Pick's disease, also known as Frontotemporal Dementia, or simply Frontotemporal Dementia, is a very common form of dementia that affects millions of people each year. It is named for the town in which it was first identified: Pickering, Indiana. It is also known as Frontotemporal Dyspraxia or Ftd and is associated with mental processes such as verbal fluency, attention, memory, language processing, motor skills, and language comprehension. The name comes from the fact that Pick's disease is generally present in older adults, but is also commonly seen in children.
Frontotemporal Dementia, also known as Ftd, is the third most common type of dementia affecting adults today, and is the most common type of dementia that are commonly known as Frontotemporal. It is also known as Frontal Lobar Degeneration, or simply Frontal Lobar. (Frontal Lobar refers to the front part of the brain, the portion directly behind the ears.)
Unlike Alzheimer's disease, which usually begins in the central nervous system of Alzheimer's and progresses outward, frontotemporal dementia usually begins in the central nervous system in the form of symptoms such as: difficulty with language, speech, memory, judgment, attention, or coordination; disorganized behavior, including loss of consciousness; or a weakening similar to dementia as in other types of dementia. The exact cause is not entirely clear, but there are several possible factors that include genetic factors, deterioration of the brain, an abnormal gene on chromosome 21 and an imbalance in the chemical and neurological systems of the brain. As Alzheimer's disease progresses and its symptoms progress, a patient's cognitive impairment may worsen. The patient may also begin to experience changes in their personality, including: irritability and depression; increased risk of substance abuse; preference for familiar and unfamiliar objects; the need to move away from the environment and / or physical activity; and an inability to participate in social activities.
Unlike other types of dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia is usually not diagnosed at an early age. Most people who develop this condition later in life do not experience any identifiable symptoms, such as aphasia or language or verbal dysfunction; in fact, some people will be able to communicate, but fail to understand what they are saying. , as well. This lack of recognition leads to a misdiagnosis as the patient's ability to communicate with others.