FTD disease -What Are Frontotemporal Disorders? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
WHAT is Frontotemporal Disorders(FTD)
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare form of dementia that predominantly affects people over the age of 50. It causes progressive degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Depending on the areas affected by brain degeneration, the disease can cause changes in behavior or alterations in emotion and personality (frontal lobes), or difficulties with speech (temporal lobes). Sometimes people with frontotemporal dementia can also develop movement problems similar to those that develop in people with Parkinson’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
This type of dementia can also compromise executive functions, i.e. those cognitive abilities that allow planning, organizing, reasoning, learning can also lead to performing impulsive actions, the consequences of which are not fully understood.
There are several variations:
FTD with behavioral disturbances
Among the most common, the symptoms are manifested by changes in behavior and personality, combined with possible emotional changes and impaired judgment. Affected people are unaware of these changes. As the disease progresses, some people can become very lethargic while others become uninhibited.
Primary progressive aphasia
manifests itself in changes in the ability to speak, read and write. Affected people understand what they hear or read, but their vocabulary and resources for expressing themselves are increasingly limited. In the non-fluent variant, people lose the ability to construct complete, meaningful sentences, but seem to retain the meaning of sentences. words.
semantic dementia
Unlike primary progressive aphasia, people with semantic dementia speak, read and write fluently, but can no longer call things by their proper names, do not grasp the meaning of words, and no longer recognize noises and objects.
Its average course varies from 5 to 10 years, but in some cases, it can also last for over 20 years.
Diagnosing it is quite difficult because the symptoms with which FTD manifests tend to vary greatly from person to person. Not to mention that the same symptoms can appear in different forms of dementia. For example, language difficulties are also present in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Currently, however, various radiological investigations (PET with FDG) and genetics are available which have provided a significant contribution to a greater diagnostic definition.
Treatment
There’s currently no cure or specific treatment for frontotemporal dementia. Drugs used to treat or slow Alzheimer’s disease don’t seem to be helpful for people with frontotemporal dementia, and some may worsen the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia. But certain medications and speech therapy can help manage symptoms of frontotemporal dementia.
Medications
- Antidepressants. Some types of antidepressants, such as trazodone, may reduce the behavioral problems associated with frontotemporal dementia. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — such as citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft) — also have been effective in some people.
- Antipsychotics. Antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa) or quetiapine (Seroquel), are sometimes used to treat the behavioral problems of frontotemporal dementia. However, these medications must be used with caution in people with dementia due to the risk of serious side effects, including an increased risk of death.
Lifestyle and home remedies
You’ll need to have caregivers, as your condition progresses, to assist with daily life activities, maintain your safety, provide transportation, and help with finances. Your doctor will discuss lifestyle changes with you, such as when you may need to stop driving a car or let someone you trust take over your finances.
Regular cardiovascular exercise may help improve your mood and thinking skills.
It may be helpful to make some adjustments in your home to make daily living tasks easier and reduce your chance of injuries, such as removing rugs or raising toilets.
In some cases, caregivers can reduce behavioral problems by changing the way they interact with people with dementia. Ask your loved one’s doctor about any available resources that provide training in caring for someone with dementia. Possible changes in interaction include:
- Avoiding events or activities that trigger the undesirable behavior
- Removing negative environmental cues, such as the car keys
- Maintaining a calm environment
- Providing structured routines
- Simplifying daily tasks
- Distracting and redirecting attention from problem behaviors
Coping and support
If you’ve been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, receiving support, care, and compassion from people you trust can be invaluable.
Through your doctor or the internet, find a support group for people with frontotemporal dementia. A support group can provide valuable information tailored for your needs as well as a forum that gives you the opportunity to share your experiences and feelings.
For caregivers and care partners
Caring for someone with frontotemporal dementia can be challenging and stressful because of the extreme personality changes and behavioral problems that often develop. It may be helpful to educate others about behavioral symptoms and what they can expect when spending time with your loved one.
Caregivers and care partners need assistance from family members, friends and support groups, or respite care provided by adult care centers or home health care agencies.
It’s important for caregivers and care partners to take care of their health, exercise, eat a healthy diet and manage their stress. Participating in hobbies outside the home may help ease some stress.
When a person with frontotemporal dementia requires 24-hour care, most families turn to nursing homes. Plans made ahead of time will make this transition easier and may allow the person to be involved in the decision-making process.
Preparing for your appointment
People with frontotemporal dementia often don’t recognize that they have a problem. In many cases, family members are the ones who notice the symptoms and arrange for a doctor’s appointment.
Your family doctor may refer you to a doctor trained in nervous system conditions (neurologist) or mental health conditions (psychologist) for further evaluation.
What you can do
Because you may not be aware of all your signs and symptoms, it’s a good idea to take a family member or close friend along with you to your doctor’s appointment. You may also want to take a written list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
- Information about medical conditions you’ve had in the past
- Information about the medical conditions of your parents or siblings
- All the medications and dietary supplements you take
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
you can read more about Alzheimer’s disease
