What is frontotemporal dementia?

This is the title given to a number of conditions, including ‘Pick’s Disease’ and the dementia that sets in with Motor Neurone disease.

The rationale for bunching these conditions together is that they all impact the same part of the brain that is responsible for language, emotions and behaviour. As a consequence, the challenges faced by the patient will have links and similarities. As it is the front lobe of the brain, all proper ‘human’ manners and inhibitions are affected, so bad language and blunt commentary can become the norm. 

The brain will experience a build up of abnormal proteins, similar to Alzheimer’s, and as a result, the brain cells in that part of the brain starts to be lost, and the brain itself shrinks.

Early onset dementia

This form of dementia is the most common dementia suffered by people under the age of 65, closely behind the early stage Alzheimer’s. More than 50% of the cases have been identified as hereditary, so some useful research has been carried out to target the genes that are causing the onset in family members. Genes act as chemical instruction manuals within cells, so if these go wrong, then problems will arise, and continue to arise as the next generation has that gene passed down. 

Although there has been some success in identifying some of these genes and working to combat Frontotemporal dementia that is passed down in families, unfortunately, there has not been much success in finding the root cause of dementia in patients where the disease has not stemmed from the family tree. 

It’s a very distressing form of dementia for the patient and loved one’s, owing to the changes in mood and behaviour that results. As mentioned above, use of foul language increases and the overall personality of the patient altars for the worse. The patient will lack insight and reduced capacity to identify with others and show empathy. This can be particularly difficult for carers’ dealing with the patient all the time.

The patient may even fall foul of the law, such is the impact on a patient’s inhibitions, and the ‘family unit’ will come under strain. The other challenge to bear in mind is that as the patients are generally younger, services available to help may not be suitable as they are often geared for older people.

It’s crucial to get a proper diagnosis so at least the family/carer(s) can plan a strategy to deal with the resulting consequences.