Voxel-based morphometry patterns of social cognition in PPA and BvFTD

COUTO, JB; BAEZ, S; MANES, F; RICHLY, P; MONTAÑES, P; MATALLANA, D; REYES, P; IBAÑEZ, A

Boston

Conferencia; Alzheimers Association 2013 International Conference; 2013

Alzheimer?s Association

Social cognition impairments are pervasive in the frontotemporal dementias. Nevertheless, these deficits would be triggered by (a) more basic deficits in emotion and face recognition as well as by (b) higher level theory of mind processes (ToM). Both emotional processing and social cognition impairments have been previously reported in the behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD) and also in the primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Methods: We performed a VBM analysis of bvFTD and PPA. In order to extract a neuroanatomic correlation of selective impairments of face recognition, emotion recognition and ToM, contrast t-test between both groups regional atrophy and behavioral scores were assessed. Results: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) shows a classical impairment of mainly orbitofrontal(OFC) anterior cingulate (ACC) insula and lateral temporal cortices. Comparative analysis of regional gray matter related to social cognition deficits (VBM) reveals a differential pattern of fronto-insulo-temporal atrophy in bvFTD and an insulo-temporal involvement in PPA group. Conclusions: Results suggest that in spite of similar social cognition impairments reported in bvFTD and PPA, the former presents an inherent ToM affectation whereas in the PPA the ToM deficit could be related to other more basic processes of face and emotion recognition. These results are interpreted in the frame of the fronto-insulo-temporal social context network model (SCNM).