Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038210
Semantische Demenz
Ein kasuistischer Beitrag zur Differenzialdiagnostik der degenerativen DemenzenSemantic DementiaA Case Report in the Context of an Independent Medical ExaminationPublication History
Publication Date:
01 August 2008 (online)

Zusammenfassung
Die Semantische Demenz (SD) ist eine relativ seltene, oft vor dem 65. Lebensjahr auftretende primär degenerative Erkrankung, die der Gruppe der „Frontotemporalen lobären Degenerationen” (FTLD) zugeordnet wird. Wesentliches Merkmal der SD ist eine Störung des semantischen Wissens, welche sich u. a. in Form von Beeinträchtigungen der Sprachfunktionen sowie der Gesichter- und Objekterkennung manifestiert. Die differenzialdiagnostische Abgrenzung der SD von anderen degenerativen Erkrankungen, insbesondere der Alzheimer-Demenz, stellt eine Herausforderung an den neurologischen und neuropsychologischen Diagnostiker dar. Eine genaue Kenntnis des Krankheitsbildes ist notwendig, um Fehldiagnosen zu vermeiden. Dies soll anhand des Falles eines 55-jährigen Probanden dargestellt werden, der im Rahmen eines Rentengutachtens mit dem Verdacht auf Vorliegen einer „Pick-Demenz” vorgestellt und neurologisch, neuropsychologisch und logopädisch untersucht wurde. Die klinische Manifestation und die ausführliche Testuntersuchung liefern ein Bild, das zweifelsfrei einer SD zuzuordnen ist. Bildgebend und neuropsychologisch weisen die Befunde auf eine rechtstemporale Betonung hin. Gleichzeitig wird anhand dieses Falls eine Reihe von Problemen, die mit der Demenzdiagnostik verknüpft sind, deutlich. Bei einer differenzialdiagnostischen Abklärung demenzieller Syndrome sollte einer qualifizierten neuropsychologischen Diagnostik ein hoher Stellenwert eingeräumt werden.
Abstract
Semantic dementia (SD) is a relatively rare primary degenerative brain disease, often with onset before the age of 65, which belongs to the group of frontotemporal lobar degenerations. The central characteristic of SD is a progressive loss of semantic knowledge with manifestation in aphasia as well as impaired face and object recognition. A reliable discrimination of SD from other neurodegenerative conditions, in particular from Alzheimer's disease, may be a challenge for neurologists as well as neuropsychologists. In the first place, a sound knowledge base is expected from the expert in order to minimize false diagnoses. To illustrate this, a detailed case history of a 55-year old patient is presented who was referred for an independent medical and neuropsychological examination for disability benefits. The referral question was Pick's disease. However, the clinical manifestation as well as the results of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation clearly indicated the diagnosis of SD with neuroimaging and neuropsychological evidence of marked right temporal lobe atrophy. The case history highlights a number of problems inherent in current practice of dementia assessment. For differential diagnosis of dementing conditions, a thorough neuropsychological assessment appears to be indispensable.
Schlüsselwörter
Semantische Demenz - Demenz - Aphasie - neuropsychologische Diagnostik - frontotemporale Lobärdegeneration
Key words
semantic dementia - dementia - aphasia - neuropsychological assessment - frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Literatur
- 1
Diehl J, Mackenzie I R, Förstl H, Kurz A.
Die frontotemporale Demenz. Ergebnisse der „Frontotemporal Dementia and Pick's Disease
Conference”.
Nervenarzt.
2003;
74
785-787
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 2
Bozeat S, Gregory C A, Lambon-Ralph M A, Hodges J R.
Which neuropsychiatric and behavioural features distinguish frontal and temporal variants
of frontotemporal dementia from Alzheimer's disease?.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.
2000;
69
178-186
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 3
Hodges J R, Patterson K, Ward R, Garrard P, Bak T, Perry R, Gregory C.
The differentiation of semantic dementia and frontal lobe dementia (temporal and frontal
variants of frontotemporal dementia) from early Alzheimer's disease: a comparative
neuropsychological study.
Neuropsychology.
1999;
13
31-40
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 4
Neary D, Snowden J S, Gustafson L, Passant U, Stuss D, Black S, Freedman M, Kertesz A, Robert P H, Albert M, Boone K, Miller B L, Cummings J L, Benson D F.
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a consensus on clinical diagnostic criteria.
Neurology.
1998;
51
1546-1554
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 5
Ibach B, Koch H, Koller M, Wolfersdorf M.
Hospital admission circumstances and prevalence of frontotemporal lobar degeneration:
a multicenter psychiatric state hospital study in Germany.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord.
2003;
16
253-264
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 6
Snowden J, Neary D, Mann D.
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration: clinical and pathological relationships.
Acta Neuropathol.
2007;
114
31-38
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 7
Desgranges B, Matuszewski V, Piolino P, Chetelat G, Mezenge F, Landeau B, Sayette V de la, Belliard S, Eustache F.
Anatomical and functional alterations in semantic dementia: A voxel-based MRI and
PET study.
Neurobiol Aging.
2007;
28
1904-1913
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 8
Edwards-Lee T, Miller B L, Benson D F, Cummings J L, Russel G L, Boone K, Mena I.
The temporal variant of frontotemporal dementia.
Brain.
1997;
120
1027-1040
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 9
Mummery C J, Patterson K, Price C J, Ashburner J, Frackowiak R SJ, Hodges J R.
A voxel-based morphometry study of semantic dementia: relationship between temporal
lobe atrophy and semantic memory.
Ann Neurol.
2000;
47
36-45
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 10
Rosen H J, Gorno Tempini M L, Goldman W P, Perry R J, Schuff N, Weiner M, Feiwell R, Kramer J H, Miller B L.
Patterns of brain atrophy in frontotemporal dementia and semantic dementia.
Neurology.
2002;
58
198-208
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 11
Schroeter M L, Raczka K, Neumann J, Cramon D Y.
Towards a nosology for frontotemporal lobar degenerations – a meta-analysis involving
267 subjects.
Neuroimage.
2007;
36
497-510
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 12
Galton C J, Patterson K, Graham K S, Lambon-Ralph M A, Williams G, Antoun N, Sahakian B J, Hodges J R.
Differing patterns of temporal atrophy in Alzheimer's disease and semantic dementia.
Neurology.
2001;
57
216-225
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 13
Chan D, Fox N C, Scahill R I, Crum W R, Whitwell J L, Leschziner G, Rossor A M, Stevens J M, Cipolotti L, Rossor M N.
Patterns of temporal lobe atrophy in semantic dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Ann Neurol.
2001;
49
433-442
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 14
Thompson S A, Patterson K, Hodges J R.
Left/right asymmetry of atrophy in semantic dementia: behavioral-cognitive implications.
Neurology.
2003;
61
1196-1203
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 15
Evans J J, Heggs A J, Antoun N, Hodges J R.
Progressive prosopagnosia associated with selective right temporal lobe atrophy. A
new syndrome?.
Brain.
1995;
118
1-13
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 16
Scahill V L, Hodges J R, Graham K S.
Can episodic memory tasks differentiate semantic dementia from Alzheimer's disease?.
Neurocase.
2005;
11
441-451
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 17
Simons J S, Graham K S, Galton C J, Patterson K, Hodges J R.
Semantic knowledge and episodic memory for faces in semantic dementia.
Neuropsychology.
2001;
15
101-114
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 18
Rogers T T, Ivanoiu A, Patterson K, Hodges J R.
Semantic memory in Alzheimer's disease and the frontotemporal dementias: a longitudinal
study of 236 patients.
Neuropsychology.
2006;
20
319-335
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 19
Folstein M F, Folstein S E, McHugh P R.
“Mini-Mental State”: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients
for the clinician.
J Psychiatr Res.
1975;
12
189-198
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 20
Ikeda M, Ishikawa T, Tanabe H.
Epidemiology of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord.
2004;
17
265-268
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 21
Grossman M.
Frontotemporal dementia: a review.
J Int Neuropsychol Soc.
2002;
8
566-583
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 22
Diehl-Schmid J, Pohl C, Perneczky R, Hartmann J, Förstl H, Kurz A.
Frühsymptome, Überlebenszeit und Todesursachen – Beobachtungen an 115 Patienten mit
Demenz auf der Grundlage frontotemporaler lobärer Degenerationen.
Fortschr Neurol Psychiat.
2007;
75
708-713
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 23
Meins W.
Die Semantische Demenz – eine Variante der Frontotemporalen Demenz.
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr.
2003;
71
1-3
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 24
Merten T.
Fallstricke bei der Begutachtung kognitiver Störungen.
Med Sach.
2007;
103
188-193
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 25
Simons J S, Graham K S, Owen A M, Patterson K, Hodges J R.
Perceptual and semantic components of memory for objects and faces: a PET study.
J Cogn Neurosci.
2001;
13
430-443
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 26
Graham K S, Patterson K, Powis J, Drake J, Hodges J R.
Multiple inputs to episodic memory: words tell another story.
Neuropsychology.
2002;
16
380-389
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 27
Snowden J S, Thompson J C, Neary D.
Knowledge of famous faces and names in semantic dementia.
Brain.
2004;
127
860-872
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 28
Kopelman M D.
Disorders of memory.
Brain.
2002;
125
2152-2190
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 29
Graham K S, Hodges J R.
Differentiating the roles of the hippocampal complex and the neocortex in long-term
memory storage: evidence from the study of semantic dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Neuropsychology.
1997;
11
77-89
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 30 Weimer E, Frölich L. Labordiagnostik und Liquormarker. In: Wallesch C-W, Förstl H (Hrsg). Demenzen. Stuttgart: Thieme 2005: 139-151
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 31 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Liquordiagnostik und Klinische Neurochemie .Ausgewählte Methoden der Liquordiagnostik und Klinischen Neurochemie, 2004. Download am 23.12.2007, unter http://www.uke.uni-hamburg.de/extern/dgln/
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 32 Huber W, Poeck K, Weniger D, Willmes K. Aachener Aphasie Test (AAT). Handanweisung. Göttingen: Hogrefe 1983
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 33 Orgass B. Token Test. Manual. Deutsche Bearbeitung des Token Tests von E. de Renzi und L. A.
Vignolo. Weinheim: Beltz Test 1982
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 34
Merten T.
Das Semantische Altgedächtnisinventar: Testanalyse anhand einer unausgelesenen Stichprobe
neurologischer Patienten.
Z Neuropsychol.
2007;
18
289-298
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 35
Schmidtke K, Vollmer-Schmolck H.
Autobiographisches Altgedächtnisinterview und semantisches Altgedächtnisinventar.
Z Neuropsychol.
1999;
10
13-23
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 36 Kaplan E, Goodglass H, Weintraub S. Boston Naming Test. Second Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2001
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 37
Merten T.
Entwicklung einer deutschen Kurzform des Boston Naming Test.
Neurol Rehabil.
2004;
18
289-298
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 38 Warrington E K. The Camden Memory Tests. Manual. Hove: Psychology Press 1996
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 39 Meyers J E, Meyers K R. Rey Complex Figure Test and Recognition Trial. Professional Manual. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources 1995
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 40 Heaton R K, Chelune G J, Talley J L, Kay G G, Curtiss G. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test manual – revised and expanded. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources 1993
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 41
Libon D J, Xie S X, Moore P, Farmer J, Antani S, McCawley G, Cross K, Grossman M.
Patterns of neuropsychological impairment in frontotemporal dementia.
Neurology.
2007;
68
369-375
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 42
Bodner T, Jenner C, Marksteiner J.
Neuropsychologie in der Demenzdiagnostik.
Z Gerontopsychol Gerontopsychiat.
2002;
15
169-177
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 43
Spaan P EJ, Raaijmakers J GW, Jonker C.
Early assessment of dementia: The contribution of different memory components.
Neuropsychology.
2005;
19
629-640
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 44
Cullen B, O'Neill B, Evans J J, Coen R F, Lawlor B A.
A review of screening tests for cognitive impairment.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.
2007;
78
790-799
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 45
Jokel R, Rochon E, Leonard C.
Treating anomia in semantic dementia: Improvement, maintenance, or both?.
Neuropsychol Rehabil.
2006;
16
241-256
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 46
Graham K S, Patterson K, Pratt K H, Hodges J R.
Relearning and subsequent forgetting of semantic category exemplars in a case of semantic
dementia.
Neuropsychology.
1999;
13
359-380
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 47
Snowden J S, Neary D.
Relearning of verbal labels in semantic dementia.
Neuropsychologia.
2002;
40
1715-1728
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 48
Bickel H, Cooper B.
Incidence and relative risk of dementia in an urban elderly population: Findings of
a prospective field study.
Psychological Medicine.
1994;
24
179-192
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 49 Leipold B. Bewältigungsverhalten und Persönlichkeitswachstum pflegender Angehöriger. Dissertation, Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft und Psychologie 2004
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 50
Wolf S A, Henry M, Deike R, Ebert A D, Wallesch C-W.
Verdachtsdiagnose Alzheimer-Demenz. Bei welchen Patienten erfolgt eine neuropsychologische
Abklärung?.
Nervenarzt.
2008;
79
444-453
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 51 Erzigkeit H. SKT Manual. Kurztest zur Erfassung von Gedächtnis- und Aufmerksamkeitsstörungen. 21. Auflage. Witten: Geromed 1996
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 52 Sivan A B, Spreen O. Der Benton-Test. Handbuch. 7., vollständig überarbeitete Auflage. Bern: Huber 1996
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 53
Eisfeld I S.
Semantische Demenz: Klinisches Profil und kognitiv-neuropsychologische Bedeutung.
Fortschr Neurol Psychiat.
2004;
72
383-396
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 54
Greck J, Lautenschlager N, Kurz A.
Klinische Aspekte der frontotemporalen Demenz.
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr.
2000;
68
447-457
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 55
Hodges J R, Patterson K.
Is semantic memory consistently impaired early in the course of Alzheimer's disease?
Neuroanatomical and diagnostic implications.
Neuropsychologia.
1995;
33
441-459
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 56
Hodges J R, Salmon D P, Butters N.
Semantic memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease: failure of access or degraded knowledge?.
Neuropsychologia.
1992;
30
301-314
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 57
Thompson S A, Graham K S, Williams G, Patterson K, Kapur N, Hodges J R.
Dissociating person-specific from general semantic knowledge: roles of the left and
right temporal lobes.
Neuropsychologia.
2004;
42
359-370
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 58
Kramer J H, Jurik J, Sha S, Rankin K P, Rosen H J, Johnson J K, Miller B L.
Distinctive neuropsychological patterns in frontotemporal dementia, semantic dementia,
and Alzheimer disease.
Cogn Behav Neurol.
2003;
16
211-218
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 59
Thompson J C, Stopford C L, Snowden J S, Neary D.
Qualitative neuropsychological performance characteristics in frontotemporal dementia
and Alzheimer's disease.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.
2005;
76
920-927
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 60
Kessler J, Fast K, Mielke R.
Zur Problematik der prämorbiden Intelligenzdiagnostik mit dem MWT-B bei Patienten
mit Alzheimer-Erkrankung.
Nervenarzt.
1995;
66
696-702
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 61 Schmidt K-H, Metzler P. Wortschatztest. Weinheim: Beltz Test 1992
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 62 Lehrl S. Mehrfachwahl-Wortschatz-Test MWT-B. 2. Auflage. Erlangen: Perimed 1989
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 63
Mittenberg W, Patton C, Canyock E M, Condit D C.
Base rates of malingering and symptom exaggeration.
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol.
2002;
24
1094-1102
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 64
Stevens A, Friedel E, Mehren G, Merten T.
Malingering and uncooperativeness in psychiatric and psychological assessment: Prevalence
and effects in a German sample of claimants.
Psychiatry Res.
2008;
157
191-200
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 65
Bush S S, Ruff R M, Tröster A I, Barth J T, Koffler S P, Pliskin N H, Reynolds C R, Silver C H.
Symptom validity assessment: practice issues and medical necessity NAN policy & planning
committee.
Arch Clin Neuropsychol.
2005;
20
419-426
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 66
Bush S S, Ruff R M, Tröster A I, Barth J T, Koffler S P, Pliskin N H, Reynolds C R, Silver C H.
Diagnostik der Beschwerdenvalidität: Praktische Gesichtspunkte und medizinische Erfordernisse.
Neurol Rehabil.
2006;
12
69-74
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 67
Merten T, Bossink L, Schmand B.
On the limits of effort testing: Symptom validity tests and severity of neurocognitive
symptoms in nonlitigant patients.
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol.
2007;
29
308-318
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 68
Greiffenstein M F, Baker W J, Gola T.
Validation of malingered amnesia measures with a large clinical sample.
Psychol Assess.
1994;
6
218-224
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 69
Kenkel S, Gottwald B, Mehdorn H M.
Rey-Osterrieth-Figur: Vergleich qualitativer Auswertungssysteme [Abstract].
Z Neuropsychol.
1997;
8
97
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 70 Tombaugh T. Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems 1996
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 71
Nestor P J, Fryer T D, Hodges J R.
Declarative memory impairments in Alzheimer's disease and semantic dementia.
Neuroimage.
2006;
30
1010-1020
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 72
Hodges J R, Graham K S.
A reversal of the temporal gradient for famous person knowledge in semantic dementia:
implications for the neural organisation of long-term memory.
Neuropsychologia.
1998;
36
803-825
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 73
Graham K S, Becker J T, Hodges J R.
On the relationship between knowledge and memory for pictures: evidence from the study
of patients with semantic dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
J Int Neuropsychol Soc.
1997;
3
534-544
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 74 Howard D, Patterson K. The pyramids and palm trees test. Bury St Edmunds: Thames Valley Test Company 1992
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 75
Gainotti G.
Different patterns of famous people recognition disorders in patients with right and
left anterior temporal lesions: a systematic review.
Neuropsychologia.
2007;
45
1591-1607
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 76 Nichols M L. A psychometric evaluation of the bicycle drawing test and the establishment of preliminary
norms. Portland,OR: Portland State University. Thesis 1980
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 77 Lezak M D, Howieson D B, Loring D W. Neuropsychological assessment. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2004
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 78
Royall D R, Cordes J A, Polk M.
CLOX: an executive clock drawing task.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.
1998;
64
588-594
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 79 Härting C, Markowitsch H J, Neufeld H, Calabrese P, Deisinger K, Kessler J. WMS-R. Wechsler Gedächtnistest – Revidierte Fassung. Deutsche Adaptation der revidierten
Fassung der Wechsler Memory Scale. Manual. Bern: Huber 2000
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 80 Helmstaedter C, Lendt M, Lux S. VLMT – Verbaler Lern- und Merkfähigkeitstest. Manual. Göttingen: Beltz Test 2001
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 81 Aschenbrenner S, Tucha O, Lange K W. RWT – Regensburger Wortflüssigkeits-Test. Handanweisung. Göttingen: Hogrefe 2000
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 82 Zimmermann P, Fimm B. Testbatterie zur Aufmerksamkeitsprüfung (TAP). Version 1.7. Handbuch Teil 1. Herzogenrath: Psytest 2002
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 83 Reitan R M. Trail Making Test. Manual for Administration and Scoring. South Tucson, AZ: Reitan Neuropsychology Laboratory 1992
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 84
Tombaugh T.
Trail Making Test A and B: Normative data stratified by age and education.
Arch Clin Neuropsychol.
2004;
19
203-214
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 85 Aster M von, Neubauer A, Horn R. Wechsler-Intellienztest für Erwachsene WIE. Deutschsprachige Bearbeitung und Adaptation
des WAIS-III von David Wechsler. Manual. Frankfurt/Main: Harcourt Test Services 2006
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 86 Western Psychological Services .Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT). Manual. Los Angeles: Author 1983
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 87
Merten T.
A short version of the Hooper Visual Organization Test: Development and validation.
Clin Neuropsychol.
2002;
16
136-144
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 88 Fisseni H J. Lehrbuch der psychologischen Diagnostik. 2. Auflage. Göttingen: Hogrefe 1997
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 89 Wilhelm H, Roschmann R. Neuropsychologische Gutachten. Ein Leitfaden für Psychologen, Ärzte, Juristen und
Studierende. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 2007
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
Dipl.-Psych. Matthias Henry
Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Klinik für Neurologie, Sektion Neuropsychologie
Leipziger Straße 44, Haus 60 B
39120 Magdeburg
Email: matthias.henry@med.ovgu.de