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Cognitive Reserve in Individuals with Frontotemporal Dementia: A Systematic Review

Wiley
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Authors:

Abstract

Background In comparison to robust evidence for cognitive reserve (CR) in individuals with Alzheimer’s‐related dementia, the literature on CR in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is still emerging. A clear consensus on the relationship among CR, brain status, and clinical performance has not been reached. The aims of this systematic review were to: 1) document the FTD disorders represented in this literature and their diagnosis descriptions, 2) classify the sociobehavioral proxies of CR used, 3) identify the tools used to measure disease severity, clinical performance, and brain status, and 4) examine the relationship between CR and brain status in individuals with FTD. Method Systematic review of the literature was conducted using a comprehensive range of relevant search terms in Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science. Eligibility criteria were for studies to: include at least one proxy of CR and one brain status measure for individuals with FTD, be published in a peer‐reviewed journal, and be published in English. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies and risk of bias based on three domains: participant selection, comparability of included groups, and quality of outcome measures. Result A total of 220 titles and abstracts were screened, with 13 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Together, these studies report 1,423 participants diagnosed with FTD. Across studies, three proxies of CR were incorporated as either continuous or categorical variables: education, occupation, and leisure. Seven tools were used to measure disease severity and three neuroimaging tools were used to measure brain status. All included studies reported significant associations between a CR proxy and a brain measure. However, only partial support was demonstrated for the CR theory in individuals with FTD when education, occupation, and leisure involvement were analyzed in relation to disease severity. Conclusion The variable results among studies could be related to the different tools used to measure CR, the numerous brain status measures incoporated, and the different ways researchers determine disease severity. Recommendations for future studies include incorporating longitudinal designs, using in‐depth neuropsychological testing, improving measurement of disease duration, and transparant reporting of statistical output.
DOI: 10.1002/alz.085267
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
POSTER PRESENTATION
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
Cognitive Reserve in Individuals with Frontotemporal
Dementia: A Systematic Review
Lauren A Grebe1,2Jet MJ Vonk3Elizabeth Galletta4Mira Goral5
1St. John’s University, Queens, NY, USA
2CUNY Graduate Center,New York, NY, USA
3University of California San Francisco (UCSF),
San Francisco, CA, USA
4NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New
York, NY, USA
5Lehman College, Bronx, NY, USA
Correspondence
Lauren A Grebe, St. John’s University, Queens,
NY, USA.
Email: grebel@stjohns.edu
Abstract
Background: In comparison to robust evidence for cognitive reserve (CR) in individuals
with Alzheimer’s-related dementia, the literature on CR in frontotemporal dementia
(FTD) is still emerging. A clear consensus on the relationship among CR, brain status,
and clinical performance has not been reached. The aims of this systematic review
were to: 1) document the FTD disorders represented in this literature and their
diagnosis descriptions, 2) classify the sociobehavioral proxies of CR used, 3) identify
the tools used to measure disease severity, clinical performance, and brain status, and
4) examine the relationship between CR and brain status in individuals with FTD.
Method: Systematic review of the literature was conducted using a comprehensive
range of relevant search terms in Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science.
Eligibility criteria were for studies to: include at least one proxy of CR and one
brain status measure for individuals with FTD, be published in a peer-reviewed
journal, and be published in English. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale
was used to assess the quality of the included studies and risk of bias based on
three domains: participant selection, comparability of included groups, and quality of
outcome measures.
Result: A total of 220 titles and abstracts were screened, with 13 studies meeting
inclusion criteria. Together, these studies report 1,423 participants diagnosed with
FTD. Across studies, three proxies of CR were incorporated as either continuous or
categorical variables: education, occupation, and leisure. Seven tools were used to
measure disease severity and three neuroimaging tools were used to measure brain
status. All included studies reported significant associations between a CR proxy and
a brain measure. However, only partial support was demonstrated for the CR theory
in individuals with FTD when education, occupation, and leisure involvement were
analyzed in relation to disease severity.
Conclusion: The variable results among studies could be related to the different
tools used to measure CR, the numerous brain status measures incoporated, and the
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© 2024 The Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer’s Association.
Alzheimer’s Dement. 2024;20(Suppl. 3):e085267. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/alz 1of3
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.085267
2of3 CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
different ways researchers determine disease severity. Recommendations for future
studies include incorporating longitudinal designs, using in-depth neuropsychological
testing, improving measurement of disease duration, and transparant reporting of
statistical output.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS 3of3
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