The Boston Naming Test identifies presymptomatic anomia in MAPT mutation carriers

Abstract Background Prior studies of prodromal genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have identified impaired executive function and social cognition in C9orf72 GRN mutation carriers but few cognitive deficits been found MAPT carriers. Method We investigated performance on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) GENetic Frontotemporal Initiative (GENFI) cohort 499 248 negative controls divided across three groups: , . Mutation were further into 3 groups according to their global CDR plus NACC FTLD score: 0 (asymptomatic), 0.5 (prodromal) 1+ (fully symptomatic). carrier compared each other mutation‐negative using a bootstrapped linear regression model, adjusting for age education. Result that all symptomatic (1+) performed significantly worse BNT than controls, asymptomatic within same group. The group also groups. Furthermore, both which was not case Conclusion These results suggest specific deficit naming consistent with previous literature, likely be due semantic knowledge. Notably, this study shows can used detect very early disease course, allowing dissociation from Clinical trials focused period individuals mutations should use language tasks such as patient stratification outcome measures.