What are the final stages of frontotemporal dementia?

In later stages, patients develop movement disorders such as unsteadiness, rigidity, slowness, twitches, muscle weakness or difficulty swallowing. Some patients develop Lou Gherig’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). People in the final stages of FTD cannot care for themselves.

How does frontotemporal dementia progress?

FTD tends to progress over time. Treatments can’t cure the disease, but some medicines and other treatments, such as speech therapy can sometimes help with symptoms. If you have FTD, you may eventually need full-time nursing care, or to stay in an assisted living facility or nursing home.

How long do you live with frontal lobe dementia?

End-of-life care for a person with FTD People with FTD typically live six to eight years with their condition, sometimes longer, sometimes less.

How Do You Talk to an agitated dementia patient?

Here are some ways you can cope with agitation or aggression:

1. Reassure the person.
2. Allow the person to keep as much control in his or her life as possible.
3. Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
4. Build quiet times into the day, along with activities.

What is the prevalence of agitation in dementia?

According to several observations, agitation prevalence ranges from 30 to 50% in Alzheimer’s disease, 30% in dementia with Lewy bodies, 40% in frontotemporal dementia, and 40% in vascular dementia (VaD).

What are the signs and symptoms of frontotemporal dementia?

Some people have physical symptoms, such as tremors, muscle spasms or weakness, rigidity, poor coordination and/or balance, or difficulty swallowing. Psychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, also may occur, although these are not as common as behavioral and language changes. How is frontotemporal dementia diagnosed?

What is the prognosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?

Progression in frontotemporal dementia: identifying a benign behavioral variant by magnetic resonance imaging Patients with FTD with normal MRI results follow a more benign course than cases with atrophy at presentation.

What causes frontal lobe dementia (FTD)?

The cause of FTD is unknown. Researchers have linked certain subtypes of FTD to mutations on several genes. Some people with FTD have tiny structures, called Pick bodies, in their brain cells. Pick bodies contain an abnormal amount or type of protein.