Unraveling the Mysteries of Dementia: Robert Kolker’s Deep Dive into Love, Loss, and the Vanishing Family
R.K.: FTD [frontotemporal dementia] strikes as early as one’s forties. Unlike Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, which affect memory and cognition, FTD attacks impulse control and social behavior. They are both compulsive and apathetic. They can’t sustain deep relationships. Their personalities seem to completely transform — or dilute into nothing. Neuroscientists are fascinated by FTD because of this. It’s where the study of the physical brain crosses over into fields like psychiatry.
L.L.: What key takeaways should readers be aware of when it comes to these mutations, assessing whether they (or a family member) have inherited FTD? Is there a ‘simple’ way to identify FTD versus ‘run-of-the-mill’ late-in-life dementia?
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