Eating Behaviour and Metabolic Changes across the Spectrum of Motor Neuron Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia. (I12-5E)

Objective: To examine the patterns of eating bahviours in frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease and effect on systemic metabolism and disease progression. Background: Increasingly it is recognized that motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are spectrums of the one disease. Abnormal eating behaviors represent a core diagnostic feature for behavioural FTD (bvFTD), yet little is known about their effect on metabolic health. We aimed to define the patterns of eating behaviour in FTD and effects on metabolic health, and contrast this to MND, where the metabolic profile affects disease progression. Design/ methods: Eighteen bvFTD, 16 Alzheimer disease (AD) controls and 15 normal controls participated in an ad- lib test meal, where total caloric intake and food preferences were measured. Participants also completed taste tests of deserts of varying sucrose content to measure sucrose preference. Body mass index (BMI), and blood samples measuring cholesterol and insulin levels were collected. BMI measurements were compared to a cohort of 100 MND patients. Results: BvFTD patients displayed increased caloric intake (p <.01) and a strong sucrose preference compared to both AD patients and normal controls. BMI measurements were higher (p <.01) in the bvFTD, and FTDMND groups compared to the pure MND and control groups, suggesting that as cognitive impairment increases so too does BMI. BvFTD patients had (p <.01) increased insulin levels, triglyceride levels and a lower HDL cholesterol level compared to controls suggesting they are insulin resistant. Conclusions: Abnormal eating behavior is prominent in bvFTD, and is associated with a strong sucrose preference, changes in BMI, and a blood metabolic profile similar to that seen in MND. The present findings have prognostic implications in terms of disease progression and may help to better delineate the metabolic profile of MND and FTD patients. Disclosure: Dr. Ahmed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Henning has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bartley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Halliday has nothing to disclose. Dr. Piguet has nothing to disclose. Dr. Farooqi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hodges has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kiernan has nothing to disclose.