Frequently Asked Questions

What is Behavioral Neurology?

The Behavioral Neurology Program is the referral for uncommon, unusual, or atypical neurocognitive disorders such as early- or young-onset Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and progressive cognitive problems. The Behavioral Neurology Program at UCLA includes diagnostic evaluations, consultation regarding pharmacological and behavioral management, and research projects aimed at increasing knowledge about focal and young onset neurodegenerative disorders.

What are Neurobehavior Treatment Areas?

Primary treatment areas include early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), primary progressive aphasia, semantic dementia, posterior cortical atrophy, corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy.

What is Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD)?

Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (also known as young-onset Alzheimer’s disease/early-onset neurocognitive disorder) is a term for a form of Alzheimer’s disease that occurs in people under the age of 65. About 5 percent of Alzheimer's patients have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD). Patients with EOAD require special expertise in diagnosis and management as they can be quite different from the usual Alzheimer’s disease. Although a number of EOAD patients present with progressive memory loss, there is also a high percentage of early-onset AD variants (vEOAD) that present with non-memory difficulties, such as decline in words or language, visual or spatial (visuospatial) abilities, the ability to calculate, and other specific cognitive problems. These patients may have additional neurobiological differences, as well as unique psychosocial needs. Our program is one of the few centers dedicated to the study of the unique aspects of EOAD.

What are early-onset Alzheimer’s disease symptoms?

• Disruptive memory loss throughout daily life/activities
• Difficulty in performing familiar tasks
• Difficulty in planning and/or problem solving
• Confusion with dates, times, or places
• Trouble with location relations (spatial relation difficulties)
• Word problems (speaking and/or writing)
• Trouble with decision making (issues with judgment; relying on others to make decisions)
• Social withdrawal (including work and social situations)
• Difficulty initiating activities)
• Changes in mood and personality)

What Do I Do if My Loved One Exhibits Some of the EOAD Symptoms?

1. Visit a neurologist for an evaluation and share your observations.
2. He or she will probably recommend:
   Blood tests to rule out other causes of cognitive changes
   Brain imaging
   MRI - An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan will look for changes in the size or structure of different parts of the brain
   PET - A PET (positron-emission tomography) scan will look for changes in the activity of different parts of the brain.
3. Once these evaluations are completed, you may request a referral from this neurologist to the UCLA & Neurobehavior Clinic.
4. Records of blood tests, neurological evaluation, and brain imaging must be sent to the Nurse Practitioner and Clinic Coordinator, Jill Shapira.
5. The records will be reviewed and you will be contacted for more information, if necessary.
6. If the records and referral are appropriate for our program, the Clinic Coordinator will contact you to schedule an initial evaluation.

Where Can I Learn More About EAOD?

The Alzheimer’s Association

What is Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?

Frontotemporal dementia (also known as frontotemporal degeneration) is a progressive brain disorder that results from atrophy in the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other focal dementias are an important group of brain disorders that, depending on the specific location of the degeneration, can result in behavioral, cognitive, or language changes. Although far less is known about FTD than about Alzheimer's disease, research during the last 10 years has greatly increased our understanding of these disorders. Researchers at UCLA and elsewhere continue to make discoveries about frontotemporal dementia, formerly known as Pick's disease, and other brain-behavior syndromes. "FTD" can refer to the whole class of disorders or a specific subtype called "behavioral variant."

What are Symptoms of FTD (Pick's disease)?

• Change in personality (often including social withdrawal)
• Lack of interest in usual activities or family and friends
• Sense of detachment from family and friends
• Socially embarrassing behavior (loss of "social filter")
• Development of unusual compulsive or rigid behaviors (new routines, repetitive habits)
• Changes in eating behavior (increased intake, carbohydrate cravings)
• Difficulty with speaking and finding or understanding words (slower verbal processing)

What Do I Do if My Loved One Exhibits Some of the above Symptoms?

1. Visit a neurologist for an evaluation and share your observations.
2. He or she will probably recommend:
   Blood tests to rule out other causes of cognitive changes
   Brain imaging
   MRI - An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan will look for changes in the size or structure of different parts of the brain
   PET - A PET (positron-emission tomography) scan will look for changes in the activity of different parts of the brain.
3. Once these evaluations are completed, you may request a referral from this neurologist to the UCLA FTD & Neurobehavior Clinic.
4. Records of blood tests, neurological evaluation, and brain imaging must be sent to the Nurse Practitioner and Clinic Coordinator, Jill Shapira.
5. The records will be reviewed and you will be contacted for more information, if necessary.
6. If the records and referral are appropriate for our program, the Clinic Coordinator will contact you to schedule an initial evaluation.

Where Can I Learn More About FTD?

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration

What are other progressive cognitive issues addressed in Behavioral Neurology?

• Primary progressive aphasia and semantic dementia—speaking and word finding problems
• Posterior cortical atrophy—seeing and reading problems
• Corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy—problems with movement or motor coordination of arms or eyes.
• Any other progressive problem with cognition, reading, writing, spatial abilities, reasoning, judgment or mathematics
• Rare, unusual, or focal cognitive disorders
• Unusual deficits in visual perception or visuospatial abilities
• Changes in social behavior or personality felt to be due to brain disease