Substance use history in behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia versus primary progressive aphasia

Abstract

Background As older adults are prone to cognitive disorders, the interaction of the fields of substance use and misuse and cognitive neuroscience is an emerging area of research. Substance use has been reported in some subtypes of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), such as behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, characterization of substance use in other subtypes of FTD, such as primary progressive aphasia (PPAPH), is unknown. Objective The objective of this baseline analysis was to explore whether any measures of substance use history differed significantly among bvFTD (n = 842) and PPAPH (n = 526) in a large national dataset. Design/Methods The National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s (NACC) Uniform Data Set (UDS) study is a national dataset that collects data on patients with various cognitive disorders and includes some questions on substance use. We used each substance use variable as the outcome and the FTD subtype as the predictor. Results Total years smoked cigarettes, age when last smoked cigarettes, and average # of packs/day smoked when participants smoked, and any recent, remote, or combined recent/remote history of alcohol abuse or drug abuse did not significantly differ between the bvFTD and PPAPH subtypes (all p-values > 0.001). A significantly greater percentage of participants smoked in the last 30 days in the bvFTD subtype (10.4%, n = 834) compared to the PPAPH subtype (3.3%, n = 517) (p < 0.001). Discussion Clinical providers in both the dementia and substance use fields are encouraged to screen for and monitor substance use in all FTD subtypes.

The relationship of history of psychiatric and substance use disorders on risk of dementia among racial and ethnic groups in the United States

“…Although earlier research has shown that heavy or prolonged use of illicit substances (e.g., cannabis, opioids, etc.) is linked to a higher risk of dementia ( 68 , 69 ), our findings did not support this link. This might be related to the assessment of other substances use history, which only inquired about clinical impairments in work, driving, legal, and social activities caused by other substance use in the past 12 months.…”

Chromatin architecture in addiction circuitry elucidates biological mechanisms underlying cigarette smoking and alcohol use traits

“…We also identified a potential role of protein folding that has been shown to contribute to the stress response 39 . A potential link between substance use and neurodegeneration emerged, such as amyloid-beta metabolic processes for CPD and tau protein binding for DPW 40, 41 . Lastly, pain perception was associated with DPW and CPD, consistent with prior research linking pain perception and the reward circuitry 42, 43 .…”

Demencia frontotemporal – variante conductual como diagnóstico diferencial de trastornos psiquiátricos primarios

“…El abuso de sustancias psicoactivas es un área de creciente interés en el estudio de las poblaciones geriátricas (81). Una característica prominente de la DFTvc es la desinhibición conductual, la que se puede manifestar clínicamente en abuso de sustancias psicoactivas.…”

“…Así como hay diversos reportes de caso asociando DFTvc a abuso de alcohol, se ha demostrado que los problemas de drogodependencias también pueden presentarse en otras variantes de DFT como la APP: sobre todo a predominio de alcohol y tabaco. El inicio súbito y a edad tardía de consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, sin antecedentes previos, obliga a considerar entre otras posibilidades una DFTvc (81).…”