Dementia is a broad category of illnesses that result in complex care needs for patients. Within the term dementia, there are specific types, such as frontotemporal dementia, that have specific care requirements on top of standard practices for the condition.
© Yuriy K / Shutterstock.com
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Unsurprisingly, frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia that applies specifically to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Also known as Pick’s Disease, it covers several types of dementia. This makes it an umbrella term within the already broad field of dementia .
What causes frontotemporal dementia?
It’s usually impossible to know what actually causes dementia because our understanding of it is still very limited. There are theories that it can relate to genetics but also external factors, and even things such as diet and lifestyle.
The short answer: we don’t know what causes frontotemporal dementia. Our understanding is that the affected part of the brain (either the front or temporal lobe) shrinks. As with other types of dementia, this atrophy leads to a lot of symptoms depending on where in the brain is affected.
Frontotemporal dementia symptoms
The front and temporal lobes control lots of things including our behaviour, language ability, and personality. While there are no “unimportant” areas of the brain, it’s safe to say that these parts are fairly fundamental to who we are as people.
So, what are the symptoms? While they can vary from person to person, depending on the area affected and the condition’s progression, common symptoms include:
- Difficulty using and understanding both written and spoken language
- Losing the ability to know the meaning of words, or associating words with their object (such as looking at a pen and not knowing it’s a pen)
- Loss of empathy, judgement, and inhibition
- Compulsive behaviours
- Difficulty moving including poor coordination, muscle weakness, rigidity, trouble walking, and so on
As with other types of dementia, this is a progressive condition, so the symptoms get worse over time and the level of care a person requires increases. A lot of the early symptoms, such as muscle weakness and tremors, can also be mistaken for other conditions.
Caring for someone with frontotemporal dementia
Providing care to someone with frontotemporal dementia can be challenging for many reasons. Behavioural changes can lead to the person being rude or inappropriate when you’re caring for them, which can be both an emotional and physical challenge.
When caring for someone with frontotemporal dementia, it’s worth remembering some important care tips:
Understand their needs
Unlike a perhaps better-known kind of dementia, such as Alzheimers, memory loss is less of a problem here. Instead, people have a problem with language recall. This difference might not seem like much but it’s a big one.
For example, someone with frontotemporal dementia likely won’t forget they’ve eaten, but they might lack the language skills to tell you they have. It’s important, as a care giver, to understand how you can help address their needs.
Accommodate their movement difficulties
It’s also necessary to address any movement problems they might be having. This might include adding stairlifts and rails to their home so they can support themselves moving between rooms.
Also, consider investing in beds for the disabled. Changes in sleep patterns and problems staying still can be addressed with specialist beds for dementia patients. Alongside thoughtful adaptations, these can make a meaningful difference in maintaining comfort and dignity for those living with frontotemporal dementia.
Helping with language problems
Language and communication are major concerns in this area of care. As a helper, you’ll need to speak slowly in clear, short sentences. Ideally, aim for sentences or questions that can be answered with small responses. If there’s still difficulty, consider using pictures.
Understanding behavioural changes
Another of the main frontotemporal dementia symptoms is behavioural change. While there’s nothing you can do to address the cause, it’s vital that you know how to deal with it.
For example, if the person says something rude or inappropriate, you need to try to brush it aside. Arguing with them (or telling them off) won’t help because they won’t see anything wrong with what they did.
