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

Imagine watching someone you love slowly change before your eyes. They become impulsive, lose empathy, struggle to communicate, or begin making decisions that seem completely out of character. Friends assume it's stress. Employers think it's burnout. Doctors diagnose depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, menopause, or even a midlife crisis. Years later, the truth finally emerges: it was never a mental health condition. It was Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). For far too many C

Imagine walking into work one day and noticing that your colleague has changed. They seem more impulsive, forgetful, emotionally distant, or they begin saying things that feel inappropriate or out of character. Their work performance declines, relationships become strained, and whispers begin circulating through the office. Most people assume stress. Burnout. Depression. Laziness. A bad attitude. What few people consider is that these could be the first signs of Frontotempora

When Canadians think about dementia, most think of memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. Yet thousands of individuals and families across the country are facing a lesser-known and often misunderstood condition: Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). FTD is the most common form of dementia diagnosed in people under the age of 60, yet awareness of the disease remains alarmingly low. For many families, the journey begins with years of confusion, misdiagnosis, and isolation. Without great

Understanding Behavioural Changes, Public Safety, and the Need for Better Canadian Supports Most Canadians are familiar with Alzheimer's disease and the memory loss that often accompanies it. Far fewer understand behavioural variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD), a devastating neurological disease that can fundamentally alter a person's personality, judgment, impulse control, and social behaviour. For families, the experience can be shocking. A once-kind spouse may become v

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a complex and often misunderstood group of neurodegenerative conditions that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Unlike more widely recognized dementias, FTD tends to emerge earlier in life and often alters personality, behavior, language, and emotional regulation. While there is currently no cure, a growing body of research suggests that creative expression—particularly through art—can offer meaningful benefits for i

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

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurological condition that primarily affects a person’s ability to use and understand language. Unlike many other brain disorders that impact memory first, PPA gradually interferes with communication, including speaking, reading, writing, and understanding what others are saying. Because language plays such a central role in daily life, the progression of PPA can make everyday conversations, written communication, and comprehension incr

Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is the most common type of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) , accounting for about half of all FTD cases. It is sometimes also called frontotemporal dementia or Pick’s disease . What makes bvFTD different from many other dementias is that the earliest changes usually involve personality, behavior, and social awareness , rather than memory. A person may begin acting very differently from how they used to, sometimes in ways that