Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a type of dementia that mainly affects the front and side parts of the brain. These areas control behavior, personality, and language. Recognizing early symptoms can be tricky because they often look like changes in mood or behavior rather than memory problems.
One of the earliest signs is a noticeable **change in personality** or social behavior. Someone might start acting differently—becoming more impulsive, rude, or socially inappropriate. For example, they may make inappropriate jokes, lose their usual empathy for others, or show childish behaviors. They might also become careless with money or personal hygiene without seeming to realize it.
Another key symptom is **apathy**, where the person loses interest in things they used to enjoy and seems emotionally flat or indifferent toward family and friends. This lack of motivation can be mistaken for depression but tends to come with other behavioral changes.
People with early FTD may develop **compulsive behaviors** such as repetitive movements, hoarding items excessively, insisting on strict routines, or overeating certain foods. These behaviors are often quite different from their normal habits and can seem strange to those around them.
Language difficulties are also common but depend on the subtype of FTD. Some people struggle with speaking clearly (nonfluent aphasia), while others lose understanding of word meanings (semantic aphasia). This leads to trouble finding words during conversation or using words incorrectly.
Unlike Alzheimer’s disease where memory loss is an early sign, memory problems usually appear later in FTD. Instead, you might notice poor judgment and difficulty planning tasks even when short-term memory seems okay at first.
Because these symptoms overlap with psychiatric conditions like depression or bipolar disorder—and because cognitive abilities may remain intact initially—early frontotemporal dementia can be hard to diagnose without careful medical evaluation.
If you observe someone showing:
– Sudden personality shifts such as disinhibition (acting without restraint)
– Loss of empathy toward loved ones
– Apathy and withdrawal from social activities
– Compulsive routines or unusual eating habits
– Language problems affecting speech fluency or comprehension
– Poor decision-making despite otherwise clear thinking
it’s important to seek professional advice for further assessment by a neurologist familiar with dementia disorders.
Early recognition helps families understand what’s happening and allows doctors to manage symptoms better even though there isn’t yet a cure for frontotemporal dementia itself.
