Frontotemporal dementia usually causes changes in behaviour or language problems at first.

These come on gradually and get worse slowly over time.

Eventually, most people will experience problems in both of these areas. Some people also develop physical problems and difficulties with their mental abilities.

Behaviour and personality changes

Many people with frontotemporal dementia develop a number of unusual behaviours they're not aware of.

These can include:

• being insensitive or rude
• acting impulsively or rashly 
• loss of inhibitions
• seeming subdued
• losing interest in people and things
• losing drive and motivation
• inability to empathise with others, seeming cold and selfish
• repetitive behaviours, such as humming, hand-rubbing and foot-tapping, or routines such as walking exactly the same route repetitively
• a change in food preferences, such as suddenly liking sweet foods, and poor table manners
• compulsive eating, alcohol drinking and/or smoking
• neglecting personal hygiene

As the condition progresses, people with frontotemporal dementia may become socially isolated and withdrawn.

Language problems

Some people experience problems with speech and language, including:

• using words incorrectly – for example, calling a sheep a dog
• loss of vocabulary
• repeating a limited number of phrases
• forgetting the meaning of common words
• slow, hesitant speech
• difficulty making the right sounds to say words
• getting words in the wrong order
• automatically repeating things other people have said

Some people gradually lose the ability to speak, and can eventually become completely mute.

Problems with mental abilities

Problems with thinking do not tend to occur in the early stages of frontotemporal dementia, but these often develop as the condition progresses.

These can include:

• difficulty working things out and needing to be told what to do
• poor planning, judgement and organisation
• becoming easily distracted
• thinking in a rigid and inflexible way
• losing the ability to understand abstract ideas
• difficulty recognising familiar people or objects
• memory difficulties, although this is not common early on

Physical problems

In the later stages, some people with frontotemporal dementia develop physical problems and difficulties with movement.

These can include:

• slow, stiff movements, similar to Parkinson's disease
• difficulty swallowing
• loss of bladder control
• loss of bowel control

Some people have frontotemporal dementia overlapping with other neurological (nerve and brain) problems, including:

• motor neurone disease – causes increasing weakness, usually with muscle wasting
• corticobasal degeneration – causes problems controlling limbs, loss of balance and co-ordination, slowness and reduced mobility
• progressive supranuclear palsy – causes problems with balance, movement, eye movements and swallowing

Getting medical advice

See a GP if you think you have early symptoms of dementia. If you're worried about someone else, encourage them to make an appointment with a GP and perhaps suggest you go with them.

The GP can do some simple checks to try to find out the cause of your symptoms, and may refer you to a specialist for further tests.

It's usually very helpful to have someone at the consultation who knows you well and can give the specialist another perspective on your symptoms.

Read more about:

Getting a dementia diagnosis

Tests used to diagnose dementia

Advice if you're worried someone else could have dementia

There's currently no cure for frontotemporal dementia, but there are treatments that can help manage some of the symptoms.

Care plans

Before treatment starts, your current and future health and social care needs will be assessed, and a care plan drawn up.

This is a way of ensuring you receive the right treatment for your needs. It involves identifying areas where you may need some assistance.

These may be:

• what support you or your carer need for you to remain as independent as possible – including whether you might need care at home or in a nursing home
• whether there are any changes that need to be made to your home to make it easier to live in
• whether you need any financial assistance

Read more about care plans.

Medicine

Medicines cannot stop frontotemporal dementia getting worse, but it can help reduce some of the symptoms for some people.

The following medicines may help:

• antidepressants – antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may help control the loss of inhibitions, overeating and compulsive behaviours seen in some people
• antipsychotics – these are rarely used, but are sometimes needed if SSRIs have not worked, as they can help control severely challenging behaviour that's putting the person with dementia or others around them at risk of harm

Support and other therapies

In addition to medicines, there are a number of therapies and practical measures that can help make everyday living easier for someone with dementia.

These include:

• occupational therapy – to identify problem areas in everyday life, such as getting dressed, and help work out practical solutions
• speech and language therapy – to help improve any communication or swallowing problems
• physiotherapy – to help with movement difficulties
• relaxation techniques – such as massage, and music or dance therapy
• social interaction, leisure activities and other dementia activities – such as memory cafes, which are drop-in sessions for people with memory problems and their carers to get support and advice
• strategies for challenging behaviour – such as distraction techniques, a structured daily routine, and activities like doing puzzles or listening to music
• incontinence products if needed

It may also be helpful to get in touch with a support group, such as Rare Dementia Support, the Alzheimer's Society or Dementia UK.

Read more about living well with dementia.

End of life and legal issues

If you've been diagnosed with dementia, you might want to make arrangements for your care that take into account the decline in your mental abilities.

This may include ensuring your wishes are upheld if you're not able to make decisions for yourself.

You may want to consider:

• drawing up an advance decision – this makes your treatment preferences known in case you're unable to do this in the future
• having a plan for where you want to receive treatment as your condition becomes more advanced
• giving a relative lasting power of attorney – this is the power to make decisions about you if you're unable to

Read more about managing legal affairs for someone with dementia and end of life planning.

Help and advice for carers

If you care for someone with dementia, you may find it helpful to read more about:

Looking after someone with dementia

Respite care – this can allow you to take breaks from caring

Benefits for carers – such as allowances and tax credits that may be available