Frontotemporal dementia

Functions of the brain Different areas of the brain are responsible for different vital functions. Primary progressive aphasia (uh-FAY-zhuh) is a rare nervous system syndrome that affects the ability to communicate. People who have it can have trouble expressing their thoughts and understanding or finding words. Symptoms begin gradually, often before age 65. They get worse over time. People with primary progressive aphasia can lose the ability to speak and write. Eventually they're not able to understand written or spoken language. This condition progresses slowly. People who have primary progressive aphasia may continue caring for themselves and participating in daily activities for several years. Primary progressive aphasia is a type of frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia is a cluster of disorders that results from the degeneration of the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain. These areas include brain tissue involved in speech and language. Symptoms Primary progressive aphasia symptoms vary based on which part of the brain's language areas are involved. The condition has three types. Each type causes different symptoms. Symptoms develop over time and gradually get worse. Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia Symptoms include: • Trouble understanding spoken or written language, particularly single words. • Trouble understanding the meaning of words. • Not being able to name objects. • Trouble formulating sentences. Logopenic variant primary progressi...

Damien Henderson and Cody Godwin, USA TODAY "Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia," "Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis. The news comes after Frontotemporal dementia is a brain disorder, but it differs fromAlzheimer's disease.It is less common and known, A 'cruel disease': What is frontotemporal dementia? Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, represents a group of brain disorders cause by the degenerationof the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain, the AFTD says.Those parts of thebrain are generally associated with personality, behavior and language, The disorder has various subtypesand differs fromAlzheimer's, aspeople diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia are typically younger. Most people with frontotemporal dementia are diagnosed in their early 40s through early 60s, "FTD has a substantially greater impact on work, family, and finances than Alzheimer's," the AFTD says,as the age of onset ranges younger. How common isfrontotemporal dementia? Willis' family said the actor was initially Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY What causes frontotemporal dementia? The exact cause of frontotemporal dementia is currently unknown, but several medical organizations say there are genetic mutations that are linked to the disorder. "Some pe...

What is frontotemporal dementia? Frontotemporal dementia isn’t one condition. It’s several disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Personality, emotions, behavior, and speech are controlled in these areas of the brain. These disorders cause the brain to lose brain cell function. Frontotemporal dementia is sometimes called frontal lobe dementia. It used to be known as Pick’s disease, after Arnold Pick the physician who discovered it. The symptoms of frontotemporal dementia depend on the areas of the brain affected. Most symptoms can be divided into one of two categories: behavior or language. Common behavioral symptoms of frontotemporal dementia include: • inappropriate actions • apathy, or lack of interest or enthusiasm in activities • lack of inhibition or restraint • neglect of personal hygiene and care • compulsive behavior Common language-related symptoms of frontotemporal dementia include: • difficulty speaking or understanding speech • language recall problems • loss of reading and writing skills • difficulty with social interactions Doctors and researchers divide frontotemporal dementia into three categories. These include: • behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: affects personality and behavior • primary progressive aphasia: affects speech at first and then behavior • progressive nonfluent aphasia: causes people to lose their ability to recall and speak words The type of frontotemporal dementia is determined by the most prominent sy...