Clinical aspects of familial forms of frontotemporal dementia associated with parkinsonism

J Mol Neurosci. 2011 Nov;45(3):359-65. doi: 10.1007/s12031-011-9568-5. Epub 2011 Jun 8.

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia is the second most common dementia among people under the age of 65. Fifty percent of affected patients have an associated family history. Several pathogenic genes have been identified for frontotemporal dementia associated with parkinsonism, including microtubule-associated protein tau, progranulin, and chromatin modifying protein 2B, and fused in sarcoma. It has also been reported that frontotemporal dementia associated with parkinsonism can be linked to chromosome 9p. In addition, there are families with frontotemporal dementia associated with a parkinsonian phenotype but unknown genetic status. Some of these kindreds have been diagnosed clinically as familial progressive supranuclear palsy, hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids, "overlap" syndrome, and others. Clinical presentation of frontotemporal dementia associated with parkinsonism is variable at age of symptomatic disease onset, disease duration, symptoms, and their occurrence during the disease course. Clinically, it is often difficult to sort out the different genetic forms of frontotemporal dementia associated with parkinsonism. However, with available clinical genetic testing for known genes, the precise diagnosis can be accomplished in some cases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / genetics
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / etiology
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / genetics
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / pathology*
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / physiopathology*
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / complications
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / genetics
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / pathology*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Pedigree
  • Progranulins
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / genetics
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / genetics
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / pathology
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / physiopathology
  • tau Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • CHMP2B protein, human
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • GRN protein, human
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MAPT protein, human
  • Progranulins
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS
  • tau Proteins

Supplementary concepts

  • Familial progressive supranuclear palsy