Home › Research › Getting a diagnosis
Left/right asymmetry of atrophy in semantic dementia: behavioral-cognitive implications
Thompson SA, Patterson K, Hodges JR.. Neurology, 2003-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Objective To characterize presenting symptomatology in patients with semantic dementia (SD) and to investigate whether left and right temporal variants of the disease have distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles. Methods Retrospective examination of case notes was performed in 47 consecutive referrals of patients with a clinical diagnosis of SD. Patients (and informants) were interviewed and underwent neuropsychological testing within 6 months of assessment. Patients were designated as having predominantly left (L > R; n = 36) or right (R > L; n = 11) temporal lobe atrophy based on MRI or CT of the brain. Results R > L and L > R SD groups did not differ in terms of presenting age (mean 63.4 +/- 7.4 years), symptom duration (3.6 +/- 2.3 years), or Mini-Mental State Examination scores (22.1 +/- 6.7). The most frequently reported behavioral symptoms were food fads, irritability, depression, and preoccupation with puzzles; cognitive deficits included word-finding difficulties, reduced comprehension, difficulty with person identification, and reduced conversation. The frequency of several symptoms differed significantly between groups. The following aspects were more likely to be associated with major right temporal atrophy: social awkwardness, job loss, loss of insight, and difficulty with person identification. Word-finding difficulties and reduced comprehension were more salient features of L > R patients. Both groups showed deficits on semantic memory tests, as expected for this syndrome, but several items yielded greater impairment for L > R than R > L. Conclusions Patients with left and right predominant SD present with distinct behavioral-cognitive profiles. Characterization of these features may assist in the early and accurate diagnosis of SD.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
The record lists 36 participants. This study characterized presenting symptoms in patients with semantic dementia and found that left and right temporal variants have distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles. It found that social awkwardness, job loss, loss of insight, and difficulty with person identification were more likely associated with major right temporal atrophy, while word-finding difficulties and reduced comprehension were more likely associated with left temporal atrophy.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Thompson, S. A., Patterson, K., & Hodges, JR. (2003). Left/right asymmetry of atrophy in semantic dementia: behavioral-cognitive implications. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000091868.28557.b8
Vancouver
Thompson SA, Patterson K, Hodges JR. Left/right asymmetry of atrophy in semantic dementia: behavioral-cognitive implications. Neurology. 2003. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000091868.28557.b8. PMID: 14610120.
BibTeX
@article{thompson2003-14610120,
author = {Thompson, S. A. and Patterson, K. and Hodges, JR.},
title = {{Left/right asymmetry of atrophy in semantic dementia: behavioral-cognitive implications}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000091868.28557.b8},
pmid = {14610120},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000091868.28557.b8}
}
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.
Key findings
- Results R > L and L > R SD groups did not differ in terms of presenting age (mean 63.4 +/- 7.4 years), symptom duration (3.6 +/- 2.3 years), or Mini-Mental State Examination scores (22.1 +/- 6.7).
- The frequency of several symptoms differed significantly between groups.
- The following aspects were more likely to be associated with major right temporal atrophy: social awkwardness, job loss, loss of insight, and difficulty with person identification.
Why it matters
This study characterized presenting symptoms in patients with semantic dementia and found that left and right temporal variants have distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles. It found that social awkwardness, job loss, loss of insight, and difficulty with person identification were more likely associated with major right temporal atrophy, while word-finding difficulties and reduced comprehension were more likely associated with left temporal atrophy.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Getting a diagnosis →
Study details
- Participants36
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2003 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 36 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 373 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 14.9 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 15 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 34 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author John R. Hodges: h-index 99 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Addenbrooke's Hospital: institution h-index 1,025 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 14610120) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Related
Studies in the library that share something with this one. The line above each title says what.
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
15 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references. Showing the 8 highest-scoring.
Related studies in Getting a diagnosis from nearby years
Also tagged “lewy”
1,017 studies in the library carry the topic tag “lewy”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,017 tagged studies.