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Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week 2025

Learn about frontotemporal dementia and how it differs from other dementias.

Published:
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Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week
September 21 to 27

Frontotemporal dementia (sometimes referred to as FTD) is an umbrella term for a group of rarer disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal regions of the brain – the areas generally associated with personality and behaviour.

Researchers estimate that approximately 10% of all dementia cases are frontotemporal dementia. However, it is the most common dementia in people under the age of 60 (ie. people living with young onset dementia).

FTD can cause behaviour changes, difficulties with speech and movement or memory loss.

Since the frontal (near the forehead) and temporal (near the ears) areas of the brain can be affected, early symptoms can be related to behaviour or speech. Later signs of FTD can include the more general dementia symptoms, including confusion and forgetfulness.

Changes to behaviour

Symptoms of FTD may include:

  • Withdrawn or disinhibited behaviour (ex. losing the ability to restrain actions)
  • Loss of interest in personal hygiene
  • Muted emotions
  • Tendency to become easily distracted or to repeat the same activities continuously
  • Changes in personality (for example, quieter people becoming more extroverted)
  • Overeating, changes in food preference or the desire to put non-edible items in the mouth
  • Incontinence or inability to wait to go to the toilet

Changes to speech

Speech-related changes can include:

  • Difficulty sustaining a train of thought or maintaining a conversation
  • Speaking less
  • Total loss of speech
  • Difficulty finding the right words
  • Repeating what has already been said by others
  • Stuttering

Diagnosis

Although no single test can diagnose frontotemporal dementia, assessment is important to rule out other conditions. For example, frontotemporal dementia may be misdiagnosed as depression because they share similar symptoms.

Doctors typically diagnose frontotemporal dementia by identifying a series of characteristic features, while ruling out other possible causes.

Finding support

If you have questions about FTD or are impacted by this type of dementia, know that support is here for you. At the Alzheimer Society, we provide resources for families living with all types of dementia.

It is important to learn about FTD to better understand the changes it can cause and how this may affect you or someone you know.

Connect with us anytime at 204-943-6622 (Winnipeg) / 1-800-378-6699 (Manitoba) or at alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca for guidance, information and resources.

For more information about FTD, visit the Alzheimer Society of Canada.