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Frontotemporal Dementia


Frontotemporal dementia is a progressive dementia that affects specific areas of the brain -- the frontal and temporal lobes.

Core symptoms of frontotemporal dementia include:

  • changes in personality and behaviour
  • problems with speech and language

Although frontotemporal dementia can arise any time during adult life, most affected individuals are between 50-60 years of age.

Frontotemporal dementia is also known as: Pick’s disease, frontal lobe dementia, primary progressive aphasia, corticobasal degeneration and Pick’s complex.

 

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) gets its name from the parts of the brain that it affects. The frontal and temporal lobes are areas of the brain that help us maintain a consistent personality, set of behaviours and manage speech and language.   

Did you know that…?

  1. Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) disables people in their 50’s while they are still part of the workforce and actively parenting.
  2. FTD is often mistaken as an extreme case of ‘midlife crisis’ and can lead to divorce instead of medical attention.
  3. Persons with FTD may adopt new eating rituals that can result in obesity or even choking during an attempt to ingest non-food items.
  4. Expected survival in FTD is shorter than in Alzheimer’s disease.
  5. There is currently no known cure for FTD and there are no treatments specific to FTD.
  6. The most exciting dementia research of 2006 identified a genetic mutation and resulting protein accumulation that may explain a large number of FTD cases which may, in turn, lead to a specific treatment for FTD.
  7. Frontotemporal Dementia is also known as: Pick’s disease, frontal lobe dementia, primary progressive aphasia, corticobasal degeneration and Pick’s complex.
  8. Baycrest’s Brain Health Centre has a clinic that specializes in FTD and provides support resources for caregivers and is conducting clinical trials.
  9. Not all dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
  10. Baycrest offers specialized programming in the Community Day Centre for clients with frontotemporal dementia and frontal lobe disturbance. The program is in collaboration with Baycrest’s Brain Health Centre Clinics and operates Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. as part of the Samuel Lunenfeld Mountainview Club.  Roundtrip escorted transportation is available within a catchment area and lunch and snacks are provided all within a safe and secure environment.

    The program offers tailor-made group activities for earlier onset dementia; specialized programming and environmental supports to meet individual needs; group and one-to-one activities; behaviour management techniques; access to health and medical specialists  bi-monthly Brain Health Clinic team rounds to enhance quality of care for clients and FTD support/education groups for caregivers.

    Referrals are being accepted. There is no age restriction, but clients must meet  eligibility criteria. Space in the program is limited.

    womenFor more information about this program please contact Senior Counselling and Referral at 416.785.2500 ext. 2223 or visit our website at www.Baycrest.org. Look under ‘A-Z’ for Frontaltemporal Dementia. You can also visit http://www.ftd-picks.org/.