[Frontotemporal dementia: neurotransmitter and clinical symptoms with focus on therapeutic targets].

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia is more frequently diagnosed because of revised diagnostic procedures. Due to the lack of pharmacological trials it is a disease that is difficult to manage in the way of evidence based medicine. Deficits in serotonergic and dopaminergic signal-transmission are well known. The cholinergic system does not seem to be affected. Case reports and clinical trials show a benefit by using antidepressants, neuroleptics and mood stabilizers. Nevertheless only paroxetine, trazodone and rivastigmine are tested by double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. While paroxetine shows inconsistent data, trazodone improves behavioural symptoms. Patients report a treatment-emergent adverse effect including fatigue, dizziness and hypotension. Rivastigmine leads to a significant decrease in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Score. Finally, we present a two-cases-report that shows improve of disease symptoms under treatment with repetitive transcranial magnet stimulation.

• Authors: B Lenz, C Sidiropoulos, S Bleich, J Kornhuber
• Journal: Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie (Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr) Vol. 77 Issue 5 Pg. 289-94 (May 2009) ISSN: 1439-3522 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Frontotemporale Demenz: Neurotransmitter und klinische Symptomatik im Fokus therapeutischer Uberlegungen.
• PMID: 19418387 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents
• Antipsychotic Agents
• Neurotransmitter Agents
• Psychotropic Drugs

Topics

• Aged
• Antidepressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antipsychotic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dementia (drug therapy, physiopathology, psychology, therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Neurotransmitter Agents (metabolism, physiology)
• Psychotropic Drugs (therapeutic use)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation