Frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common cause of early-onset dementia. Major symptoms include behavioral disturbances and language impairment. Diagnosis relies upon history, clinical examination, neuropsychological assessment and brain imaging, showing evidence of frontotemporal involvement. Mutations in several genes have been associated with FTD, explaining the familial aggregation and heritability of FTD. Pathologically, there is frontotemporal atrophy on macroscopic level, while on microscopic level neuronal loss, gliosis and several types of neuronal inclusions are observed. FTD carries a poor prognosis, with a median 8-year survival from symptom onset.