Topiramate for abnormal eating behaviour in frontotemporal dementia

Issue title: Includes Special Section: Abstracts from the Joint Meeting of the FESN/GNP, Sept. 12-14, 2013, Berlin, Germany

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Singam, Colin | Walterfang, Mark^; | Mocellin, Ramon^; | Evans, Andrew^; | Velakoulis, Dennis^;

Affiliations: Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia | Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Note: [] Corresponding author: Mark Walterfang, Neuropsychiatry Unit, Level 2, John Cade Building, Royal Melbourne Hospital, 3050 Australia. Tel.: +613 9342 8750; Fax: +613 9342 8483; E-mail: mark.walterfang@mh.org.au

Abstract: Topiramate is a sulfamate-substituted monosaccharide anticonvulsant that is associated with anorexia and weight loss and has been used to treat binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. This report describes a man with frontotemporal dementia, behavioural variant, associated with abnormal eating behaviour which appeared to respond to topiramate. We review the physiological basis of abnormal eating behaviour in frontotemporal dementia and explore possible mechanisms of action by which topiramate may modify eating behaviour in this condition.

Keywords: Frontotemporal dementia, executive dysfunction, hyperphagia, topiramate

DOI: 10.3233/BEN-120257

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 285-286, 2013