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Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIR) Based Detection of Increased Prefrontal Cortex Activity in Frontotemporal Dementia
Abstract

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIR) Based Detection of Increased Prefrontal Cortex Activity in Frontotemporal Dementia

Jillian Edwards, Tooba Fayyaz, Lauren Scull, Hasan Ayaz, Patricia Shewokis, David Libon, Carol Lippa, Anahita Deboo and Terry Heiman-Patterson
Neurology, v 82(10_supplement), P3.217
08 Apr 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.82.10_supplement.P3.217

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To detect hemodynamic changes using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIR) in patients with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) compared with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and control subjects. BACKGROUND: It is well recognized that both ALS and FTD have frontally mediated cognitive deficits. Furthermore, it is now known that there is genetic overlap in individuals with ALS and FTD (C9ORF72 and TDP-43 binding protein). Given that both have frontal pathology; we compared oxygen metabolism in ALS and FTD subjects using fNIR. fNIR is a non-invasive, safe and portable technology that allows us to determine task related brain activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). DESIGN/METHODS: fNIR evaluation was performed on 17 ALS, 9 FTD and 17 healthy controls (HC),comparing oxygen utilization during three different cognitive tests (Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), Number Interference Test (NIT) and the King-Devick Test (KDT)). The PVT is a sustained-attention, visual-response task, and the KDT, a three-part rapid number naming task, and the NIT, a three-part computerized adapation of the Stroop Test, which targets working memory and maintenance of a complex mental set. Between group differences were assessed by Welch ANOVAs (p=0.10) to account for unequal sample sizes and variances. RESULTS: Significant differences in oxygenation were observed during the KDT in both the Right [F(2,14.774)=7.581, p=0.005] (ALS=0.121±0.033,FTD=0.352±0.292, HC=0.033±0.065) and Left [F(2,14.403)=4.847,p=0.025] (ALS=0.076±0.096, FTD=0.250±0.237, HC=0.022±0.053) PFC. Bonferroni post-hoc analysis revealed significant differences between FTD and HC (p<0.001), as well as FTD and ALS (p<0.009), but not between ALS and HC (p>0.289). No significant differences between groups were observed during the NIT or PVT. CONCLUSIONS: fNIR detected increased oxygen utilization in the PFC of FTD subjects compared to both ALS and control subjects during tests that target working memory. Further investigation of fNIR as a diagnostic tool and possible biomarker of frontal lobe involvement in dementias should be pursued.

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