Free Articles
Frontal Lobe Dementia
Frontal Lobe Dementia, also called Frontotemporal
Dementia or FTD is group of dementias that are characterized by
changes in the brain in the frontal and temporal areas which control
behaviors and personality. Frontal Lobe Dementia is strikingly
different than other forms of dementia, specifically in its
presentation of symptoms.
Frontal Lobe Dementia is the third most common form
of dementia, after Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Disease.
Because the Frontal Lobe Dementias are part of a group of dementias,
you may recognize the other names for the Frontal Lobe Dementias
which include:
In 1892, Arnold Pick is credited for discovering
what we now know as Frontal Lobe Dementia, originally called Pick's
Disease. On autopsy of patients suspected of having Frontal Lobe
Dementia, he noted brain shrinkage in the frontal and temporal lobes
of the brain yet did not see the same type of plaques and tangles
that were later associated with Alzheimer's Disease.
Symptoms of Frontal Lobe Dementia
The most common series of symptoms in Frontal Lobe Dementia are seen
in the areas of behavior such as:
-
Inhibition
-
Problems in social situations
-
Impulsive or inappropriate behaviors
-
Repetitive actions
-
Hygiene or personal appearance issues
-
No insight into behavioral changes
The person may be oriented to time, place and person
which could cause the caregiver to delay getting a diagnosis.
In less of the Frontal Lobe Dementia cases, language
symptoms may be present such as:
Frontal Lobe Dementia vs. Alzheimer's disease
Frontal Lobe Dementia symptoms differ dramatically from Alzheimer's
Disease and often include changes in personality, loss of social
skills, reasoning, judgment and initiation versus Alzheimer's
Disease symptoms which often start with memory loss in the early
stages of the disease.
Persons with Alzheimer's disease may show socially
appropriate conduct in group settings while persons with Frontal
Lobe Dementia may be impulsive, inappropriate and tactless. A person
with Frontal Lobe Dementia may be able to keep track of recent
events while the person with Alzheimer's disease may have difficulty
learning and retaining information. Only when both Frontal Lobe
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease get to the advanced stages, do the
disease symptoms begin to look the same.
Treatment for Frontal Lobe Dementia
Like the other forms of dementia, there is no cure and true
diagnosis can only be made upon autopsy.
Getting help quickly from a knowledgeable physician,
neurologist or neuropsychologist is key in managing Frontal Lobe
Dementia because the symptoms look very similar to other diseases
such as depression, schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.
In addition to tests for verbal response, judgment,
reasoning and problem solving, a specialist will often use a CT scan
or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to determine if brain shrinkage
is seen and Frontal Lobe Dementia is predicted.
Treatment options are available only to control
symptoms and behavior. The disease cannot be slowed but
anti-psychotic drugs may help relieve some of the symptoms.
Frontal Lobe Dementia has an average duration of 8
years after diagnosis; with the disease length often seen as short
as 3 years and as long as 17 years. Males and females are equally
impacted by the disease but the onset of Frontal Lobe Dementia is
often seen from ages 45 – 64. There is also a 40% chance of
developing Frontal Lobe Dementia if another family member has had
the disease.
Frontal Lobe Dementia Caregivers
It is important for caregivers to find a support group to cope with
the management of the disease with their loved one. Some of the
issues that make caregiving of the FTD person so challenging are the
personality and behavioral changes, the early onset and the fact
that there is not as much awareness of this type of dementia.
For more information, please visit these websites:
The Association
For Frontotemporal Dementia,
Alzheimer's
Association, and
Dementia.com.
For
further information about dementia, please return to the
main menu.
|
