Frontotemporal DementiaFrontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a degenerative disease that affects mainly
the frontal and temporal lobes within the brain. It can cause changes in personality, behaviour, language and movement. It is commonly misdiagnosed to be a psychiatric problem or something along the lines of Alzheimer’s or Pick’s disease. Is it Frontotemporal dementia or Alzheimer’s?
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Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms can vary between one individual and the next, but
these are some of the most common symptoms of frontotemporal dementia.
these are some of the most common symptoms of frontotemporal dementia.
- Extreme changes in behaviour such as; lack of initiative, inappropriate
- actions, little or no empathy, decline in personal hygiene, lack of judgment,
- compulsive behaviour and excessive gluttony or bad food habits.
- Speech and language problems
- Hypochondriasis
- Decreased motor skills
- Tremors, muscle spasms or muscle weakness
- Reduction in speech resulting in muteness can be common in more severe
- cases
Testing and Diagnosis
There is no single test that can accurately diagnose frontotemporal dementia
but different signs can be identified through things like blood tests, brain imaging
(MRI, CT scan, EEG and PET) and neuropsychological testing that can identify
problems with memory, reasoning.
but different signs can be identified through things like blood tests, brain imaging
(MRI, CT scan, EEG and PET) and neuropsychological testing that can identify
problems with memory, reasoning.
Treatment Options
There is no definitive cure for frontotemporal dementia; however, there are
many effective ways to manage the symptoms.
many effective ways to manage the symptoms.
- Serotonin-boosting medications for behavioural symptoms
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics (Although they may relieve some of the behaviour related
- symptoms, they can include an increased risk for mortality among older
- adults)
- Therapy; emotional, psychological and speech