About FTD
🧠 What Is FTD?
FTD refers to several related conditions that affect the front (frontal) and side (temporal) regions of the brain. Over time, nerve cells in these areas degenerate, leading to changes in behavior, personality, communication, and sometimes movement. The symptoms of FTD can look very different from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
🔍 Major Types
Behavioral Variant FTD (bvFTD)
Affects personality and social behavior first.
Common signs: loss of empathy, poor judgment, impulsivity, apathy, or socially inappropriate behavior.
FTD/ALS
In 2011, a variant gene was identified a the most common cause of both genetic FTD and genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS). FTD and ALS can occur in the same person, a clinical subtype known as FTD-ALS. In persons with FTD-ALS, symptoms of one of the FTD disorders9usually behavioral variant FTD) are first to appear. Motor symptoms that are more typically associated with ALS - difficulty walking, swallowing, and/or using ones hands- develop later.
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
PSP affects movements and symptoms are stiffness in the axial muscles, the neck and trunk, along with poor balance and more frequent falls. The earliest visual signs are a decrease in upward vertical movement of the eyes and a progressive inability to move the eyes, including opening or closing the eyes. PSP can also affect coordination and movement of the mouth, tongue and throat. People with PSP may also exhibit changes in behavior and language skills common to the behavioral variant (BV) of FTD and PPA.
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Affects language and communication.
Subtypes include:
Semantic variant:
Trouble understanding or naming objects.
Non-fluent/agrammatic variant: difficulty speaking or forming sentences.
⚠️ Common Symptoms
Personality changes or loss of inhibition
Lack of empathy or emotional warmth
Compulsive or repetitive behaviors
Difficulty with language (speaking, reading, or understanding)
Poor decision-making
Changes in eating habits
Movement difficulties in some cases
⏱️ Who It Affects
FTD typically appears between ages 45–65, though it can occur earlier or later.
It’s one of the most common dementias in people under 60.
It can run in families — about 30–40% of cases are hereditary.
🔬 Causes & Diagnosis
Caused by the abnormal buildup of proteins (like tau or TDP-43) in brain cells, leading to cell death.
Diagnosed through neurological exams, MRI or PET scans, neuropsychological testing, and sometimes genetic testing.
Because symptoms differ from memory-based dementias, FTD is often misdiagnosed as depression, bipolar disorder, or Alzheimer’s at first.
❤️ Treatment & Support
Currently, no cure exists for FTD.
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and supporting quality of life.
🌟 Organizations & Resources
AFTD (The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration) – theaftd.org
Offers education, research funding, and support for families and caregivers.
For more information about FTD click here: https://www.theaftd.org/what-is-ftd/disease-overview/
