(a) Stereotactic floor projection of a true-positive bvFTD affected person displaying apparent frontal lobe hypometabolism and their gray-scale picture additionally displaying apparent frontal lobe hypometabolism (b, arrow). (c) Stereotactic floor projection of a false-positive affected person who didn’t meet standards for a scientific dysfunction. A registration artifact throughout the interhemispheric fissure was misinterpreted as hypometabolism (arrow) whereas their gray-scale picture confirmed regular glucose metabolism (d). Credit score: European Journal of Neurology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ene.70036
College of Queensland researchers have found that just about 70% of suspected frontotemporal dementia sufferers finally didn’t have the illness in a examine aimed toward figuring out elements that contribute to misdiagnosis of this notoriously tough to diagnose dysfunction.
Psychiatrist Dr. Joshua Flavell, working with cognitive neurologist Professor Peter Nestor on the Mater Hospital Reminiscence and Cognitive Problems clinic and UQ’s Queensland Mind Institute, analyzed information from 100 sufferers suspected of getting frontotemporal dementia who had been referred by specialist physicians like neurologists, psychiatrists or geriatricians.
“Of the 100 patients, 34 were true-positive, and 66 were false-positive for frontotemporal dementia,” Dr. Flavell mentioned.
“We discovered that misinterpretation of mind scans, significantly nuclear imaging, led to 32 sufferers being incorrectly identified.
“Likewise, cognitive testing, such as tests of executive function, also contributed to misdiagnoses in 20 patients.”
The examine, revealed within the European Journal of Neurology, in contrast the preliminary referral info with the ultimate scientific diagnoses to find out patterns in diagnostic accuracy.
Frontotemporal dementia is without doubt one of the commonest types of dementia in individuals aged below 65.
Not like Alzheimer’s, which is characterised by reminiscence issues, frontotemporal dementia entails degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes of the mind, affecting character and conduct.
Dr. Flavell mentioned the examine highlighted the necessity for cautious interpretation of diagnostic exams in sufferers suspected of getting the illness.
“We found patients with prior psychiatric histories were more likely to be misdiagnosed,” he mentioned.
“Misinterpretation of brain scans and cognitive testing, particularly formal neuropsychological testing, significantly contributed to inaccurate diagnoses.”
Professor Nestor mentioned physicians ought to be cautious to not over-interpret neuroimaging and neuropsychology outcomes and be hesitant to label behavioral change as frontotemporal dementia in sufferers with prior psychiatric histories.
“More emphasis should be placed on directly observing behaviors associated with frontotemporal dementia and physical neurological signs in the clinic, rather than relying solely on second-hand reports of symptoms,” he mentioned.
“The group in contrast the preliminary referral analysis of suspected frontotemporal dementia to long-term final result, following individuals for so long as 5 years to be assured of the analysis.
“By raising awareness of these pitfalls in the diagnostic process, we feel that diagnostic accuracy for frontotemporal dementia can be improved.”
Extra info:
Joshua Flavell et al, Elements related to true‐constructive and false‐constructive diagnoses of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia in 100 consecutive referrals from specialist physicians, European Journal of Neurology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ene.70036
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Research finds almost 70% of suspected frontotemporal dementia sufferers had been misdiagnosed (2025, February 10)
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