What is frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language. Dementia is the name for problems with mental abilities caused by gradual changes and damage in the brain. Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and sides of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes).

What are the signs of frontotemporal dementia?

What is the main cause of frontotemporal dementia?

In most cases, the cause of a FTD is unknown. Individuals with a family history of FTD are more likely to develop such a disorder. About 10 to 30% of bvFTD is due to specific genetic causes. FTD that runs in a family is often related to mutations (permanent changes) in certain genes.

What is the most prominent symptom of frontotemporal dementia?

Symptoms typically first occur between the ages of 40 and 65 and can include changes in personality and behavior, progressive loss of speech and language skills, and sometimes physical symptoms such as tremors or spasms.

How long does someone live with frontal lobe dementia?

People with FTD typically live six to eight years with their condition, sometimes longer, sometimes less. Most people die of problems related to advanced disease.

What is frontotemporal dementia?

What are 5 extreme behavior changes found with FTD?

Social withdrawal, apathy and limited interest in family, friends and hobbies may become evident. At times, they may behave inappropriately with strangers, lose their social manners, act impulsively and even break laws. People experiencing these changes may become self-centered, emotionally distant and withdrawn.

What are the final stages of frontal lobe dementia?

In later stages, patients develop movement disorders such as unsteadiness, rigidity, slowness, twitches, muscle weakness or difficulty swallowing. Some patients develop Lou Gherig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). People in the final stages of FTD cannot care for themselves.

Who gets frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and sides of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes). Dementia mostly affects people over 65, but frontotemporal dementia tends to start at a younger age. Most cases are diagnosed in people aged 45-65, although it can also affect younger or older people.

What should you not say to someone with dementia?

What is the difference between Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia?

While Alzheimer's disease generally affects most of the brain, frontotemporal dementia primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain – the areas generally associated with personality and behaviour.

Does dementia run in families?

Many people affected by dementia are concerned that they may inherit or pass on dementia. The majority of dementia is not inherited by children and grandchildren. In rarer types of dementia there may be a strong genetic link, but these are only a tiny proportion of overall cases of dementia.

Does alcohol cause frontal lobe dementia?

The Frontal lobe is responsible for actions like planning, organising, initiation and self-monitoring. This is termed Frontal Lobe Dementia which is also caused by alcoholism.

Is frontotemporal dementia hereditary?

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a highly heritable group of neurodegenerative disorders, with around 30% of patients having a strong family history.

Is there a test for frontotemporal dementia?

Genetic testing

A specialist may recommend that a person with FTD symptoms has a genetic test. This can show if the person's condition is caused by a specific faulty gene. Knowing this can help the specialist to make a more precise diagnosis and to better understand the changes that are happening in the person's brain.

Does a person with dementia know they are confused?

In the earlier stages, memory loss and confusion may be mild. The person with dementia may be aware of — and frustrated by — the changes taking place, such as difficulty recalling recent events, making decisions or processing what was said by others.

How do you make a dementia patient happy?

Do dementia patients lie?

Most of the time, lying is merely a symptom of the disease and not intentional deception. Lying, or untruths, may occur at any stage of dementia, but this symptom generally is more common among seniors with mid- to late-stage dementia and can worsen as the disease progresses.

How do you prevent frontal lobe dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that tends to strike people between the ages of 45 and 65. Researchers say lifestyle changes can reduce a younger adult's risk of getting this disease. Experts recommend moderate physical exercise, mental games such as puzzles, and quality sleep.

What stage of dementia is hypersexuality?

Hypersexual behavior may be a particular feature of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), which affects ventromedial frontal and adjacent anterior temporal regions specialized in interpersonal behavior.

Does frontotemporal dementia show on MRI?

Atrophy or shrinkage of specific regions of the brain that might be suggestive of FTD can be identified by MRI.

What is the difference between FTD and Pick's disease?

Pick's disease is a kind of dementia similar to Alzheimer's but far less common. It affects parts of the brain that control emotions, behavior, personality, and language. It's also a type of disorder known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

Can dementia be triggered by a traumatic event?

Dementia and traumatic brain injury. Over the past 30 years, research has linked moderate and severe traumatic brain injury to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or another dementia years after the original head injury.

How do you care for a parent with dementia at home?

Slow decline while caring for your parent with dementia at home by encouraging your loved one to remain active for as long as possible. Even short walks with assistance or simple stretching exercises are helpful. Empower the senior with dementia to remain more independent by offering assistance only when needed.

How many drinks a day is considered alcoholism?

Heavy Alcohol Use:

NIAAA defines heavy drinking as follows: For men, consuming more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week. For women, consuming more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 drinks per week.

How much alcohol does it take to cause dementia?

Conclusion The risk of dementia was increased in people who abstained from alcohol in midlife or consumed >14 units/week. In several countries, guidelines define thresholds for harmful alcohol consumption much higher than 14 units/week.