Frontotemporal Dementia: Causes, Symptoms, Lack of Insight, and Care
Overview Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative disease caused by the gradual death of nerve cells in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. These regions are responsible for personality, behavior, decision-making, emotional regulation, and language. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss is often not the earliest or most prominent symptom. Instead, FTD typically presents with non-compliant, marked changes in behavior, personality, or language. FTD most commonly appears between the ages of 40 and 65, making it one of the leading causes of early-onset dementia. Because it often affects individuals in the prime of their working and family lives, its impact on patients and caregivers is profound. Frontotemporal dementia is a devastating neurodegenerative disease marked by early-onset changes in behavior, personality, language, and social functioning. Its strong genetic component, frequent lack of insight, and overlap with meta...