title: [Imaging of language and communication in dementia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social interaction in patients with dementia is compromised by language problems and impairment of other cognitive domains involved in communication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe language and communication problems in patients with dementia and to provide insight into the neurological basis of these problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study is based on some of our own research findings and on relevant literature concerning the imaging of language and communication in patients with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal degeneration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Imaging revealed that the clinical expression of communicative disorders in patients with cortical neurodegeneration depends on regional brain atrophy and a possible functional reorganisation triggered by neuropathological changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brain imaging increases our knowledge about the pathogenesis of communicative disorders in dementia.
authors: Dienst Psychiatrie UZ Leuven, Leuven. mathieu.vandenbulcke@uzleuven.be
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vandenbulcke
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Vandenberghe
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012919:Social Behavior