AFTD Webinar: bvFTD Subtypes -- Divergent Anatomy, Divergent Behavior

The third edition of AFTD's educational webinar series explores how different physical dysfunctions within the brain correspond to symptoms of the four distinct sub-types of behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD). This webinar, which took place 5/25/17, is presented by Dr. Kate Rankin, a neuropsychologist and professor in the UCSF Department of Neurology.

[nonacee]

My husband was diagnosed with mixed dementia, vascular and Alzheimer in 2017 but initially he'd had an overnight change, woke up with full blown psychosis in 2014, just that no doctor listened since his psychosis was only aimed at me. In front of a doctor he'd disguised what was really going on. Scary 3 years but family and friends noticed and had my escape in place if needed.

Finally a doctor listened, ordered CT in 2017 which showed frontoparietal stroke damage and mini mental showed mild dementia so was given the vascular dementia with Alzheimer. Then in 2020 after next CT, diagnoses changed to vascular with FTD due to lobe atrophy.

He is now quiet, apathetic, lacks initiative, enthusiasm or empathy and doesn't drive. In bed till 11am, sits in front of TV most of day then back in bed by 5pm. He doesn't like people or any stimulus, doesn't like to converse and that's probably due to trying to find certain words. In his own way he is content.

This is a reprieve from the worst 3 years prior to diagnosis, 3 years since diagnosis with meds that work (antipsychotics)and what may happen in the future.
Everyone including his medical team on same page, thank goodness.

[janetlinnwhitehouse]

Dr. Rankin, so brilliant, This info is so exciting and answering so many questions I have concerning my brother who had a brain stem stroke.

[mrsfitz]

Really fantastic info. Thank you so much for sharing.

[nonacee]

Couldn't hear sound or any words in the first 2 video clips and poor quality in the last one with mother and son. Thankfully you gave some info on them.

[iz]

Could you tell us which instruments do you use for measuring of social cognition for the diagnosis?

[laurah.]

My mom has this and its incredibly frightening. I just completed memory work and i call her disease a teenage nazi witch