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Home > The Progressive Acalculia Presentation of Parietal Variant Alzheimer's Disease.

TitleThe Progressive Acalculia Presentation of Parietal Variant Alzheimer's Disease.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsMendez, MF, Moheb, N, Desarzant, RE, Teng, EH
JournalJ Alzheimers Dis
Volume63
Issue3
Pagination941-948
Date Published2018
ISSN1875-8908
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD; age of onset 

METHODS: We reviewed 276 EOAD patients for presentations with predominant acalculia. These patients were diagnosed with clinically probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) verified by positron emission tomography (PET) or cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β or tau biomarkers.

RESULTS: We identified 18 (9M/9F) (6.5%) EOAD patients with progressive acalculia that did not meet most criteria for lvPPA, visual PCA, or CBS. Their ages of onset and presentation were 56.6 (5.0) and 59.4 (6.5), respectively. Their acalculia was consistent with a primary acalculia ("anarithmetia") not explained by language or visuospatial impairments. Many also had anomia (14/18), ideomotor apraxia (13/18), and the complete Gerstmann's syndrome (7/18). Visual analysis of their diverse magnetic resonance imaging disclosed biparietal atrophy, disproportionately worse on the left.

CONCLUSIONS: Primary acalculia may be the most common manifestation of an inferior parietal presentation of EOAD affecting the left intraparietal sulcus. This parietal variant also commonly involves progressive anomia, ideomotor apraxia, and other elements of Gerstmann's syndrome. The early recognition of patients with this variant, which is distinguishable from lvPPA, visual PCA, or CBS, would be facilitated by its recognition as a unique subtype of EOAD.

DOI10.3233/JAD-180024
Alternate JournalJ. Alzheimers Dis.
PubMed ID29710718
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Source URL: https://www.j-alz.com/content/progressive-acalculia-presentation-parietal-variant-alzheimers-disease