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What Is Dementia?

Dementia is not a disease but rather a medical term used to describe a group of symptoms that may affect thinking, memory, and other cognitive changes, and also impacts daily functioning and debilitations in one's live.

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The symptoms of dementia vary from person to person, and may include any of the following:

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Cognitive and sensory changes

Memory loss

Difficulty in communication

Confusion and disorientation

Difficulty with coordination and motor functions

Changes in visual perception

Changes in personality and behavior

Depression

Anxiety

Hallucinations

Mood swings

Agitation

Apathy

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DEMENTIA?

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The most common types of dementia are listed below.  


  • Vascular Dementia

  • Mixed Dementia

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WHAT IS FTD?

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Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) is a group of neurocognitive disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost. This causes the lobes to shrink. FTD can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement.  


There are a few types of FTD disorders and can be identified according to the symptoms that appear first and most prominently:

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WHAT IS LBD?


Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These deposits, called Lewy bodies, affect chemicals in the brain whose changes, in turn, can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood. 



​HOW ARE THESE DISEASES DIAGNOSED?


People with FTD and LBD are often misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), psychiatric disorders, vascular dementia or Parkinson’s disease.


The early symptoms and the brain images are often the most helpful tools to reach the right diagnosis.


At this time, there is no single test that can diagnose FTD and LBD with certainty. The diagnosis of FTD requires a thorough history, verified by a caregiver, and a neurological examination. 


Neuroimaging (CT, MRI, PET, SPECT) is used to rule out other causes and to assess for brain atrophy.

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It is not uncommon for neuroimaging to appear "normal" while looking at a scan of the brain.

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Because of this, FTD and LBD tend to be officially diagnosed through an autopsy of the brain.

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ARE THERE MEDICATIONS TO TREAT THESE DISEASES?  IS THERE A CURE?

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Though there is no cure for yet, there are medications that may help manage the symptoms. These medications are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and they can help a person with FTD or LBD manage symptoms of agitation, irritability and lack of motivation.

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Speech and language pathologists and physical and occupational therapists can help adjustment to some of the changes caused by these diseases. 

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LEARN MORE ABOUT FTD

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  • Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration: www.theaftd.org

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  • Remember Me Podcast : https://www.remembermeftd.com/

    • Created by two FTD caregivers and daughters who conduct interviews within the FTD and dementia community to share stories with a focus on remembering the individuals for who they were before the disease impacted their lives.


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FTD Stories 

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LEARN MORE ABOUT LBD

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  • Robin's Wish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX3wNWEV13

    • A documentary about the life and death of beloved Robin Williams.  During his final year, he was misdiagnosed as having Parkinson's but found at autopsy to be suffering from Lewy Body Dementia, which is another neurodegenerative disease that has similarities to FTD.  It is also often misdiagnosed and requires a need for increased awareness and recognition in the medical community. 

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