Empathy Loss in Frontotemporal Dementia: A Growing Concern
Human Brain Functions Revealed: Empathy's Demise and Its Impact
Researchers from Lund University and the Karolinska Institute have raised concerns about the impact of empathy loss on the brain, specifically in the development of frontotemporal dementia. This disease, which gained attention in 2023 with the diagnosis of actor Bruce Willis and popular host Wendy Williams, remains under-researched, with scientists working to determine the mechanisms leading to its onset and progression.
Alexander Santiago and Olof Lindberg, the researchers behind this study, claim to have identified signs that allow for the early diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. By studying the brains of 28 patients with frontotemporal dementia and 28 healthy individuals using functional magnetic resonance imaging, they found that the loss of empathy in those with the disease was related to reduced activity in regions like the anterior insula, anterior cingulate gyrus, and thalamus. These areas are responsible for monitoring internal bodily signals and, notably, pain.
The reduced activity in these regions was significantly correlated with the degree of empathy patients displayed in their daily lives. This discovery could lead to a breakthrough in finding effective treatments for frontotemporal dementia, a dangerous disease characterized by a distinctive complete loss of empathy.
Frontotemporal dementia usually appears after the age of 60 and presents with changes in a person's usual behavior, personality traits, and speech abilities. Close relatives might initially notice that the person has stopped showing warmth and care towards them, only to realize later that these atypical behaviors are due to the progressive nature of the disease.
In an attempt to understand how empathy decreases in frontotemporal dementia, Santiago and his colleagues studied the impact of altered RNA regulation and neural connectivity issues on the disease's onset and progression. These mechanisms, crucial for healthy brain function, are believed to contribute to the neurodegeneration seen in the frontal and temporal lobes of individuals with frontotemporal dementia.
- Together with colleagues from the Karolinska Institute, Lund University, and Umeå University in Sweden, we conducted a study to understand how empathy decreases in frontotemporal dementia. We examined 28 patients with frontotemporal dementia and compared them with 28 healthy individuals. For our study, we used a type of brain scan called functional magnetic resonance imaging, - explained Alexander Santiago.
In this study, participants were placed in an MRI scanner where they were shown images of hands being pricked by needles. At the same time, a cotton swab was applied to their own hands.
This research offers hope for diagnosing frontotemporal dementia earlier, allowing for the tracking of processes in the brain and finding ways to halt the progression of the pathology.
References
- Honea K, Brettschneider HM, and Neumann M. 2022. Biomarkers in Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration. Neurologia. 37(5): 399-411.
- Pérez-Talávera M, López-Solà J, and Palacios JC. 2022. Alzheimer's and Frontotemporal Dementia: What Do We Know About Commonalities? Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 77(4): 1533-1547.
- Dukić LJ, Miller BL, and Landau SM. 2022. Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration: Emerging Therapeutic Strategies. Traffic. 23(5): 295-306.
Our research focused on understanding the reduction of empathy in individuals with frontotemporal dementia.We conducted a study at Lund University, the Karolinska Institute, and Umeå University in Sweden, using functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare 28 patients with frontotemporal dementia with 28 healthy individuals.By analyzing brain activity in response to stimuli such as seeing hands being pricked, we aim to gain insights into the mechanisms leading to empathy loss in frontotemporal dementia, potentially paving the way for earlier diagnosis and effective treatments.
