Morphometric correlation of parkinsonian signs in different primary progressive aphasia syndromes

BOLANO DIAZ C; CLAVERIE S; BOROVINSKY, G.; MACARENA MARTÍNEZ CUITIÑO; VAZQUEZ G; FERRARI, J; PONTELLO, NOELIA; COUTO, BLAS; APPIANI F; GARCÍA-CORDERO I; FACUNDO MANES

Encuentro; American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting (AAN 2019); 2019

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association of primary progressive aphasia global and regional brain atrophy and their correlation with parkinsonian signs presenting in these patients. Background: Recent and previous evidence has shown the presence of parkinsonian signs in patients with diagnosis of probable primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Further evidence characterizes differential atrophy patterns in the three syndromes of PPA: non-fluent (PNFA), semantic dementia (SD) and logopenic (PLA). Design/Methods: We cross-sectionally assessed 15 PPA patients (5 PLA, 5 SD, 5 PNFA) with the motor part of the Unified Parkinson´s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-MD-III). MRI morphometry of grey matter was calculated and multiple regressions models were performed entering UPDRS-MD subscores as well as age and years of disease evolution.Results: Results showed no differences among PPA syndromes in years of evolution, age (68,8±6 y.o.), gender (63% female) and total UPDRS-III score. PNFA patients showed more bradykinesia and gait/postural disorders, tremorwas more frequently present in LA. Global morphometry showed atrophy of the frontal and tempora (Left>Right) in the whole PPA sample, whereas regional atrophy of subcortical areas associated with bradykinesia and gait/postural instability. UPDRS-III subscales: bradykinesia in PNFA correlated with frontal and temporal atrophy, and gait/postural disorders with subcortical atrophy. In LA, tremor correlated with parietal atrophy. Conclusions: We conclude that the presence of parkinsonism in PPA patients would not only characterize different subtypes of PPA, but also correspond to different patterns of atrophy.