Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is often described as a single disease, but it is better understood as a family of neurodegenerative disorders that can affect behavior, personality, language, movement, and cognition. For some families, genetics plays a major role. For others, there is no identifiable genetic cause. Understanding the connection between FTD and genetics can help families make informed decisions about genetic testing, better understand patterns of disease within a

What Is FTD-ALS? FTD-ALS occurs when symptoms of both frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis develop in the same individual. Each disease affects different parts of the nervous system. FTD primarily damages the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas are responsible for personality, behavior, decision-making, and language. ALS, on the other hand, attacks the motor neurons that control voluntary muscles, leading to progressive muscle weakness. B