Frontotemporal dementia is most likely to present with which early feature?

Frontotemporal dementia is most likely to present with which early feature?

• A. Memory loss is the earliest symptom
• B. Personality changes
• C. Visual impairment
• D. Seizures

Answer: (B)

Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal lobes first, which control personality, social behavior, and inhibition. Because of this, the earliest changes are behavioral: the person may become disinhibited, socially inappropriate, emotionally flat, or lose interest and empathy. Memory problems aren’t usually the first sign in this type of dementia, unlike Alzheimer’s disease where memory loss often appears early. Visual impairment points to problems in the back part of the brain, and seizures aren’t typically an early feature of frontotemporal dementia. So the best early presentation is personality changes.

Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal lobes first, which control personality, social behavior, and inhibition. Because of this, the earliest changes are behavioral: the person may become disinhibited, socially inappropriate, emotionally flat, or lose interest and empathy. Memory problems aren’t usually the first sign in this type of dementia, unlike Alzheimer’s disease where memory loss often appears early. Visual impairment points to problems in the back part of the brain, and seizures aren’t typically an early feature of frontotemporal dementia. So the best early presentation is personality changes.