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P3‐166: Epidemiology of Frontotemporal dementia in southern Italy

2009; Wiley; Volume: 5; Issue: 4S_Part_13 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jalz.2009.04.1040

1552-5279

Amalia C. Bruni, Francesca Frangipane, Rosanna Colao, Gianfranco Puccio, Sabrina A.M. Curcio, Maria Mirabelli, Raffaele Maletta, Maria Anfossi, Livia Bernardi, Maura Gallo, Silvana Geracitano, Carmine Tomaino, Maria Gabriella Muraca, Alessandra Clodomiro, Raffaele Di Lorenzo, Francesco Comito, Vincenzo Valenti, Sandra Marzano, Nicoletta Smirne,

Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Although Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is generally indicated as the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's Disease (AD), epidemiological specific studies aimed to measure the prevalence are rarely conducted. Specifically, no data exist in Italian population. Aim of the study was to calculate the prevalence rate of FTD in a rural population of southern Italy where a large FTD family with a PGRN mutation has been described (Bruni et al, Neurology 2007). The whole population of all residents who were aged ≥ 50 y (702 subjects mean age 71.9 ± 11.2) was selected for a door to door study. Screening instruments were: 1) a questionnaire containing demographic characteristics; 2) a form collecting data on health and vascular risk factors filled out by the family physician; 3) MMSE, ADL, IADL, phonological and categorical verbal fluency. Subjects presenting with MMSE score ≤ 21and/or behavioural disturbances and/or altered verbal fluency performed a complete neurological/neuropsychological evaluation by using a Mental Deterioration Battery (Carlesimo et al. Eur Neurol, 1996).A venous blood sample was taken for biochemistry and APOE genotype. 509 individuals (72%, mean age 71.6 ± 11.1; 55.4% of females) accepted to participate. 18.1% (92 persons) performed the second step. 29 patients showed dementia: three patients (10.3%) were diagnosed as having AD, three patients (10.3%) had VaD, 16 (55.2%) had FTD, one person had Parkinson dementia (3.5%), six patients (20.7%) showed other forms of dementia. Overall prevalence of dementia was 5.7 (95% CI 3.8 to 8.2) per 100. FTD prevalence was 3.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 5.1) per 100.Mean age at onset in FTD patients resulted 77.3 years, there was a female preponderance (11:5) and APOEϵ4 allele frequency in FTD patients was 12.5% (NS). Overall prevalence rate of dementia is in agreement with the Italian Longitudinal study on Aging (International Journal Epidemiology, 1997). Prevalence rate of FTD is however, higher and showing a later onset than previously reported. APOEe4 allele is not statistically associated with FTD. Higher FTD prevalence could be explained by a founder effect probably present in this isolated population.