Open AccessEye movements in frontotemporal dementia: Abnormalities of fixation, saccades and anti‐saccades
Author(s) -
Russell Lucy L.,
Greaves Caroline V.,
Convery Rhian S.,
Bocchetta Martina,
Warren Jason D.,
Kaski Diego,
Rohrer Jonathan D.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: translational research and clinical interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.49
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 2352-8737
DOI - 10.1002/trc2.12218
Subject(s) - frontotemporal dementia , saccade , psychology , fixation (population genetics) , neuroscience , eye movement , functional magnetic resonance imaging , striatum , orbitofrontal cortex , gaze , audiology , dementia , medicine , prefrontal cortex , disease , cognition , population , environmental health , psychoanalysis , dopamine
Oculomotor function has not been systematically studied in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and yet may offer a simple target to monitor disease activity. Methods We assessed fixation stability, smooth pursuit, pro‐saccades, and anti‐saccades using the Eyelink 1000‐plus eye‐tracker in 19 individuals with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) and 22 controls. Neuroanatomical correlates were assessed using a region of interest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis. Results Measures of fixation stability were impaired in the bvFTD group compared with controls. However, performance did not differ from controls in the pro‐saccade tasks except in the vertical overlap condition. The bvFTD group performed worse in the anti‐saccade task, which correlated strongly with executive function. Neural correlates included the orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortices and striatum for fixation stability, and the dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal cortices and striatum for anti‐saccades. Discussion Overall, oculomotor function is abnormal in bvFTD, with performance likely related to impairment of inhibitory control and executive dysfunction.