{"id":5335,"date":"2023-03-28T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/laketown-village\/?p=5335"},"modified":"2026-01-05T05:13:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:13:49","slug":"frontotemporal-dementia-treatment-care-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/laketown-village\/blog\/2023\/03\/28\/frontotemporal-dementia-treatment-care-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"An Overview of Frontotemporal Dementia: Treatment, Care, and Diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Recently, news broke that actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which has brought this rare form of dementia into the spotlight. But what is it exactly, and how is it diagnosed? How can it be treated or prevented? Here we provide an overview of FTD, working to answer some of these questions to help you understand this type of dementia should your loved one be living with a similar diagnosis.<\/p>

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Studio Romantic – stock.adobe.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>

What is frontotemporal dementia?<\/h2>

FTD is a relatively rare type of dementia compared to more commonly known types like Alzheimer\u2019s. Dr. Sandra Petersen, Pegasus Senior Living<\/a>\u2019s Medical Director whose personal experience inspired our Connections memory care<\/a> program, says FTD represents 10 to 20 percent of dementias diagnosed.<\/p>

Around 200,000 cases a year are diagnosed in the U.S. Age of diagnosis can vary from the 40\u2019s forward.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

FTD predominantly affects the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain<\/a>, which are responsible for personality, behavior, and language. Due to the damage done to these areas, FTD usually manifests as changes in behavior or language difficulties. Individuals with FTD may experience impulsiveness and struggle with word-finding or making sense when speaking.<\/p>

How is frontotemporal dementia diagnosed?<\/h2>

Diagnosing FTD is often difficult.<\/p>

Symptoms can be different in each individual, so it can be difficult to diagnose; it is often mis-diagnosed as another type of mental health disorder because the way it presents in different patients is so varied.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Diagnosis<\/a> typically involves a physical examination and lab tests to rule out other conditions. A neurologist may review the person\u2019s medical history and conduct cognitive tests to assess their memory and thinking skills. Neuroimaging studies such as CT scans or MRIs can also be ordered to look for signs of damage in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.<\/p>

Is frontotemporal dementia hereditary?<\/h2>

Sometimes FTD can be inherited; researchers<\/a> have identified at least three genes highly associated with inherited forms of FTD. However, most cases are not hereditary and instead result from unknown causes or spontaneous mutations in specific genes.<\/p>

While there are gene mutations that have been linked to frontotemporal dementia, more than half of the people who develop FTD have no family history of dementia.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Frontotemporal Dementia Care and Treatment<\/h2>

While there are no \u201ccures\u201d available for FTD at this time, there are treatments that can help manage its symptoms. These include:<\/p>