Frontotemporal dementia Detailed Information

 Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is an umbrella term for a group of rare disorders that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain – the areas commonly associated with personality and behaviour. The disease frequently affects a person's ability to employ and understand spoken and written language. It can also affect personality, social behaviour, reasoning, problem solving, and memory. Younger people, specifically those under the age of 65, are more likely to be affected.

Men and women are similarly likely to expand the condition. Frontotemporal dementia affects a probable 250,000 Americans or the prevalence of FTD among people ages 45 to 64 was estimated to be 6.7 per 100,000. Approximately 40% of patients with frontotemporal dementia have a positive family history of a alike dementia while 60% appear to occur sporadically with no apparent hereditary link. The mean duration of the illness is about eight years. Symptoms can be classified (roughly) into two groups behavioral symptoms and symptoms related to problems with executive function.

Behavioural symptoms comprise lethargy and aspontaneity or oppositely disinhibition. Executive function is the cognitive ability of planning and organizing. Patients become not capable to do skills that need complex planning or sequencing. Language skills can be affected in a number of methods with two wide patterns. Some patients stay fluent with normal phonology and syntax but rising difficulty with naming and word comprehension, known as semantic dementia in which there is atrophy of the anterior temporal lobes, typically with an asymmetric pattern. A person should seek a thorough medical assessment if any of these symptoms are present.

Other patients, by contrast, present with a breakdown in speech fluency due to expression difficulty, phonological and/or syntactic errors but preservation of word comprehension, referred to as progressive nonfluent aphasia. There is no known healing treatment for FTD. Supportive care is necessary. People with primary progressive aphasia may benefit from speech therapy to assist them adjust to their language difficulties and learn alternate ways to communicate. Management of behavioural symptoms may be necessary. If agitation or other types of hyperactivity become problems, small doses of tranquilizers may assist.