What is the most striking feature of frontal lobe syndrome?

Frontal lobe syndrome is due to a broad array of pathologies ranging from trauma to neurodegenerative diseases. The most important clinical feature is the dramatic change in cognitive function such as executive processing, language, attention, and behavior.

What are the symptoms of frontal lobe syndrome?

What is the most common cause of frontal lobe damage?

Damage to the frontal lobes can affect one or more of the functions of this area of your brain. An injury, stroke, infection, or neurodegenerative disease most often causes damage to the frontal lobes.

What are the three major frontal impairment syndromes?

The signs and symptoms of frontal lobe disorder can be indicated by dysexecutive syndrome which consists of a number of symptoms which tend to occur together. Broadly speaking, these symptoms fall into three main categories; cognitive (movement and speech), emotional or behavioral.

What behaviors are associated with the frontal lobe?

The frontal lobes are involved in motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgement, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior.

Frontal Lobe | Cerebral Cortex

Is the frontal lobe responsible for personality?

The frontal lobes are considered our behaviour and emotional control centre and home to our personality. There is no other part of the brain where lesions can cause such a wide variety of symptoms.

Can frontal lobe damage cause personality change?

Focal frontal lobe disorders can cause more readily predictable changes in personality: orbitofrontal cortex lesions usually lead to a disinhibited, acquired sociopathy; dorsolateral cortex lesions disrupt organization, planning, and judgment; and disruption of anterior cingulate gyri results in apathy.

What are some of the first symptoms noticed in frontal lobe 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. FTD tends to progress over time.

What are 5 extreme behavior changes found with FTD?

Lack of interest (apathy), which can be mistaken for depression. Repetitive compulsive behavior, such as tapping, clapping or smacking lips. A decline in personal hygiene. Changes in eating habits, usually overeating or developing a preference for sweets and carbohydrates.

What are frontal lobe problems?

Frontotemporal disorders (FTD), sometimes called frontotemporal dementia, are the result of damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Many possible symptoms can result, including unusual behaviors, emotional problems, trouble communicating, difficulty with work, or difficulty with walking.

What causes frontal lobe syndrome?

Causes of frontal lobe dysfunction include mental retardation, cerebrovascular disease, head trauma, brain tumors, brain infections, neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis, and normal pressure hydrocephalus.

What causes frontal lobe disorder?

The cause of frontal lobe disorders includes an array of diseases ranging from closed head trauma (that may cause orbitofrontal cortex damage) to cerebrovascular disease, tumors compressing the frontal lobe, and neurodegenerative disease.

Which are the functions of the prefrontal lobe?

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a central role in cognitive control functions, and dopamine in the PFC modulates cognitive control, thereby influencing attention, impulse inhibition, prospective memory, and cognitive flexibility.

What disorder is most often misdiagnosed as dementia?

The symptoms of depression are often mistaken for dementia. It is not easy to define the symptoms because many people with dementia develop signs of depression, such as feelings of low self-esteem and confidence, tearfulness and appetite, concentration and memory problems.

Do people with frontal lobe dementia get violent?

A study from Lund University in Sweden showed that one-third of patients with the diagnosis Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia were physically aggressive towards healthcare staff, other patients, relatives, animals and complete strangers.

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

Pick's disease is a specific type of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a degenerative brain disease that happens most commonly in people under age 65. In years past, Pick's disease was referred to as frontotemporal dementia itself. However, today, experts only use Pick's name when the condition meets certain criteria.

What makes frontotemporal dementia different from Alzheimer's?

Key differences between FTD and Alzheimer's

Memory loss tends to be a more prominent symptom in early Alzheimer's than in early FTD, although advanced FTD often causes memory loss in addition to its more characteristic effects on behavior and language.

What does frontotemporal dementia feel like?

With FTD, unusual or antisocial behavior as well as loss of speech or language are usually the first symptoms. In later stages, patients develop movement disorders such as unsteadiness, rigidity, slowness, twitches, muscle weakness or difficulty swallowing.

At what age can you get frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal disorders — a family of diseases that can affect thinking, behavior and language — are the most common cause of dementia in people younger than 60.

Can frontal lobe damage cause anger?

A brain injury can damage areas of the brain involved in the control and regulation of emotions, particularly the frontal lobe and limbic system. Other effects of a brain injury can lead to irritability, agitation, lowered tolerance and impulsivity, which also increase the likelihood of angry outbursts.

Can a brain injury cause narcissistic personality disorder?

Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Cause Behavioral Problems and Personality Disorders. The most common post-TBI PDs were: borderline, avoidant, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive and narcissistic. Men were more likely to be diagnosed with antisocial PD and narcissistic PD.

What would a person be like without a frontal lobe?

Technically, you can live without a frontal lobe. However, you would experience a total paralysis of your cognitive abilities and motor control. In short, you wouldn't be able to reason and form simple thoughts, and you also wouldn't be able to move. So, it would be best to keep your frontal lobe intact.

How does frontal lobe damage affect behavior?

The frontal lobe, for example, helps govern personality and impulsivity. If damaged, there might be no "braking mechanism" for self-control. A person may find he cannot control his anger or aggression. He may also make inappropriate comments to friends or strangers not realizing they are off color.

How does the frontal lobe affect memory?

Comparing objects: The frontal lobe helps categorize and classify objects, in addition to distinguishing one item from another. Forming memories: Virtually every brain region plays a role in memory, so the frontal lobe is not unique. However, research suggests it plays a key role in forming long-term memories.

Which side of the brain controls memory?

Our brains have two sides, or hemispheres. In most people, language skills are in the left side of the brain. The right side controls attention, memory, reasoning, and problem solving. RHD may lead to problems with these important thinking skills.