Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis
Family members are often the first to notice subtle changes in a person’s behavior or language skills. It’s important for a person to see a doctor as early as possible to discuss:
- Symptoms, including which symptoms, when they began, and how often they occur
- Medical history and previous medical problems
- Medical histories of family members
- Prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements taken
No single test can diagnose FTD. Typically, doctors will order routine blood tests and perform physical exams to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. If they suspect dementia, they may:
- Evaluate the person’s neurological health--reflexes, muscle strength, muscle tone, sense of touch and sight, coordination, and balance
- Assess the person’s neuropsychological status--memory, problem-solving ability, attention span and counting skills--and language abilities
- Order magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans of the brain