Signs and symptoms of frontotemporal dementia can be different from one individual to the next. Signs and symptoms get progressively worse over time, usually over years. Clusters of symptom types tend to occur together, and people may have more than one cluster of symptom types. Behavioral changes The most common signs of frontotemporal dementia involve extreme changes in behavior and personality. These include:  Increasingly inappropriate social behavior Loss of empathy and other interpersonal skills, such as having sensitivity to another's feelings Lack of judgment Loss of inhibition Lack of interest (apathy), which can be mistaken for depression Repetitive compulsive behavior, such as tapping, clapping or smacking lips A decline in personal hygiene Changes in eating habits, usually overeating or developing a preference for sweets and carbohydrates Eating inedible objects Compulsively wanting to put things in the mouth  Speech and language problems Some subtypes of frontotemporal dementia lead to language problems or impairment or loss of speech. Primary progressive aphasia, semantic dementia and progressive agrammatic (nonfluent) aphasia are all considered to be frontotemporal dementia. Problems caused by these conditions include:  Increasing difficulty in using and understanding written and spoken language, such as having trouble finding the right word to use in speech or naming objects Trouble naming things, possibly replacing a specific word with a more general word such as "it" for pen No longer knowing word meanings Having hesitant speech that may sound telegraphic Making mistakes in sentence construction  Motor disorders Rarer subtypes of frontotemporal dementia are characterized by problems with movement similar to those associated with Parkinson's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Motor-related problems may include:  Tremor Rigidity Muscle spasms or twitches Poor coordination Difficulty swallowing Muscle weakness Inappropriate laughing or crying Falls or walking problems  Causes In frontotemporal dementia, the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain shrink. In addition, certain substances accumulate in the brain. What causes these changes is usually unknown. There are genetic mutations that have been linked to frontotemporal dementia. But more than half of the people who develop frontotemporal dementia have no family history of dementia. Recently, researchers have confirmed shared genetics and molecular pathways between frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). More research needs to be done to understand the connection between these conditions, however. Risk factors Your risk of developing frontotemporal dementia is higher if you have a family history of dementia. There are no other known risk factors.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff  Frontotemporal dementia care at Mayo Clinic 
signs symptoms frontotemporal dementia can individual next  signs symptoms progressively worse time  years  clusters symptom types tend occur together  people may cluster symptom types  behavioral changes common signs frontotemporal dementia involve extreme changes behavior personality  include:  increasingly inappropriate social behavior loss empathy interpersonal skills  sensitivity another's feelings lack judgment loss inhibition lack interest (apathy)  can mistaken depression repetitive compulsive behavior  tapping  clapping smacking lips decline personal hygiene changes eating habits  overeating developing preference sweets carbohydrates eating inedible objects compulsively wanting put mouth  speech language problems subtypes frontotemporal dementia lead language problems impairment loss speech  primary progressive aphasia  semantic dementia progressive agrammatic (nonfluent) aphasia considered frontotemporal dementia  problems caused conditions include:  increasing difficulty using understanding written spoken language  trouble finding right word speech naming objects trouble naming things  possibly replacing specific word general word "it" pen longer knowing word meanings hesitant speech may sound telegraphic making mistakes sentence construction  motor disorders rarer subtypes frontotemporal dementia characterized problems movement similar associated parkinson's disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)  motor-related problems may include:  tremor rigidity muscle spasms twitches poor coordination difficulty swallowing muscle weakness inappropriate laughing crying falls walking problems  causes frontotemporal dementia  frontal temporal lobes brain shrink  addition  substances accumulate brain  causes changes unknown  genetic mutations linked frontotemporal dementia  half people who develop frontotemporal dementia family history dementia  recently  researchers confirmed shared genetics molecular pathways frontotemporal dementia amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)  research needs understand connection conditions  however  risk factors risk developing frontotemporal dementia higher family history dementia  known risk factors                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff  frontotemporal dementia care mayo clinic 
frontotemporal dementia