Obsessive-compulsive behavior as a symptom of dementia in progressive supranuclear palsy

Uncommon and/or bizarre features of dementia: Part III

Clinical neurologists have long recognized that dementia can present as atypical or variant syndromes/symptoms. This study aimed at describing uncommon or bizarre symptoms/syndromes observed in patients suffering from dementia. Medline and Google scholar searches were conducted for relevant articles, chapters, and books published before 2018. Search terms used included compulsion, dementia, extracampine hallucination, disordered gambling, humour, and obsession. Publications found through this indexed search were reviewed for further relevant references. The uncommon/bizarre feature of dementia was described as case reports and there were no systematic investigations.

Radiological biomarkers for diagnosis in PSP: Where are we and where do we need to be?

PSP is a pathologically defined neurodegenerative tauopathy with a variety of clinical presentations including typical Richardson's syndrome and other variant PSP syndromes. A large body of neuroimaging research has been conducted over the past two decades, with many studies proposing different structural MRI and molecular PET/SPECT biomarkers for PSP. These include measures of brainstem, cortical and striatal atrophy, diffusion weighted and diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities, [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose PET hypometabolism, reductions in striatal dopamine imaging and, most recently, PET imaging with ligands that bind to tau. Our aim was to critically evaluate the degree to which structural and molecular neuroimaging metrics fulfill criteria for diagnostic biomarkers of PSP. We queried the PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, and PSYCInfo databases for original research articles published in English over the past 20 years using postmortem diagnosis or the NINDS-SPSP criteria as the diagnostic standard from 1996 to 2016. We define a five-level theoretical construct for the utility of neuroimaging biomarkers in PSP, with level 1 representing group-level findings, level 2 representing biomarkers with demonstrable individual-level diagnostic utility, level 3 representing biomarkers for early disease, level 4 representing surrogate biomarkers of PSP pathology, and level 5 representing definitive PSP biomarkers of PSP pathology. We discuss the degree to which each of the currently available biomarkers fit into this theoretical construct, consider the role of biomarkers in the diagnosis of Richardson's syndrome, variant PSP syndromes and autopsy confirmed PSP, and emphasize current shortfalls in the field. © 2017 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy and Essential Tremor

INTRODUCTION

aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of the Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPeD) in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Essential Tremor (ET) and in a group of healthy subjects.

METHODS

patients affected by MSA, PSP and ET diagnosed according to currently accepted diagnostic criteria and a group of healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Patients with cognitive impairment were excluded from the study. The Structured Clinical Interview for Personality Disorders-II (SCID-II) has been performed to evaluate the presence of personality disorders (PeDs). The diagnosis of OCPeD was confirmed by a psychiatric interview.

RESULTS

fifteen MSA patients (8 men and 7 women; aged 62.9 ± 7.6 years), 14 PSP patients (8 men and 6 women; aged 69.8 ± 4.4 years), 16 ET patients (10 men and 6 women; aged 70.4 ± 6.4 years) and 20 healthy subjects (10 men and 10 women; aged 65.5 ± 6.0 years) were enrolled. OCPeD was recorded in 5 (35.7%) PSP patients, 2 (13.3%) MSA patients, 2 (12.5%) ET patient and 2 (10%) controls.

CONCLUSION

a low frequency of OCPeD, close to those recorded in healthy subjects, was recorded in both MSA and ET patients. Conversely an higher frequency of OCPeD, similar to PD was found among PSP patients, supporting the possibility of an impairment of common basal ganglia network possibly involving the orbito-frontal circuits.

A case of atypical progressive supranuclear palsy

BACKGROUND

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative extrapyramidal syndrome. Studies have demonstrated that PSP can present clinically as an atypical dementing syndrome dominated by a progressive apraxia of speech (AOS) and aphasia.

AIM

We aimed to investigate the clinical presentation of PSP, using a comprehensive multidimensional evaluation, and the disease response to various pharmacological treatments.

METHODS

A 72-year-old right-handed male, with 17 years education, who first presented with aphasia, AOS, depression, apathy, and postural instability at 69 years; a complete neuropsychological evaluation, tapping the different cognitive domains, was performed.

RESULTS

Testing revealed a moderate global cognitive deficit (Mini-Mental State Examination test score =20), low memory test scores (story recall, Rey's 15-word Immediate and Delayed Recall), and poor phonemic and semantic fluency. The patient's language was characterized by AOS, with slow speech rate, prolonged intervals between syllables and words, decreased articulatory accuracy, sound distortions, and anomia. Behavioral changes, such as depression, anxiety, apathy, and irritability, were reported. The neurological examination revealed supranuclear vertical gaze palsy, poor face miming, and a mild balance deficit. Magnetic resonance imaging showed only widespread cortical atrophy. Single photon emission computed tomography demonstrated left > right frontotemporal cortical abnormalities. After 6 months, a further neuropsychological assessment showed a progression in cognitive deficits, with additional attention deficits. The patient reported frequent falls, but the neurological deficits remained unchanged. Neuroimaging tests showed the same brain involvement.

CONCLUSION

Our case highlights the heterogeneity of the clinical features in this syndrome, demonstrating that atypical PSP can present as AOS and aphasia, without the classical features or involvement of the subcortical gray and brainstem region, commonly affected in typical PSP.