Overview

This is a rare cause of dementia but FTD has many distinct features which help to distinguish it from more common dementias such as Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

Whereas personality deterioration is common in Alzheimer’s earlier in the disease and is less prominent in vascular dementia until quite late, early personality changes and language impairment appear to be markers of FTD.

The behavioural changes of FTD are those associated with diminishing frontal inhibition, impulsivity, social inappropriateness, loss of insight and judgement, with other markers characteristic of specific sub-types such as semantic variant, and nfvPPA.

There is no treatment at the moment for FTD. Cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists are not usually prescribed in this condition.