9 de September de 2025

Frontotemporal dementia: symptoms, diagnosis, and available treatments

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a type of neurodegenerative dementia less common than Alzheimer’s disease, but with a great impact on the patient’s life and their environment. Unlike other dementias, it usually begins at an earlier age, between 45 and 65 years, and its main symptom is not related to memory, but to behavior.

What is frontotemporal dementia?

FTD mainly affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, responsible for behavior, language, and decision-making. Therefore, the most common initial symptom is a behavioral disorder: personality changes, difficulty controlling impulses, apathy, or loss of empathy.

Differences with Alzheimer’s disease

In its early stages, frontotemporal dementia can be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease. However, while in Alzheimer’s the main alteration is memory, in FTD the most significant change is behavior. This distinction is essential to guide the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and define the therapeutic approach.

“Frontotemporal dementia is mainly characterized by a behavioral disorder, unlike Alzheimer’s, which affects memory more severely”

Dr. Albert Lladó, neurologist specialized in dementias

How is frontotemporal dementia diagnosed?

The diagnosis of FTD is clinical and requires a detailed neuropsychological and neurological evaluation. To complete the study, neuroimaging tests are used, such as MRI, CT scan, or nuclear medicine tests such as glucose PET, which help confirm brain involvement.

Treatment of frontotemporal dementia

Currently, there is no pharmacological treatment for frontotemporal dementia. However, there are non-pharmacological treatments that can improve patients’ quality of life and slow down the progression of some symptoms.
Among them, the most relevant are:

• Occupational therapy and cognitive stimulation, which help maintain autonomy and preserved abilities.

• Speech therapy, especially in cases of primary progressive aphasia, a variant of FTD in which language is the most affected function.

• Psychological support and psychoeducation for families and caregivers, essential for managing behavioral changes.

The role of family and environment

Frontotemporal dementia presents major challenges, not only medical but also social and emotional. Understanding the disease by the family and the support of specialized teams are essential to provide comprehensive and personalized care.