Frontotemportal Dementia
What Are The Causes & Risk Factors?
Frontotemporal dementia refers to a group of brain disorders where damage and shrinkage occur to the frontal and temporal regions of the brain. The three main types of frontotemporal dementia include a decline in:
Behavior/personality
Language abilities
Motor abilities
Researchers don’t know what causes frontotemporal dementia. The only known risk factors are a similar disorder or family history of dementia, as it is inherited in about 1/3 of all cases. However, most people with the disease have no family history or other dementia.
What Are The Symptoms?
Language
Difficulty speaking or hesitant speech
Difficulty using and understanding language, written or spoken, like trouble word finding
Personality & Behavior
Frequent mood changes, like increased agitation
Trouble reading social signals
Lack of empathy
Impulsive, repetitive, or inappropriate behavior
Low motivation
Emotional withdrawal
Decreased interest in activities
Change in eating habits or eating inedible objects
Judgment & Decision Making
Poor insight
Impaired judgment
Task Performance
Trouble initiating and planning tasks
Attention problems
Physical
Tremors
Muscle spasms, weakness, or rigidity
Mobility changes, like slow movement, shuffling, trouble walking, poor coordination, and balance issues
Trouble swallowing
Important Note
People may not experience every symptom. These symptoms may not mean a person has frontotemporal dementia. It’s important to rule out other causes by talking to a doctor.
What Can You Expect?
Frontotemporal dementia progresses over time. The time it takes varies from person to person. People may require a higher level of care in later stages, like full-time nursing care or living at a care facility.
Symptoms vary depending on the area of the brain affected.
This disease may begin earlier than other types of dementia, often with symptoms starting between age 40 and 65 (though it can occur earlier or later).
Mobility issues from this disease may require a person to need a wheelchair or stay in bed.
Frontotemporal dementia may make a person more susceptible to other illnesses like infections, pneumonia, and fall-related injuries.
What Treatments Are Available?
There is currently no cure for frontotemporal dementia or ways to slow its progression. Treatments target the symptoms of the disease, which may include:
Medications. These may include medications to treat sleep issues or behavioral symptoms like anxiety and compulsive or irrational behaviors.
Therapies. Physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy can help people with frontotemporal dementia cope with the physical symptoms of the disease and engage in important activities.
Behavior modification. This may help manage challenging behavioral symptoms.
