Frontotemporal Dementia Identification and Care

As the baby boomer generation of the 1960s continues to age, physicians predict that the rate of Alzheimer’s disease among adults will likewise continue to climb.  Currently, just over 5 million people have Alzheimer’s disease and require over 170 billion dollars in healthcare (i).  In the years between 2000 and 2006, Alzheimer’s associated deaths climbed by 46.1 percent, illustrating the growing need for disease awareness and research.  Of particular concern is the occurrence of Frontotemporal dementia in middle-aged adults.

Frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term used to define several disorders, each of which affects two primary areas of the brain:  the frontal and temporal lobes.  These areas, associated with personality, behavior, and language, begin to shrink at the onset of this disorder, causing individuals to undergo severe changes in personality (iii).

Frontotemporal Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease

Frontotemporal dementia is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease because often the symptoms are similar.  One dissimilarity, however, is that Frontotemporal dementia occurs in middle-aged adults as young as 40 years old.  Alzheimer’s disease is more common among older individuals over the age of 60 years old. In this light, Frontotemporal dementia can be considered a type of early onset dementia.

Counselor and Caregiver Resources

Though Frontotemporal dementia is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, similar resources prove instrumental in helping family members and caregivers provide care for loved ones.  An example of such resources includes the Alzheimer’s Project:  Caregivers DVD.  Issues like denial, guilt, frustration, and sorrow are addressed as caregivers learn to support, consol, and cherish those with the disorder.

Program Development Associates provides many other caregiver resources to help those who provide care for physically or mentally impaired individuals.  For over 25 years Program Development Associates has been providing resources to professional caregivers, personal assistants, and college educators to further disability and diversity awareness.

(i) http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp

(ii) see (i) above.

(iii) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/frontotemporal-dementia/DS00874