Brain Study of Patients With Frontal Lobe Dementia and Parkinsonian Disorders

Objective

To continue the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies performed by the Cognitive
Neuroscience Section of NINDS on the neuroanatomy, cerebral metabolism, neuropsychology, and
genetics of frontotemporal dementia, corticobasal syndrome, and related brain disorders.

Study population

Frontal lobe dementias and atypical basal ganglia disorders including frontotemporal
dementia, corticobasal syndrome, and related brain disorders.

Design

A cross-sectional assessment of neuropsychological, brain anatomical and metabolic function,
and genetic measures in subjects with these disorders.

Outcome measures

MRI, FDG-PET, neuropsychological and clinical tests, genetics, and neuropathology.

- Subjects will be recruited from the NIH referral center, neurological and psychiatric
clinics, from self or family referral in response to advertisements or from private
physicians. Healthy volunteers will include subjects who are considered at-risk for
the development of FTD or CBS and subjects who serve as normal controls matched for
key characteristics with the patients.

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PATIENTS:

- Diagnosis of possible / probable FTD or CBS

- Caregiver willing and able to accept the responsibilities involved in the study

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Pregnant women. Women of childbearing potential will be screened by history for the
possibility of pregnancy and undergo a urine pregnancy test. These women will be
excluded from the imaging portions of the protocol.

- Behavioral symptoms that would preclude the gathering of data for the study

- Other medical or social condition that would preclude participation in the opinion of
the investigators