What is frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?
Frontotemporal dementia is a rare, progressive type of dementia. FTD generally affects people between the ages of 40 and 65.
What causes FTD?
FTD is caused by damage to the front and side of the brain. The damage is thought to occur from a build of Tau, a protein found in the brain. Too much Tau can affect the way the brain functions. Faulty genes may also be responsible for tissue damage and an eventual FTD diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia?
The symptoms of FTD can be divided into 2 categories:
Behavioural:
- Acting out of character and being impulsive
- Being insensitive and uncaring towards others
- A lack of interest and motivation
- Repetitive behaviours
Language:
- Using the wrong words, or putting them in the wrong order
- Speaking very slowly, as the brain tries to find the correct word
- Repeating words and phrases
In the later stages of FTD, physical and mental symptoms may occur, such as:
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty moving the limbs
- Loss of awareness
FTD may be linked to other neurological conditions, such as motor neurone disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and corticobasal syndrome.
