title: Childhood Learning Disabilities and Atypical Dementia: A Retrospective Chart Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To further our understanding of the association between self-reported childhood learning disabilities (LDs) and atypical dementia phenotypes (Atypical Dementia), including logopenic primary progressive aphasia (L-PPA), Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), and Dysexecutive-type Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective case series analysis of 678 comprehensive neuropsychological assessments compared rates of self-reported LD between dementia patients diagnosed with Typical AD and those diagnosed with Atypical Dementia. 105 cases with neuroimaging or CSF data available and at least one neurology follow-up were identified as having been diagnosed by the neuropsychologist with any form of neurodegenerative dementia. These cases were subject to a consensus diagnostic process among three dementia experts using validated clinical criteria for AD and PPA. LD was considered Probable if two or more statements consistent with prior LD were documented within the Social & Developmental History of the initial neuropsychological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  85 subjects (Typical AD n=68, Atypical AD n=17) were included in the final analysis. In logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, handedness, education and symptom duration, patients with Probable LD, compared to patients without Probable LD, were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with Atypical Dementia vs. Typical AD (OR 13.1, 95% CI 1.3-128.4). All three of the L-PPA cases reporting a childhood LD endorsed childhood difficulty with language. By contrast, both PCA cases reporting Probable childhood LD endorsed difficulty with attention and/or math.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In people who develop dementia, childhood LD may predispose to atypical phenotypes. Future studies are required to confirm whether atypical neurodevelopment predisposes to regional-specific neuropathology in AD and other dementias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seifan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assuras
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Cognitive neuroscience division, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Huey
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mez
authors.affiliation: Cognitive neuroscience division, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsapanou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caccappolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications*; D018888:Aphasia, Primary Progressive / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D003704:Dementia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D057174:Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010641:Phenotype; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies