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Frontotemporal Dementia
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. Frontotemporal
Dementia is strikingly different than other forms of dementia,
specifically in its presentation of symptoms.
Frontotemporal Dementia is the third most common form of dementia,
after Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Disease. Because the
Frontotemporal Dementias are part of a group of dementias, you may
recognize the other names for the Frontotemporal Dementias which
include:
In 1892, Arnold Pick is credited for discovering what we now know as
Frontotemporal Dementia, originally called Pick's Disease. On
autopsy of patients suspected of having Frontotemporal 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 Frontotemporal Dementia
The most common series of symptoms in Frontotemporal 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 Frontotemporal Dementia cases, language symptoms may
be present such as:
Frontotemporal Dementia vs. Alzheimer's disease
Frontotemporal 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 Frontotemporal Dementia
may be impulsive, inappropriate and tactless. A person with
Frontotemporal 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 Frontotemporal
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease get to the advanced stages, do the
disease symptoms begin to look the same.
Treatment for Frontotemporal 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 Frontotemporal 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 Frontotemporal 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.
Frontotemporal 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 Frontotemporal Dementia is often seen
from ages 45 – 64. There is also a 40% chance of developing
Frontotemporal Dementia if another family member has had the
disease.
Frontotemporal 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 on the stages of dementia,
please visit these websites:
Dementia.com,
Alzheimer's
Association, and
Alzheimer's Society (UK).
For
further information about dementia, please return to the
main menu.
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