What Are Frontotemporal Disorders?
According to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, 50,000 to 60,000 individuals have a frontotemporal disorder. Also known as frontotemporal dementia, this condition affects a person’s behavior, personality, or motor skills.
Frontotemporal disorders are one of the more common types of dementia. Learning about these conditions can help you identify if you or a loved one may be at risk and when to seek medical attention.
Understanding The Brain
The brain is a complex organ, but basic knowledge about the brain can help you understand frontotemporal disorders. Researchers divide the brain into several sections or lobes. Each lobe is responsible for different functions. Two sections relevant to frontotemporal disorders are the frontal and temporal lobes.
There are two frontal lobes located in the front of the brain near the forehead. These lobes are essential for movement and expressive language. They also help with cognitive functions like planning, organizing, and self-monitoring. Below the frontal lobes are the temporal lobes. These lobes are essential in memory and processing auditory information.
A frontotemporal disorder occurs when there’s damage to the neurons in the frontal or temporal lobes. The damage interferes with the brain's functions, resulting in movement, language, and memory changes. It’s still unclear what causes the neuron damage related to frontotemporal disorders. Still, researchers are finding biological and genetic connections, making a family history of these disorders one of the primary risk factors.
Frontotemporal Disorders
There are various frontotemporal disorders, but they mostly fit into three categories based on early signs and symptoms.
Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia
The most common form of frontotemporal disorder is behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). This disorder affects a person’s behavior, judgment, and personality. Early signs of bvFTD include having trouble planning and organizing things, not prioritizing tasks, repeating activities, not exhibiting proper emotions in social situations, and a lack of empathy. People with bvFTD may also act out in social situations without considering how it’ll affect others. As the disease progresses, they may also exhibit movement and language challenges.
Primary Progressive Aphasia
Another category of frontotemporal disorders is primary progressive aphasia (PPA). This disorder primarily affects a person’s communication ability, including speaking, reading, and writing. Symptoms may make it difficult for an individual to physically speak. It can also affect their ability to know and understand words. As the disorder progresses, they will start to have other signs of dementia, like difficulty with their memory, reasoning, and logic.
Movement Disorders
The final category of frontotemporal disorders is movement disorders. The two main movement disorders associated with frontotemporal dementia are corticobasal syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy. Corticobasal syndrome is the progressive loss of movement control, whereas progressive supranuclear palsy affects balance and walking. Like with the other categories, once the disease progresses, other signs and symptoms of dementia will become present.
How Visiting Angels Can Help
If you or a loved one is living with a frontotemporal disorder, the team at Visiting Angels can provide at-home care to ensure safety and independence. We offer a wide selection of at-home care services to assist seniors with nonmedical tasks like housekeeping, cooking, medication reminders, transportation, grooming, and mobility.
Our Gadsden office cares for seniors throughout Blount, Marshall, Etowah, and the surrounding communities. You can contact our office to learn more.