Frontotemporal Dementia Symptoms
Symptoms of FTD start gradually and progress steadily, and in some cases, rapidly. They vary from person to person, depending on the areas of the brain involved. These are common symptoms:
- Behavior and/or dramatic personality changes, such as swearing, stealing, increased interest in sex, or a deterioration in personal hygiene habits
- Socially inappropriate, impulsive, or repetitive behaviors
- Impaired judgment
- Apathy
- Lack of empathy
- Decreased self awareness
- Loss of interest in normal daily activities
- Emotional withdrawal from others
- Loss of energy and motivation
- Inability to use or understand language; this may include difficulty naming objects, expressing words, or understanding the meanings of words
- Hesitation when speaking
- Less frequent speech
- Distractibility
- Difficulty planning and organizing
- Frequent mood changes
- Agitation
- Increasing dependence
Some people have physical or psychiatric symptoms, such as tremors, muscle spasms or weakness, rigidity, poor coordination and/or balance, difficulty swallowing, hallucinations, or delusions. These signs are not as common as behavioral and language changes.