Karger Publishers, Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra, 1(6), p. 108-119, 2016
DOI: 10.1159/000441776
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<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> To investigate the differences in brain glucose consumption between patients with early onset of Alzheimer's disease (EOAD, aged ≤65 years) and patients with late onset of Alzheimer's disease (LOAD, aged >65 years). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Differences in brain glucose consumption between the groups have been evaluated by means of Statistical Parametric Mapping version 8, with the use of age, sex, Mini-Mental State Examination and cerebrospinal fluid values of Aβ<sub>1-42</sub>, phosphorylated Tau and total Tau as covariates in the comparison between EOAD and LOAD. <b><i>Results:</i></b> As compared to LOAD, EOAD patients showed a significant decrease in glucose consumption in a wide portion of the left parietal lobe (BA7, BA31 and BA40). No significant differences were obtained when subtracting the EOAD from the LOAD group. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The results of our study show that patients with EOAD show a different metabolic pattern as compared to those with LOAD that mainly involves the left parietal lobe.