A Rare Cause of Dementia in a Young Adult – A Case Report

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia is a clinically and pathologically heterogeneous group of disorders with two main phenotypes; the commoner being a disorder of behavior and function. This dementia is most common before age 60 with more than half being seen in the age range 45-65 years. We report the case of a 27-year-old gentleman who presented with behavioral & personality changes 2 years before his presentation in our clinic. A neurological examination revealed a restless patient with gibberish speech and a positive snout reflex. The rest of the examination was non-focal. MRI brain showed significant atrophy of frontal and temporal lobes with intact parietal and occipital cortex. Based on clinical and radiological findings, we made the diagnosis of Frontotemporal dementia. Our case emphasizes the need to differentiate young-onset dementia from primary psychiatric disorders which are relatively more common at a young age.