Spontaneous intracranial hypotension causing reversible frontotemporal dementia

Abstract

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) causes postural headache and neurologic symptoms owing to traction and brain compression. A 66-year-old man with chronic headache and progressive personality and behavioral changes typical of frontotemporal dementia was examined. He had MRI findings of SIH with low CSF pressure. His headache, dementia, and imaging abnormalities abated after treatment with prednisone. SIH can cause reversible frontotemporal dementia, and should be considered when dementia and behavioral changes are accompanied by headache.