Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), sometimes called frontal lobe dementia, describes a group of diseases characterized by degeneration of nerve cells - especially those in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Unlike AD, FTD usually does not include formation of amyloid plaques. In many people with FTD, there is an abnormal form of tau protein in the brain, which accumulates into neurofibrillary tangles. This disrupts normal cell activities and may cause the cells to die.

Experts believe FTD accounts for 2 to 10 percent of all cases of dementia. Symptoms of FTD usually appear between the ages of 40 and 65. In many cases, people with FTD have a family history of dementia, suggesting that there is a strong genetic factor in the disease. The duration of FTD varies, with some patients declining rapidly over 2 to 3 years and others showing only minimal changes for many years. People with FTD live with the disease for an average of 5 to 10 years after diagnosis.

Because structures found in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain control judgment and social behavior, people with FTD often have problems maintaining normal interactions and following social conventions. They may steal or exhibit impolite and socially inappropriate behavior, and they may neglect their normal responsibilities. Other common symptoms include loss of speech and language, compulsive or repetitive behavior, increased appetite, and motor problems such as stiffness and balance problems. Memory loss also may occur, although it typically appears late in the disease.

In one type of FTD called Pick's disease , certain nerve cells become abnormal and swollen before they die. These swollen, or ballooned, neurons are one hallmark of the disease. The brains of people with Pick's disease also have abnormal structures called Pick bodies, composed largely of the protein tau , inside the neurons. The cause of Pick's disease is unknown, but it runs in some families and thus it is probably due at least in part to a faulty gene or genes. The disease usually begins after age 50 and causes changes in personality and behavior that gradually worsen over time. The symptoms of Pick's disease are very similar to those of AD, and may include inappropriate social behavior, loss of mental flexibility, language problems, and difficulty with thinking and concentration. There is currently no way to slow the progressive degeneration found in Pick's disease. However, medication may be helpful in reducing aggression and other behavioral problems, and in treating depression.

In some cases, familial FTD is linked to a mutation in the tau gene. This disorder, called frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) , is much like other types of FTD but often includes psychiatric symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a type of FTD that may begin in people as early as their forties. "Aphasia" is a general term used to refer to deficits in language functions, such as speaking, understanding what others are saying, and naming common objects. In PPA one or more of these functions can become impaired. Symptoms often begin gradually and progress slowly over a period of years. As the disease progresses, memory and attention may also be impaired and patients may show personality and behavior changes. Many, but not all, people with PPA eventually develop symptoms of dementia.

---

More on Dementia

What is Dementia

Types of Dementia

Secondary Dementia

Dementia in Children

Causes of Dementia

Other Causes of Dementia

Conditions That Are Not Dementia

Risk Factors for Dementia

Dementia Diagnosis

Treatment for Dementia

Dementia Prevention

Care For Dementia Patient

Research On Dementia

---

Sources:

National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
www.nih.gov
Tel: 301-496-4000
----------------
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
www.ninds.nih.gov
Tel: 800-352-9424
----------------
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
www.nimh.nih.gov
Tel: 301-443-4513
Fax: 301-443-4279
----------------
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center
P.O. Box 8250
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250
www.alzheimers.nia.nih.gov
Tel: 800-438-4380
Fax: 301-495-3334
----------------
The Alzheimer's Research Trust of U.K.
The Stables
Station Road
Great Shelford
Cambridge
CB22 5LR - UK
www.alzheimers-research.org.uk
Tel: 01223 843899
Fax: 01223 843325
----------------
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute
Cnr Barker Street & Easy Street
Randwick Australia 2031
www.powmri.edu.au
Tel: 61 2 9399 1000
Fax: 61 2 9399 1082