Eating patterns can also be affected, with people suddenly bingeing on food, especially sweet foods. Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and sides of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes). Doctors look for signs and symptoms of the disease and try to exclude other possible causes. Speech experts, physical therapists, and nurses may be able to help, too.Doctors are learning more about this kind of dementia, which may lead to better diagnosis and care.Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Frontotemporal Dementia.”Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine: “Frontotemporal Dementia.”National Institute on Aging: “Common Symptoms,” “Frontotemporal Disorders: Information for Patients, Families, and Caregivers.”Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration: “Disease Overview,” “Evaluation and Diagnosis,” “Fast Facts about Frontotemporal Degeneration.”University of California, San Francisco: “Frontotemporal Dementia.”National Health Service (U.K.): “Frontotemporal Dementia.”WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Dementia affects each person in a unique way and changes different parts of the brain at different points in the disease progression. As for herself, Mary faces the future with an unflinching bravery that also includes helping others.

The frontal parts of the brain are where the capacity for empathy, impulse control, personality, and judgment reside. It may be helpful to educate others about behavioral symptoms and what they can expect when spending time with your loved one.Caregivers need assistance from family members, friends and support groups, or respite care provided by adult care centers or home health care agencies.Caregivers should remember to take care of their health, exercise, eat a healthy diet and manage their stress.

How long it lasts depends on several factors: the cause of the dementia (eg, Alzheimer’s disease vs frontotemporal dementia), the age of the person at onset, the person’s overall health status, and so on. All rights reserved. Drugs used to treat or slow Alzheimer's disease don't seem to be helpful for people with frontotemporal dementia, and some may worsen the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia. Plus, different types of dementia tend to have different symptoms. “I want to start a support group for FTD,” she says. But you should find a doctor who knows how to manage it as soon as possible. Frontotemporal dementia has one known risk factor: genetics. If you have it, you won’t lose your memory at first. People with frontotemporal dementia tend to display physically aggressive behavior far earlier than people with Alzheimer's (whose damage is situated nearer to the back of the brain). This type of testing is especially helpful in determining the type of dementia at an early stage.By looking at images of the brain, doctors may be able to pinpoint any visible abnormalities — such as clots, bleeding or tumors — that may be causing signs and symptoms.There's currently no cure or specific treatment for frontotemporal dementia. Scientists have found several genes related to the disease. But you might act differently or do strange things. Dementia mostly affects people over 65, but frontotemporal dementia tends to start at a younger age.

Ask your loved one's doctor about any available resources that provide training in caring for someone with dementia. Over time, you could find it hard to walk, talk, plan activities, work, and take care of yourself.But when you know what to expect, that can help you and your family prepare for the changes to come.It’s hard to say which ones you’ll have first. Dementia is a general term for a chronic or persistent decline in mental processes including memory loss, impaired reasoning, and personality changes. Your doctor will discuss lifestyle changes with you, such as when you may need to stop driving a car or let someone you trust take over your finances.Regular cardiovascular exercise may help improve your mood and thinking skills.It may be helpful to make some adjustments in your home to make daily living tasks easier and reduce your chance of injuries, such as removing rugs or raising toilets.In some cases, caregivers can reduce behavioral problems by changing the way they interact with people with dementia. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. The disorder can be especially challenging to diagnose early because symptoms of frontotemporal dementia often overlap with those of other conditions.To help rule out other conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, your doctor may order blood tests.Some symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (memory and thinking problems and behavioral changes) can be similar to those of frontotemporal dementia. What Should I Expect as a Frontotemporal Dementia Caregiver? In fact, it’s one of the most common causes of early dementia.

You’ve probably heard of … Frontotemporal dementia is a progressive condition which affects behaviour and personality, which sometimes leads to disinhibition and inappropriate social behaviour. You may also want to take a written list that includes:In addition to a physical exam, your doctor may check your neurological health by testing things such as your balance, muscle tone and strength. Frontal lobe dementia is also known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), or frontotemporal degeneration, it is an overarching term for several categories of a loss of brain function. Participating in hobbies outside the home may help ease some stress.When a person with frontotemporal dementia requires 24-hour care, most families turn to nursing homes. Frontotemporal dementia and ALS mean Mary and Chris VanNortwick live every moment to the fullest. Caring for someone with frontotemporal dementia can be challenging and stressful because of the extreme personality changes and behavioral problems that often develop. It depends on where the damage in your brain starts. That’s earlier than Alzheimer’s shows up. It could start in the part of your brain that connects your emotions to objects. But it starts when nerve cells in two parts, or “lobes,” of the brain -- the front and the side -- die. You may find it hard to focus or get motivated. A person with FTD may struggle to speak or carry on a normal conversation. If it strikes the part that controls decision-making, you might first have trouble managing your money. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a type of dementia that happens because of damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of your brain.