A Patient with Frontotemporal Dementia Presenting with Limb-Kinetic Apraxia

Abstract

A 59-yr-old, right-handed woman developed bilateral clumsiness of the hands and dysarthria 6 months prior to admission. A detailed neurologic evaluation showed limb-kinetic apraxia with frontal lobe dysfunction. Brain MRI showed significant anterior temporal lobar atrophy. Brain PET revealed bilateral decreases in glucose metabolism around the motor cortices and temporal lobes, predominantly on the right side. This case suggests that limb-kinetic apraxia is a presenting symptom of frontotemporal dementia.