Please note: This information was current at the time of publication. But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient education Web site.
Information from Your Family Doctor
Am Fam Physician. 2010 Dec 1;82(11):1378.
See related article on frontotemporal dementia
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a disease in which people lose tissue at the front (frontal lobes) and sides (temporal lobes) of their brain. This gradually causes problems with behavior and language. Doctors do not know what causes it.
Who gets it?
Anyone can get FTD, but it usually happens in people 45 to 65 years of age. It also happens more often in people with family members who have had dementia.
How do I know if a friend or family member has it?
People with FTD typically don't have the severe memory problems that people with Alzheimer disease do. There are different types of FTD that can affect different functions. People with FTD may have changes in behavior, such as losing interest in doing things. Sometimes these symptoms can seem like depression. Some people with FTD may say or do inappropriate things. They don't usually see a problem with the behaviors or admit there is anything to be worried about. Sometimes a person's language is affected. For example, the person may say things that have no meaning or that are hard to understand.
There are no routine blood or imaging tests to diagnose FTD. However, magnetic resonance imaging may be able to help with diagnosis and ruling out other causes. Doctors can also ask questions that may help to diagnose FTD.
Can it be treated?
There is no cure for FTD. Most medicines treat symptoms, such as depression. Counseling and support groups may help people with FTD and their families.
Where can I get more information?
AAFP's Patient Education Resource
Web site: http://familydoctor.org
Association for Frontotemporal Dementias
Web site: http://www.ftd-picks.org
This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org.
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
Copyright © 2010 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact firstname.lastname@example.org for copyright questions and/or permission requests.
Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions