Atypical Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia Diagnosed by Biomarker Study

Abstract

Background The described clinical characteristics of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) are distinct from that of late-onset AD. Wereported a patient with atypical EOAD. Case Report A 54-year-old, truck driver developed gradual visuospatial, language and calculation deficits for 3 months. The neuropsychologicalimpairments were extensive. Brain MRI revealed asymmetric atrophy in left medial temporal lobe along with distinct widening of sylvianfissure. (18)F-florbetapir-positron emission tomography (PET) showed a high uptake in the cortex. Further, the profiles of cerebrospinalfluid (CSF) biomarker were compatible with AD. Conclusions We diagnosed the patient as EOAD based on the result of biomarker study. Increased Aß burden was identified through amyloidPET imaging and decreased CSF Aβ level. The high rise of CSF Tau proteins was in agreement with the patient’s extensive and rapidcognitive decline. This case report demonstrates the importance of AD biomarker study in confronting early-onset dementia with atypicalclinical presentation.