When dementia changes your personality: recognizing five early signs

When dementia changes your personality: recognizing five early signs

In the world of dementia, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the lesser-known forms, but one that has a significant impact on the lives of those affected and their families. This type of dementia is caused by the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain area, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes. There are a variety of forms of dementia, but FTD occupies a special place in its manifestation. The high-profile case of actor Bruce Willis has drawn attention to how this condition can affect a person's behavior and personality.

The death of nerve cells remains largely unexplored and the exact causes are still unknown. However, the Alzheimer Research Initiative reports that genetic changes trigger this form of dementia in some cases. Statistics show that men and women are affected by FTD at approximately the same rate and that a familial pattern may be evident, indicating a hereditary component. In addition, metabolic diseases can be considered as risk factors, which increases the complexity of diagnosis and therapy.

Behavioral changes as early symptoms

Those affected by FTD often show noticeable changes in their personality at a young age, sometimes even under 30. Typical signs include a loss of empathy, apathy, disinhibition, aggressive behavior and tactlessness. These symptoms are particularly concerning because they can significantly affect interpersonal behavior. The control of emotions and social interactions occurs in the affected regions of the brain, which explains why many patients have difficulty regulating their emotions.

In contrast to Alzheimer's dementia, in which memory loss is the main focus, in frontotemporal dementia it is primarily the personality changes that characterize the disease. Speech disorders and word finding problems often occur as additional side effects. Diagnosing frontotemporal dementia is challenging because symptoms can be similar to other mental illnesses such as mania or depression.

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

A structured diagnostic process is essential to identify FTD. Rapid tests such as the mini-mental status test or specific tests such as the frontal behavioral inventory test can provide valuable information for symptomatic assessment. The involvement of relatives is important, as their observations can provide crucial information about the course of the disease.

Despite the challenges that come with a dementia diagnosis, those affected are advised not to lose sight of personal goals. Support from relatives and professionals is crucial in order to arrange matters such as finances in a timely manner and to fulfill final wishes. The emotional strain on family members is noticeable as the loved one changes in many ways. The combination of aggressive behavior and the loss of empathy can put a lot of strain on the relationship and present new challenges.

Overall, frontotemporal dementia shows that it is a complex disease that not only affects the individual, but also has far-reaching effects on social relationships. Raising awareness of this form of the disease is important in order to provide those affected and their relatives with appropriate support and to educate them about the symptoms.