Wandering behavior of a severely demented patient with frontotemporal dementia.

Although wandering is a common behavioral problem in patients with dementia, information about wandering in patients with severe dementia is scarce. This study analyzed data about the wandering behavior of a 77-year-old woman with severe frontotemporal dementia. Due to severe atrophy of the anterior cortex, she was totally unable to act spontaneously. Nevertheless, she walked with her husband every day. Her walking pattern varied on a daily basis but it appeared to be random. However, a mathematical analysis showed that her walking pattern was not random. Our case suggests that even patients with severe atrophy in the anterior cortex may be able to orient themselves within their neighborhood if their posterior cortex is preserved.