FACTS
- Involves the parts of the brain behind the forehead or behind the ears
- Typically occurs between ages 40 and 65, accounting for less than 5% of all dementias
RISK FACTORS
- Roughly 1/3 of FTD patients have inherited the disease
- Personal history of motor neuron disease such as ALS
SYMPTOMS
- Memory loss is a later sign
- Delusions and hallucinations are uncommon
- Types
- Behavior variant
- Dramatic changes in personality
- Apathy and social withdrawal
- Loss of impulse and behavior control and will say unexpected, rude, or odd things to others
- Loss of inhibitions involving food, drink, sex, emotions, and actions
- Sugar craving
- Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) variant
- Language affected – Can’t find the word they want to say (expressive aphasia) and/or can’t understand what is said (receptive aphasia)
- Uses nonsense words
- Movement disorder with or without behavior variant or PPA
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – Muscle wasting and weakness
- Corticobasal syndrome – Loss of coordination of hands and legs
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy – Muscle stiffness and changes in posture and eye movements
- Behavior variant
DIAGNOSIS
- Assessment through review of medical history and medications, observations during the appointment, and interviews with family or close friends
- Physical and neurological exam, including memory test
- A possible PET imaging brain scan or an MRI of the brain
TREATMENT
- No medications are currently available to treat or prevent FTD
- Medications may alleviate or lessen some behaviors including agitation, irritability, and depression
