Diagnosing Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

Launched by UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK, TORONTO · Nov 10, 2016

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on finding better ways to diagnose a group of brain disorders known as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). These conditions can affect how people think, behave, and communicate. The goal of the study is to create reliable diagnostic tools to help doctors accurately identify patients with specific FTLD-related syndromes, such as behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and other related disorders.

To participate, individuals aged 65 to 87 with a reliable study partner who can help evaluate their functioning may be eligible. Participants must meet specific criteria related to their symptoms and must be able to understand and communicate in English. Those who have certain other neurological conditions or a history of brain injury will not be included. If you join the study, you'll undergo tests and evaluations to help researchers gather important information about these disorders. It's also important to note that pregnant women and individuals with certain medical implants will be excluded due to safety concerns.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Participant must have a reliable study partner who can provide an independent evaluation of functioning.
• • Able to read, understand and speak English for neuropsychological testing.
• • All subjects must meet one of these diagnostic criteria (A) probable behavioral variant FTD, (B) MRI-supported non-fluent variant PPA; (C) MRI-supported semantic variant PPA and \[18F\]T807 negative (D) probable CBS: using current criteria for CBS(27); (E) PSP: inclusion criteria for PSP are based upon the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Society of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (NINDS-SPSP) (F) FTD-MND
• • Control subjects must have a normal neurological exam, a CDR sum of boxes = 0, and MMSE score equal to or greater than 28
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients with clinical, imaging or CSF A beta/ tau profile consistent with AD
• • History of traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, stroke or other neurological or psychiatric disorders that can explain symptoms will be excluded.
• • Premenopausal women will be asked to consent to a pregnancy test prior to each scan as pregnant women will be excluded from study because of potential harm to fetus from PET study.
• • Presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, metal fragments or foreign objects in the eyes, skin or body.