Pathological gambling and epilepsy in patients with frontotemporal dementia: two case reports

Authors

  • Sheila Castro-Suarez Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas. Lima, Perú. Médica neuróloga
  • Peggy Martinez Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas. Lima, Perú. Médica neuróloga. magíster en Neurociencias.
  • María Meza Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas. Lima, Perú. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Perú. Médica neuróloga. magíster en Neuropsicología.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2016.333.2332

Keywords:

Behavioral, Dementia, Frontotemporal dementia

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder of which the behavioral variant is most common. This condition is currently considered the most common cause of dementia in people younger than 60 years. Here, we present two unrelated cases in which the typical symptoms were cognitive and behavioral progressive deterioration and psychiatric disorders such as disinhibition, impulsive acts, apathy, lack of empathy, stereotypies, and changes in eating habits. The first case exhibited pathological gambling as the initial symptom and resided in a psychiatric facility for a year. Notably, this was the second such case in Latin America and one of only a few such cases reported worldwide. The second case presented with epileptic seizures during evolution. In both cases, brain magnetic resonance revealed left-predominant frontotemporal atrophy, and alterations in executive function were evident during neuropsychological assessments.

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Published

2016-08-09

Issue

Section

Case Report

How to Cite

1.
Castro-Suarez S, Martinez P, Meza M. Pathological gambling and epilepsy in patients with frontotemporal dementia: two case reports. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2016 Aug. 9 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];33(3):588-92. Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/2332

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