Changing personality: Five symptoms of frontotemporal dementia

Changing personality: Five symptoms of frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the rarer forms of dementia and has received more attention in recent years, particularly with high-profile cases such as that of US actor Bruce Willis. This particular type of dementia is not characterized by memory loss like the more well-known Alzheimer's dementia. Instead, it becomes visible through serious changes in the personality and behavior of the person affected, which makes understanding and support particularly challenging for relatives.

Frontotemporal dementia results from the death of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal areas of the brain, which primarily affects the emotional and interpersonal skills of those affected. The reason for cell death is still largely unexplored. In some cases, a genetic factor may play a role, with changes in the genome leading to an increased risk. The disease affects men and women to approximately the same extent and can occur at a very young age, sometimes even under 30.

Typical symptoms of frontotemporal dementia

Early symptoms that often call attention include a loss of empathy and a noticeable state of apathy. Social isolation can be the result, as those affected often withdraw from friends and family. In addition, impulsive and inappropriate behavior coupled with aggression is not uncommon. These behavioral changes are particularly worrying and can make living with the affected person extremely difficult.

• Empathieverlust
• Apathie und Gleichgültigkeit
• Enthemmung, auch in sexueller Hinsicht
• Aggressives, gereiztes und unangemessenes Verhalten
• Taktlosigkeit

These symptoms can be very distressing for family members. They experience a painful transformation of the person they once knew. Relatives are often confronted with a feeling of helplessness because emotionality and contact with their loved ones are severely limited.

Diagnosing frontotemporal dementia is anything but easy. Symptoms are often incorrectly interpreted as an expression of other mental illnesses such as mania or schizophrenia. It is crucial that doctors conduct a thorough medical history, including observations and reports from relatives. This helps to draw the right conclusions and avoid misdiagnosis. Diagnostic procedures include simple tests such as the Mini-Mental Status Test or specific inventory tests that focus on behavior.

The challenge of such a diagnosis is considerable, as changes in behavior and personality are often not immediately associated with the declaration of a form of dementia. This can be frustrating for the medical profession as well as for those affected and their families.

Despite the significant challenges that come with a dementia diagnosis, it is important for those affected to have personal goals and implement their final wishes. Relatives can play an important role by providing support and guidance. It is advisable to settle financial matters early and have an open dialogue to ease the transition into this more difficult phase of life.

Overall, frontotemporal dementia sadly shows how profoundly an illness can affect the entire life of a person and their relatives. It is essential that society develops an understanding of the challenges associated with this and other forms of dementia. Knowledge about the symptoms and their effects is the first step in meeting the need for help and offering both those affected and their family members the necessary support.