Methods in Neuroepidemiology

Occurrence of Depression in Families with Frontotemporal Dementia: A Family History Study
V. Horstmann^a, A. Gräsbeck^{b, c}

Departments of
^aHealth Sciences and
^bPsychogeriatrics and
^cSwedish National Institute of Health Care and Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroepidemiology 2009;33:124-130 (DOI: 10.1159/000226125)

  Key Words

• Frontotemporal dementia
• Depression
• Co-aggregation
• Family history study

  Abstract

Background: There are clinical similarities between frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and depression. The aim is to study co-aggregation of depression in families with FTD, indicating the existence of common aetiological factors. Methods: The study included 74 index patients with FTD and their 540 first-degree relatives above the age of 15 years. Occurrence of depression was studied at 3 different levels. Results: The incidence of depression in first-degree relatives of FTD patients was not higher than that of a general population. Occurrence of depression was not higher in families where parents had FTD compared to families with parents having no indications of FTD. Individuals with FTD had not suffered from depression to a greater extent than those without FTD. Conclusions: The hypothesis of a common aetiological factor of FTD and depression was not supported.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Vibeke Horstmann
Department of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine, Lund University
Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund (Sweden)
Tel. +46 46 222 1872, Fax +46 46 222 1959, E-Mail vibeke.horstmann@med.lu.se

  Article Information

Received: February 1, 2009
Accepted: May 3, 2009
Published online: June 26, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 41