Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD)

Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD)

What is fronto-temporal dementia (including Pick's disease)?

The term fronto-temporal dementia covers a range of conditions, including Pick's disease, frontal lobe degeneration and dementia associated with motor neurone disease.

All are caused by damage to the frontal lobe and/or the temporal parts of the brain. These areas are responsible for our behaviour, emotional responses and language skills.

• Pathologically diverse including, Pick's disease, primary progressive aphasia

• Often occur at younger ages

• Predominantly affects behavior and language

• Damage more localized to frontal brain regions

• Contrast to AD, where hippocampus, temporal and parietal lobes are more affected

Symptoms of Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD)

• The frontal lobe governs people's mood and behaviour. The person's mood and behaviour may become fixed and difficult to change, making them appear selfish and unfeeling
• The person does not usually have sudden lapses of memory which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

Cause of Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD)

While a lot has been discovered and learnt about the genetics of Alzheimer's disease since 1992, fronto-temporal dementia/Pick's disease has lagged behind. In the summer of 1998 the first gene which causes fronto-temporal dementia was described and this should lead to similar exciting advances in the understanding of fronto-temporal dementia, and hopefully the development of new treatments. As many of you will know fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) is now used as a term to describe people who develop problems which particularly affect behaviour and language, as opposed to the early involvement of memory which is seen in Alzheimer's disease. Autopsy examinations can reveal the cause of the damage to the brain at the nerve cell level, and there are at least five different types of nerve cell damage in FTD. Two of these types of nerve cell damage involve the deposition of abnormal protein clumps made up of the tau protein.

Treatment of Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD)

Social interventions, counseling, and speech/language/cognitive therapy to facilitate the use of spared functions may make the condition easier to bear for the patient, caregivers, and family members. Treatment of depression with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as sertraline or excitalopram, is frequently helpful. Trazodone may be helpful for sleep. Neurotransmitter-based treatments, analogous to the use of dopaminergic agents in Parkinson disease or anticholinesterase agents in AD, are in their infancy. Anecdotal experience, including that of the author, has not suggested a benefit similar to that of AD with anticholinesterase agents or memantine.

However, much can be done to ease symptoms. Knowing more about the disease and understanding why the person is behaving in certain ways can help the person to cope with the disease. Carers may be able to develop coping strategies, such as avoiding confrontation and working round obsessions, rather than trying to change the behaviour of those affected.

Natural remedies for fronto-temporal dementia?

There is only one medicine of a natural kind which has good evidence to suggest it helps in memory/dementia symptoms. It is ginkgo biloba - now, it isn't a miracle worker - but it might make a small difference which is a big help - if that makes sense. For doses, etc consult your local pharmacist.

Dementia Overview
Multi infarct Dementia
Fronto Temporal dementia
Lewy Body dementia
Frontal Lobe dementia
Parkinsons-Dementia
Pick's disease
Niemann-Pick Disease

Please support this site by sharing this page with others:

  :: :: ::

MOST POPULAR SECTION :

© 2005, www.depression-guide.com. All rights reserved.

Site last updated: March 4, 2008