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Comparing clinical features of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease using network analysis
Grace J. Goodwin, Sebastian Mehrzad, Jeffrey L. Cummings, Brenna N. Renn, Jefferson W. Kinney, Samantha E. John. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-06-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
= 62.87, SD = 9.46, 36.52% female). Both networks were densely connected, reflecting comorbidity between neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive scores. Memory performance, hallucinations, and motor disturbance were bridge symptoms in the AD network, whereas elation was the sole bridge symptom in the bvFTD network. Distinct networks highlight unique clinical profiles in AD and bvFTD. Treatment of bridge symptoms may relieve overall symptom burden. Findings can advance clinical characterization of AD and bvFTD, leading to development of targeted interventions. HIGHLIGHTS: We compared clinical features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Clinical networks showed comorbidity between neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive manifestations. Clinical networks significantly differed between AD and bvFTD, highlighting unique behavioral and cognitive profiles. Distinct symptoms were important for overall symptom comorbidity. Findings can be used to characterize AD and bvFTD and inform targeted treatment.
Key findings
- Both networks were densely connected, reflecting comorbidity between neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive scores.
- Memory performance, hallucinations, and motor disturbance were bridge symptoms in the AD network, whereas elation was the sole bridge symptom in the bvFTD network.
- Distinct networks highlight unique clinical profiles in AD and bvFTD.
- Treatment of bridge symptoms may relieve overall symptom burden.
- Findings can advance clinical characterization of AD and bvFTD, leading to development of targeted interventions.
Why it matters
This network analysis found that clinical symptom networks differ between Alzheimer's disease and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, with different bridge symptoms in each. It suggests treating bridge symptoms may relieve overall symptom burden, but this is a characterization study and does not test treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Effect size36.52%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Samantha E. John: h-index 15 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Princeton University: institution h-index 1,563 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40528277) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Goodwin, G. J., Mehrzad, S., Cummings, J. L., Renn, B. N., Kinney, J. W., & John, S. E. (2025). Comparing clinical features of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease using network analysis. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70361
Vancouver
Goodwin GJ, Mehrzad S, Cummings JL, Renn BN, Kinney JW, John SE. Comparing clinical features of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease using network analysis. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70361. PMID: 40528277.
BibTeX
@article{goodwin2025-40528277,
author = {Goodwin, Grace J. and Mehrzad, Sebastian and Cummings, Jeffrey L. and Renn, Brenna N. and Kinney, Jefferson W. and John, Samantha E.},
title = {{Comparing clinical features of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease using network analysis}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70361},
pmid = {40528277},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70361}
}
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