1. Dementia is a well-known disease. However, there is a rare type of dementia called frontotemporal dementia (FTD) that affects those aged 45 to 64. It is different from types like Alzheimer’s as it causes behavioural changes rather than memory degradation. Examples of symptoms include inappropriate social manners, impulsive actions and difficulty expressing oneself. Currently, there is no cure for FTD and current treatment options are ineffective. About 40% of cases exhibit family history -> genetic influence. Genes linked to the gene are being studied to understand how this disease causes dysfunction of neurons and neural circuits. Interestingly, FTD has some links with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the latter of which can cause progressive muscle deterioration and fatality.
What Dementia Teaches Us About Human Behavior
If you’ve ever visited a loved one in a nursing facility where the majority of residents suffer from dementia, you’ll notice one thing very…