Belgian breakthrough in research into frontotemporal dementia, which affects, among others, actor Bruce Willis

What is frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), formerly known as Pick’s disease, is a form of dementia that mainly affects younger people, between the ages of 45 and 64. Most dementia diagnoses in people under the age of 65 are related to frontotemporal dementia.

The first symptoms you may notice are changes in behavior, language, and motor skills, as well as problems with executive functions (for example, planning and organizing). Memory loss, which you usually associate with dementia, does not occur until a later stage.

FTD is located in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that regulates behavior, makes plans, makes decisions, and coordinates actions… The temporal lobe plays a major role in our language and speech.

Because the first symptoms of frontotemporal dementia are different from other forms of dementia, and because the disease occurs mainly in young people, it may take a long time before a diagnosis is made. Patients with FTD are often misdiagnosed, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or Parkinson’s disease.

The course of FTD is unpredictable. In some patients, the disease develops rapidly, in others it develops gradually.