that mental status screening based on frontal versus posterior cortical functions may help clinicians diagnose EODs.
Mendez
Mario F
MF
Department of Neurology, Neurobehavior Unit, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California 90073, USA. mmendez@ucla.edu
McMurtray
Aaron M
AM
Licht
Eliot A
EA
Saul
Ronald E
RE