Characteristics of frontotemporal dementia
What are the features of frontotemporal dementia?
The most common signs of frontotemporal dementia involve extreme changes in behavior and personality. These include: Increasingly inappropriate social behavior. Loss of empathy and other interpersonal skills, such as having sensitivity to another’s feelings.
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 People experiencing these changes may become self-centered, emotionally distant and withdrawn.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 makes frontotemporal dementia different than Alzheimer’s?
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.
What are the three types of frontotemporal dementia?
Forms of Frontotemporal Dementia
Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) Non-fluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA)
What are the first signs of frontotemporal dementia?
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.
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 main cause of frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by clumps of abnormal protein forming inside brain cells. These are thought to damage the cells and stop them working properly. The proteins mainly build up in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain at the front and sides.
How fast does frontotemporal dementia progress?
Most studies show that FTD is steadily progressive, with declining function in everyday life and accumulation of social, cognitive, and neurological disabilities leading to complete dependency requiring institutional care over a course of 6–8 years[9].
What is a common treatment for frontotemporal dementia?
Some types of antidepressants, such as trazodone, may reduce the behavioral problems associated with frontotemporal dementia. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — such as citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil) or sertraline (Zoloft) — also have been effective in some people.
What disorder is most often misdiagnosed as dementia?
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the most misdiagnosed form of dementia, taking on average more than 18 months and three doctors to receive a correct diagnosis.
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 life expectancy of someone with FTD?
End-of-life care for a person with FTD
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 Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia?
The behavioral variant of Frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is the most common presentation of Frontotemporal degeneration. This variant is characterized by progressive atrophy (cell loss) in frontal and anterior temporal regions of the brain leading to alterations in complex thinking, personality and behavior.
How fast does frontotemporal dementia progress?
Most studies show that FTD is steadily progressive, with declining function in everyday life and accumulation of social, cognitive, and neurological disabilities leading to complete dependency requiring institutional care over a course of 6–8 years[9].
How long does end stage frontotemporal dementia last?
End-of-life care for a person with FTD
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.
Does frontal lobe dementia affect walking?
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 is the main cause of frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by clumps of abnormal protein forming inside brain cells. These are thought to damage the cells and stop them working properly. The proteins mainly build up in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain at the front and sides.
What is a common treatment for frontotemporal dementia?
Some types of antidepressants, such as trazodone, may reduce the behavioral problems associated with frontotemporal dementia. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — such as citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil) or sertraline (Zoloft) — also have been effective in some people.
What causes death in frontal lobe dementia?
Pneumonia is the most common cause of death in those who have frontotemporal dementia. They also are at increased risk for infections and fall-related injuries.
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 a typical age of onset of the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia?
However, age of onset ranged from 17 years to the 80s for people with MAPT mutations and from the 20s to the 90s for the other two groups, providing evidence that FTD can occur throughout adulthood, the researchers noted.