Four years’ experience in an early‐onset dementia clinic in Barcelona

• DOI: 10.1002/alz.037911
• Publication Date: 2020-12-07T19:02:19Z
• Authors: José Contador; Adrià Tort‐Merino; Mircea Balasa; Neus Falgàs; Jaume Olives; Magdalena Castellví; Jordi Juncà; Sergi Borrego‐Écija; Beatriz Bosch; Guadalupe Fernánd...; Oscar Ramos‐Campoy; Anna Antonell; Raquel Sanchez‐Valle; Albert Lladó
• Keywords: Memory clinic; Cognitive Decline

Abstract Background Early‐onset dementia (EOD; <65 years) raises both diagnostic and social/health care challenges. Services for are often designed the elderly might have difficulties supplying EOD needs. Clinical epidemiological data needed planning. Method We aim to describe demographic clinical characteristics of all new referrals our clinic during last 4 years (2016‐2019). charts were reviewed retrospectively. Both, sporadic genetic cases included in analysis. evaluate type symptoms, frequency ancillary tests requested final diagnosis. Results evaluated 477 early‐onset patients [mean age at consultation (MAC) 54.6 (SD=±9.6), 56% female] this period. The first visit was counseling 17.8% [MAC 48.3(±13.3), 55.3% evaluation 82.2% 56(±8), 56.1% [Figures 1 & 2]. Among cases, memory complains main symptom (67.1%), followed by behavioral (13%) language disturbance (11.2%). Complete neuropsychological performed 61.2%, CSF biomarkers 30.9%, PET‐FDG 22.4%, PET‐amyloid 12.5% testing 10.5%. Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) diagnosed 51.8% these 54.2(±8), 63.5% female, Mean MMSE 27(±4)], while an abnormal cognition found 48.2% 58(±7.5), 48.1% 23(±6)]. Regarding causes, 54% due neurodegenerative dementias 60(±5.5), 47.1% females, 22(±6)] 46% non‐neurodegenerative 55.5(±8.8), 49.4% 25(±5)]. mean time diagnosis 3.1 (±3.75) with no differences between groups (p=0,207). In dementias, AD constitutes 51% 61.6(±4), 51.9% 20(±6)] Frontotemporal lobular degeneration (FTLD) 34.3% 58.5(±5.3), 45,7% 24(±5)]. Conclusion SCD is a frequent among clinics. most EOD, FTLD. Non‐neurodegenerative causes heterogeneous. Long delay until suggests that policies identify early stages.