Frontotemporal Dementia……on the rise.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13117329/Timebomb-dementia-Wendy-Williams-Bruce-Willis-rates-soar.html

Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is perhaps one of the most sad types of dementia that we see. And, over the last few years, (ahem), frequency of it is increasing. Famous people who have received the FTD diagnosis over the last 1-2 years include Bruce Willis and talk show host Wendy Williams.

What makes FTD particularly nasty is that it strikes younger people. The average age of onset is age 45 and up. And it is particularly rapid in the progression from ok to not ok. It is often masked as depression and anxiety in the early stages, as mood changes are one of the first symptoms. As it progresses at a fairly rapid pace, people develop motor dysfunction, they forget words and names, and it ends in Alzheimer’s type symptoms in later stages. It is predicted that diagnosis of this condition will rise by 700% over the coming decades.

If you or a loved one seem to be having an abnormal neurological event going on, seek the care of a neurologist sooner than later. Sadly, it cannot be stopped, but it can be managed to keep the affected person more comfortable. We have entered the time period where this is being seen more and more in psych and neurology, and many people are not aware of this type of dementia. And most do not realize how it can affect very young people. It is one of the saddest neurocognitive conditions to see, as they are usually young people still raising a family.