Donate now See menu Shop Support line Search Home About dementia Types of dementia Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the less common types of dementia. It is sometimes called Pick's disease or frontal lobe dementia. The first noticeable FTD symptoms are changes to personality and behaviour and/or difficulties with language. You are here: Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Who gets frontotemporal dementia? Getting a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia What treatment and support is there for frontotemporal dementia? Frontotemporal dementia - other resources Frontotemporal dementia Save this information Get a copy What is frontotemporal dementia (FTD)? Dementia describes a group of symptoms that can include problems with memory, thinking or language, and changes in mood, emotions and behaviour. It is caused when the brain is damaged by disease. The word ‘frontotemporal’ refers to the two sets of lobes (frontal and temporal) in the brain that are damaged in this type of dementia. FTD occurs when disease damages nerve cells in these lobes. Advice Dementia and the brain Knowing more about the brain and how it can change can help to understand the symptoms of dementia. It can help a person with dementia to live well, or to support a person with dementia to live well. This causes the connections between them and other parts of the brain to break down. The levels of chemical messengers in the brain also get lower over time. These messengers allow nerve cells to send signals to each other and the rest of the body. As more and more nerve cells are damaged and die, the brain tissue in the frontal and temporal lobes starts to get smaller. There are two broad types of Frontotemporal dementia: Behavioural variant FTD – where damage to the frontal lobes of the brain mainly causes problems with behaviour and personality. These lobes are found behind the forehead and process information that affects how we behave and the control of our emotions. They also help us to plan, solve problems and focus for long enough to finish a task. Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) occurs when damage to the temporal lobes – on either side of the head nearest the ears – causes language problems. This part of the brain has many roles. A key function of the left temporal lobe is to store the meanings of words and the names of objects. The right temporal lobe helps most people recognise familiar faces and objects. The first noticeable symptoms for a person with FTD will be changes to their personality and behaviour and/or difficulties with language. These are very different from the early symptoms of more common types of dementia. For example, in Alzheimer’s disease, early changes are often problems with day-to-day memory. In the early stages of FTD, many people can still remember recent events. What are the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia? Frontotemporal dementia affects everyone differently. Its symptoms vary a lot and depend on which areas of the frontal and temporal lobes are damaged – and so the type of FTD the person has. As with most forms of dementia, FTD is progressive. This means its symptoms may be mild at first, but they will get worse over time. Find out more about FTD symptoms below. Behavioural variant FTD Primary progressive aphasia Later stages of FTD Related conditions that affect movement Accessible versions of this information Watch a signed version of our information about frontotemporal. Think this page could be useful to someone? Share it: Previous Section You are on the first page Next Section 2. Who gets frontotemporal dementia? Categories Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Young-onset dementia Further reading What kind of information would you like to read? Use the button below to choose between help, advice and real stories. Decide what you see Husband’s young-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis made me passionate about educating others Real stories Tracey Seymour, whose husband was diagnosed in his mid-50s, wants to challenge the perception that dementia only affects older people. 30 September 2021 4 Q&A: Gerard Doran, who lives with young-onset Alzheimer’s Real stories Gerard Doran, a 62-year-old in County Armagh with young-onset Alzheimer’s, answers our questions. 30 September 2021 0 'Some of my most treasured moments have been after her dementia diagnosis' - Carly's story Real stories Carly Burne’s mother, Rose-Marie was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia in 2017. Despite the challenges of the past four years, Carly reflects on the positives – from finding the perfect care home for her mam, to strengthening their relationship. 08 July 2021 6 Previous Next Sign up to get twice-monthly e-newsletter updates from Alzheimer’s Society. 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