Signs of a Seizure and When to Seek Help
About one in 10 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime. This blog highlights common seizure symptoms and explains when it’s important to seek professional help.
Frontotemporal Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia is a term for conditions that cause problems with thinking, memory, and decision-making. Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) both cause dementia but affect different areas of the brain and show varying symptoms.
Globally, more than 50 million people live with dementia. Alzheimer’s is the leading cause, making up 60-80% of cases. FTD affects fewer people — about 60,000 in the United States — but is equally life-changing. Both conditions can profoundly affect individuals and their families, altering personalities, destroying memories, and reducing independence.
Understanding how these diseases differ is vital, because knowing the distinctions helps ensure the proper care and support for those affected. Misdiagnosis can lead to ineffective treatments, unnecessary side effects, and missed opportunities for interventions that improve quality of life.
Our board-certified neurologist, Kenneth K. Wogensen, MD, specializes in diagnosing dementia diseases correctly, ensuring you and your loved ones benefit from the most appropriate care.
Alzheimer’s and FTD differences
Frontotemporal dementia affects the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. These areas control personality, language, behavior, and some types of thinking. The frontal lobe is essential for decision-making, emotional regulation, and solving problems, while the temporal lobe helps process sounds and memories.
FTD includes two main subtypes:
Behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD)
This variant affects personality and behavior, leading to changes like apathy, poor judgment, or socially inappropriate actions.
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA)
PPA primarily impacts language skills, making speaking, writing, or understanding words difficult.
Alzheimer’s disease starts in areas of the brain used in memory and learning, such as the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. As it progresses, it spreads to the cerebral cortex, which controls functions like language, spatial awareness, and reasoning. This broader impact explains the variety of symptoms Alzheimer’s patients experience over time.
Alzheimer’s and FTD symptom variations
The symptoms of FTD and Alzheimer’s can overlap, especially in the later stages, but they often start differently:
Memory loss
Alzheimer’s typically begins with memory problems. Early FTD, however, usually doesn’t affect memory as much. Instead, it’s more likely to cause changes in behavior or language skills.
Behavior changes
FTD often starts with noticeable changes in personality or behavior. People might act impulsively, lose social awareness, or struggle with emotional regulation. In Alzheimer’s, behavior changes tend to appear later.
Getting lost
Losing yourself in familiar places is a typical early sign of Alzheimer’s but less common in FTD.
Language skills
Both conditions can cause trouble with language, but FTD’s effects are more severe. People with FTD may have difficulty speaking, understanding others, or finding the right words.
Hallucinations and delusions
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real) and delusions (persistent false beliefs) are more common in advanced Alzheimer’s and less frequent in FTD.
Age is another key difference. Alzheimer’s is more common in people over 65, and the risk increases with age. FTD, on the other hand, often appears between the ages of 40 and 60, making it a leading cause of early-onset dementia.
Why early Alzheimer’s and FTD diagnosis matters
Catching Alzheimer’s or FTD early can make a big difference. An accurate diagnosis allows for treatments and strategies tailored to the person’s specific needs and avoids the risk of using medications that could cause adverse effects.
For Alzheimer’s, early interventions may help slow the disease’s progression and improve quality of life. For FTD, understanding the condition can help manage challenging symptoms and plan for the future.
Cognitive assessments and neurological exams are the starting point in diagnosing both conditions. However, we ensure an accurate diagnosis using additional procedures.
Brain imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) can all help tell Alzheimer’s and FTD apart. Other possibilities include genetic testing and cerebrospinal fluid tests.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of dementia, don’t wait to seek help — understanding these conditions can lead to more effective care and a better quality of life for everyone involved. Call Kenneth K. Wogenson, MD, or book an appointment online today so we can guide you through Alzheimer’s and FTD testing and treatment.
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