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Subscores of the FAB differentiate frontotemporal lobar degeneration from AD

From the Alzheimer’s Disease Center (Drs. Lipton, Womack, Hynan, and Lacritz, K.A. Ohman and E.T. Ninman), Center for Biostatistics and Clinical Science (Dr. Hynan), and Departments of Neurology (Drs. Lipton and Womack) and Psychiatry (Drs. Lipton, Hynan, and Lacritz), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Lacritz, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8846; e-mail: laura.Lacritz{at}utsouthwestern.edu

Objective: To determine the clinical utility of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), a short test of frontal lobe functions, in differentiating frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) from Alzheimer disease (AD).

Methods: FAB total scores and subscores for 23 subjects with FTLD and 31 subjects with AD were compared for sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. Concurrent validity of the FAB with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and other scales was also assessed.

Results: The FAB did not have positive predictive value for FTLD. Total FAB scores did not differ between the FTLD and AD groups. However, three subtests of the FAB (mental flexibility, motor programming, and environmental autonomy) demonstrated significant differences between the two groups. Total FAB scores correlated with scores on the MMSE, a more general test of cognition.

Conclusion: The Frontal Assessment Battery did not discriminate subjects with frontotemporal lobar degeneration from those with Alzheimer disease, though certain subtests may be helpful in differential diagnosis.

Supported in part by NIH/NIA grant P30 AG12300.

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received August 13, 2004. Accepted in final form May 13, 2005.

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