ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In rare cases, patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) present at an early age and with a family history suggestive of an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Mutations of the presenilin-1 (PSEN1) gene are the most common causes of dementia in these patients. Early-onset and particularly familial AD patients frequently present with variable non-amnestic cognitive symptoms such as visual, language or behavioural changes as well as non-cognitive, e.g. motor, symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phenotypic variability in carriers of the PSEN1 S170F mutation. METHODS: We report a family with 4 patients carrying the S170F mutation of whom 2 underwent detailed clinical examinations. We discuss our current findings in the context of previously reported S170F cases. RESULTS: The clinical phenotype was consistent regarding initial memory impairment and early onset in the late twenties found in all S170F patients. There were frequent non-amnestic cognitive changes and, at early stages of the disease, indications of a more pronounced disturbance of visuospatial abilities as compared to face and object recognition. Non-cognitive symptoms most often included myoclonus and cerebellar ataxia. A review of the available case reports indicates some phenotypic variability associated with the S170F mutation including different constellations of symptoms such as parkinsonism and delusions. CONCLUSION: The variable clinical findings associated with the S170F mutation highlight the relevance of atypical phenotypes in the context of research and under a clinical perspective. CSF sampling and detection of Aß species may be essential to indicate AD pathology in unclear cases presenting with cognitive and motor symptoms at a younger age.
