Genetics, molecular biology, neuropathology and phenotype of frontal lobe dementia: a case history

Br J Psychiatry. 2002 May:180:455-60. doi: 10.1192/bjp.180.5.455.

Abstract

Background: Mutations in tau have been found in a group of related disorders including the frontal lobe dementias.

Aims: To describe the clinical features and molecular pathology changes in a single case of a patient with frontal lobe dementia.

Method: A case report was compiled from neuropathological reports and genomic and gene expression analyses.

Results: A case with a splice-site mutation resulting in a typical frontotemporal clinical and neuropathological phenotype was found. Gene expression analysis suggests differential expression of isoforms of tau in regions in the brain. CONCLUSIONS; Frontotemporal dementia can result from gene mutations that alter splicing and expression of tau.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dementia / genetics*
  • Dementia / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Pedigree
  • Phenotype
  • tau Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • tau Proteins