Case Study Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia is the term used for progressive syndromes associated with atrophy of the temporal and frontal lobes (Hodges, 2007) and is the second most common cause of young onset dementia (Ratnavalli et al. 2002).

Piguet et al. (2010) have categorized FTD as bvFTD, with deterioration of social function and decline in language ability, primary progressive aphasia, which is subdivided into non-fluent aphasia and semantic aphasia. Some overlap with MND has been identified, as 10% of symptoms of FTD and MND may be present in both diseases and both may have abnormal tau pathology. Genetic factors are implicated, as approximately 40% of patients have a family history of dementia. A behavioural and family history is essential in the diagnostic process and neuropsychological assessment aims at identifying defects in decision-making, emotion processing and social cognition. Brain imaging studies are performed and more recently a staging instrument has been used for monitoring and evaluation of therapies. There is no cure for FTD, therefore therapies are supportive and aimed at symptom control and improving quality of life.

Weder et al. (2007) present a comprehensive review of FTD, a disease that results in deficits in

Three subtypes are recognized, frontal or behavioural (FvFTD), temporal aphasic or Semantic dementia (SD), and progressive aphasia (PA). Variations are seen in cognitive damage, and the regions of the brain found to be affected. Prognosis is poor, seventy-five percent of patients die within six years of diagnosis (Hodges et al. 2003). Symptoms are related to behavioural, cognitive and neurological changes. Diagnostic procedures include neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological assessments, neuroimaging studies and a behavioral