Fronto-temporal dementia, also known as fronto-temporal lobular degeneration, is the second most common form of early-onset dementia with a prevalence equal to Alzheimer's dementia. Behavioural variant fronto-temporal dementia primarily involves the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Myelination of nerve fibres in these areas allow for highly synchronized action potential timing. Diagnosis is often significantly delayed because symptoms are insidious and appear as personality and behavioural changes such as lack of inhibition, apathy, depression, and being socially inappropriate rather than exhibiting marked memory reductions. In this article, a case study illustrates care strategies and family education. Management of severe behavioural symptoms requires careful evaluation and monitoring. Support is especially important and beneficial in the early to middle stages of dementia when nursing home placement may not be required based on the individual's condition.
Keywords: Behavioural management; Caregiver support; Diagnostic challenges; Early onset; Fronto-temporal dementia.
Rognstad MK, Nåden D, Ulstein I, Kvaal K, Langhammer B, Sagbakken M. Rognstad MK, et al. J Clin Nurs. 2020 May;29(9-10):1733-1743. doi: 10.1111/jocn.15208. Epub 2020 Feb 27. J Clin Nurs. 2020. PMID: 32043293
Brioschi Guevara A, Knutson KM, Wassermann EM, Pulaski S, Grafman J, Krueger F. Brioschi Guevara A, et al. Age Ageing. 2015 Sep;44(5):891-5. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afv059. Epub 2015 May 29. Age Ageing. 2015. PMID: 26025914 Free PMC article.
Mulkey M. Mulkey M. Nurs Clin North Am. 2019 Sep;54(3):437-448. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2019.04.011. Epub 2019 Jun 8. Nurs Clin North Am. 2019. PMID: 31331629 Review.
Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment. Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment. Stockholm: Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU); 2008 Jun. SBU Assessment No. 172. Stockholm: Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU); 2008 Jun. SBU Assessment No. 172. PMID: 28876770 Free Books & Documents. Review.
Fieldhouse JLP, van Dijk G, Gillissen F, van Engelen ME, de Boer SCM, Dols A, van der Waal HJ, Regeer BJ, Vijverberg EGB, Pijnenburg YAL. Fieldhouse JLP, et al. Psychogeriatrics. 2023 Jan;23(1):11-22. doi: 10.1111/psyg.12898. Epub 2022 Oct 31. Psychogeriatrics. 2023. PMID: 36314055 Free PMC article.
Mulkey MA, Munro CL. Mulkey MA, et al. Medsurg Nurs. 2021 Jan-Feb;30(1):9-13. Medsurg Nurs. 2021. PMID: 34092999 Free PMC article.