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Frontotemporal Dementia: Your Complete Overview

Frontotemporal Dementia Your Complete Overview Min

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the least common dementia types, making up between 10-20% of all dementia cases. It is quite different to other types of dementias because of the area of the brain it impacts.

FTD primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, hence the name. Because it impacts a specific area of the brain, the symptoms can be distinctive from other dementia types, as can the diagnosis and care.

At LuxuryCare, we specialise in dementia care across our care homes in Bournemouth and Poole. Plus, we have a specialist neurological centre, Branksome Park, which provides expert care for conditions such as FTD. As we care for all types and stages of the disease, we know everything to know about this type of dementia.

This blog is a complete guide to frontotemporal dementia, providing a central point of information for you to turn to.

What is Frontotemporal Dementia?

Like other dementia types, FTD is a neurodegenerative condition that impacts the brain.

However, this dementia impacts a specific area of the brain, making its symptoms very specific.

FTD primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These sections of the brain are responsible for our personality, behaviour, decision making and language, meaning these are the areas that are affected.

The causes of this type of dementia are not fully understood. A large number of cases seem to have a genetic component, suggesting it can be hereditary and passed down from a parent through a defective gene.

Where the defective gene isn’t apparent in someone with FTD, it isn’t clear what the cause is, which is why it is often referred to as “sporadic”.

frontotemporal degeneration disease
frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal Dementia Symptoms

There are several frontotemporal dementia symptoms. While some of them are similar to other dementia symptoms, there are a few that differ as they expand beyond cognitive function because of where in the brain the dementia affects.

The symptoms of FTD can be characterised by three categories: behavioural, language, and motor symptoms.

Behavioural frontotemporal dementia symptoms include:

  • Personality changes
  • Lack of empathy shown
  • Becoming more impulsive
  • Socially inappropriate behaviour

Language symptoms include:

  • Trouble speaking
  • Difficulty understanding spoken language
  • Struggling to find words when talking

Motor symptoms can include:

  • Difficulty with fine motor skills
  • Struggles to walk steadily due to balance issues
  • Reduced hand-eye coordination
  • Tremors
  • Muscle rigidity and stiffness
  • Slowing down of movement
  • Trouble with speech and swallowing

Diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia

Getting a dementia diagnosis of any kind can take a bit of time and requires a number of tests.

The process to get a diagnosis of FTD will often include:

  • Neurological exams – to check the nervous system
  • Brain imaging (MRI/CT scans)
  • Cognitive tests – answering questions, completing tasks, writing answers and selecting true or false answers to measure cognitive function

Everyone involved in the process of giving a diagnosis will talk you through each step so you know what to expect.

Treatment and Care of Frontotemporal Dementia

Unfortunately, there is currently no curative treatment for this dementia type. This means that any treatment recommended and put in place is palliative and aims to reduce the symptoms and delay progression.

A range of therapies might be put in place to reduce the impact on motor skills:

  • Occupational therapy – to keep fine motor skills needed for day-to-day activities.
  • Physical therapy – to strengthen muscles and reduce muscle stiffness.
  • Speech and language therapy – to reduce the impact on speech and swallowing

Medications may also be prescribed to manage certain symptoms, such as tremors, pain or even emotional symptoms, such as depression.

It is important that any care plan takes a holistic approach because a diagnosis will not only impact the physical ability of your loved one but also their mental and emotional well-being. Therefore, care and treatment should be as much about supporting these as it is about reducing the symptoms.

occupational therapy in elderly care
frontotemporal dementia at LuxuryCare

Frontotemporal Dementia at LuxuryCare

While less common than other types of dementia, frontotemporal dementia isn’t rare.

However, due to the part of the brain it impacts, symptoms are specific and go beyond cognitive function into behaviour and motor skills. Because of this, it requires specialist care.

At LuxuryCare, we are dementia care specialist care homes across Poole and Bournemouth. Each care home can cater to the early stages of FTD. But as the condition progresses, we are likely to recommend moving your loved one to our neurological care centre, Branksome Park.

Branksome Park is a specialist nursing home for those with complex medical needs, specifically neurological conditions. This means their facilities and staff are better equipped to deal with the range of symptoms and treatment for the condition.

As well as focusing on the medical treatment of FTD, our care homes aim to improve your loved one’s quality of life – no matter what stage of dementia they are at.

We do this through a bespoke care plan, engaging activities programme, luxurious facilities and rooms and delicious home-cooked meals.

If you would like to learn more about how we can care for your loved one with frontotemporal dementia, we recommend booking a visit to your local care home. We can discuss your loved ones’ needs and any concerns you might have. Book a visit today by calling us on 01202 037373 or completing our online contact form.