佐久田静; 橋本衛
精神医学 62 2 151 - 161 2020年02月
Behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, most often presenting at less than 65 years of age, characterised by personality changes and behavioural disturbances, and marked atrophy in the frontal and/or anterior temporal lobes. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is congenital, develops during development and is diagnosed by its social and behavioural features. Differentiating bvFTD, an acquired disorder, from ASD, a congenital condition, may seem easy at first glance due to the different onset time and background pathology, but both disorders have many overlapping syndromes with lack of empathy, poor social skills, obsessions and addictive behaviours as the main symptoms, and in clinical practice, undiagnosed adult ASD patients are suspected of having bvFTD and are referred to a dementia Referrals to specialist healthcare facilities have occurred. This paper outlines the similarities and differences between bvFTD and ASD, focusing on points of differentiation.