What is Frontotemporal Dementia ?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) describes a clinical syndrome associated with shrinking of the frontal and temporal anterior lobes of the brain. Originally known as Pick’s disease, the name and classification of FTD has been a topic of discussion for over a century. The current designation of the syndrome groups together Pick’s disease, primary progressive aphasia, and semantic dementia as FTD. Some doctors propose adding corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy to FTD and calling the group Pick Complex. These designations will continue to be debated. As it is defined today, the symptoms of FTD fall into two clinical patterns that involve either (1) changes in behavior, or (2) problems with language. The first type features behavior that can be either impulsive (disinhibited) or bored and listless (apathetic) and includes inappropriate social behavior; lack of social tact; lack of empathy; distractability; loss of insight into the behaviors of oneself and others; an i
Alzheimer’s disease is primarily a disorder of the frontal lobes, and thus the primary symptom is memory impairment. Temporal lobe dementia causes disabling changes in behavior. Memory may or may not be affected. Frontotemporal dementia is called Pick’s Disease after the doctor who described it in 1892. Most cases of dementia that affect people over 70 are more consistent with Alzheimer’s or other frontal lobe memory disorders. When people in their 50s or 60s are diagnosed with dementia, about half the cases are FTD and involve behavior, rather than memory-impairment dementia. Signs and Symptoms of Frontotemporal Dementia According to the Mayo Clinic, common signs and symptoms of FTD include major, progressive changes in behavior and personality. – Increasingly inappropriate actions (disinhibition) – Euphoria – Lack of judgement and inhibition (impulsivity) – Apathy – Repetitive compulsive behavior – Decline in personal hygiene – Lack of awareness of thinking or behavior changes – Ment
