Learning
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
FTD is the most common dementia in people under 60. The earliest signs are personality, judgment, or language — not memory. Many families think it's depression or a midlife crisis first.
Updated 2026-02-20
Two main forms
- Behavioral variant — personality changes, social inappropriateness, loss of empathy, food obsessions.
- Primary progressive aphasia — language fails first. Word-finding, naming, or grammar disappear over years.
What makes FTD especially hard
- Often misdiagnosed for years as depression, bipolar, or marital problems.
- Onset 45–65 — many families have school-age kids and active careers.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil) often don't help and may worsen behavior.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a genetic test?
- Yes — for some forms (C9orf72, MAPT, GRN). Discuss with a genetic counselor before testing.
Every dementia journey is different.
Memory Lane Care helps you understand what applies to your loved one, what to expect next, and which resources fit your family's situation.
Related across the journey
Memory Lane connects every part of dementia care. Here's how this topic threads into the rest.
Behavior Guidance
Paying for Care
Hard Conversations
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Donepezil (Aricept)
Donepezil is the most prescribed dementia medication in the world. It doesn't cure, doesn't stop progression, but in many people it sharpens day-to-day function modestly.
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