Frontotemporal dementia
The symptoms of frontotemporal dementia usually develop gradually and get increasingly worse over a number of years.
The early symptoms can varybetween different people with the condition, depending on which part of the brain is affected. Many people will initially have either behavioural or language problems.
As the condition progresses, most people experience problems in both of these areas, as well as additional physical problems and thinking difficulties. Eventually, the condition spreads to affect most brain functions.
These groups of symptoms are described below.
In most cases, people with frontotemporal dementia display a number of unusual behaviours that they are not aware they have developed.
These can vary widely from person to person for example, some may be uninterested and seem to have no drive, while others may be impulsive andmore outgoing,with no inhibitions.
Typical signs are:
As the disease progresses, people with frontotemporal dementia may become sociallyisolated and withdrawn.
Manypeople withfrontotemporal dementia experience problems with speech and language.
Symptomscan include:
Some people gradually lose the ability to speak, and can eventually become completely mute.
Many people withfrontotemporal dementia eventually lose the ability to think for themselves.
Symptoms can include:
In the later stages, many people with frontotemporal dementia may develop problems with movement. They may no longer initiate movements and may become rigid, similar to Parkinson's disease .
Some people may lose control of their bladder ( urinary incontinence ) and bowel ( bowel incontinence ).
In a few cases, frontotemporal dementia can occur with otherneurological (nerve andbrain)problems that cause additional physical symptoms, including:
If you think you may have early symptoms of dementia, it's a good idea to see your GP. If you're worried about someone else, encourage them to make an appointment and perhaps suggest that you go along with them.
Symptoms of dementia can have a number of different causes. Your GPcan carry out some simple checks to try to find out what the cause may be, and they can refer you to a specialist for further tests if necessary.
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Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of dementia that's estimated to affect around 16,000 people in the UK.
The symptoms of frontotemporal dementia usually develop gradually and get increasingly worse over a number of years.
Confirming a diagnosis of dementia can be difficult, particularly when the condition is in its early stages.
There is currently no cure for frontotemporal dementia, but treatment can help to manage some of the symptoms.