They may need 24-hour nursing care or to stay in an assisted living facility or nursing home. People are also at increased risk for infections and fall-related injuries.Īs FTD progressively worsens, people may engage in dangerous behaviors or be unable to care for themselves. Pneumonia is the most common cause of death, with FTD. But it can lead to an increased risk for other illnesses that can be more serious. What are the complications of frontotemporal dementia?įTD is not life-threatening ─ people may live with it for years. Speech and language pathologists and physical and occupational therapists can help adjustment to some of the changes caused by FTD. Antipsychotic medicine may reduce irrational and compulsive behaviors.īehavior modification may help control unacceptable or risky behaviors. Prescription sleeping aids can help ease insomnia and other sleep disturbances. Antidepressants may help treat anxiety and control obsessive-compulsive behaviors and other symptoms. Order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans of the brainĬurrently, no treatments are available to cure or slow the progression of FTD, but healthcare providers may prescribe medicine to treat symptoms.Assess neuropsychological status such as memory, problem-solving ability, attention span and counting skills, and language abilities.Evaluate neurological status health including reflexes, muscle strength, muscle tone, sense of touch and sight, coordination, and balance.Typically, healthcare providers will order routine blood tests and perform physical exams to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements taken.Medical history and previous medical problems.Symptoms, when they began, and how often they occur.
It’s important to see a healthcare provider as early as possible to discuss: How is frontotemporal dementia diagnosed?įamily members are often the first to notice subtle changes in behavior or language skills. Psychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, also may occur, although these are not as common as behavioral and language changes. Some people have physical symptoms, such as tremors, muscle spasms or weakness, rigidity, poor coordination and/or balance, or difficulty swallowing.
Inability to use or understand language this may include difficulty naming objects, expressing words, or understanding the meanings of words.Loss of interest in normal daily activities.Socially inappropriate, impulsive, or repetitive behaviors.Behavior and/or dramatic personality changes, such as swearing, stealing, increased interest in sex, or a deterioration in personal hygiene habits.They vary from person to person, depending on the areas of the brain involved. Symptoms of FTD start gradually and progress steadily, and in some cases, rapidly. What are the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia? Although experts believe that some cases of FTD are inherited, most people with FTD have no family history of it or other types of dementia. What are the risks for frontotemporal dementia?Ī family history of FTD is the only known risk for these diseases. Pick bodies contain an abnormal amount or type of protein. Some people with FTD have tiny structures, called Pick bodies, in their brain cells. Researchers have linked certain subtypes of FTD to mutations on several genes. Semantic dementia, which affects the ability to use and understand language.Ī less common form of FTD affects movement, causing symptoms similar to Parkinson disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).Progressive nonfluent aphasia, which affects the ability to speak.This form of FTD affects behavior and personality. Symptoms typically start between the ages of 40 and 65, but FTD can strike young adults and those who are older. These disorders are among the most common dementias that strike at younger ages.
FTD can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a common cause of dementia, is a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost.
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