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Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) changes language, behavior, and personality in striking, confusing ways.

Damage to the frontal and temporal brain lobes disrupts communication, judgment, emotion, and self-control.

FTD is often misdiagnosed as a psychiatric disorder, delaying proper care and support.

Unlike most dementias, FTD frequently strikes people under 65, upending work and family life.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of brain disorders you may not have heard of and may never encounter firsthand.

So, why pay attention to this “rare“ dementia?

Because for those affected—and the people who love them—FTD upends daily life, relationships, and identities in profound and often bewildering ways.

Raising awareness matters. It may lead to earlier recognition, better support, and more effective treatments. Dementia is not one-size-fits-all, and understanding conditions like FTD moves us toward care that fits the person.

FTD primarily affects the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes—regions involved in decision-making, behavior, and language. Other areas may be involved, but the name reflects where the damage begins. People with FTD may become socially inappropriate, show reduced empathy, repeat behaviors, or struggle to follow or join conversations.

Unlike most dementias, where risk increases in late life, FTD is one of the leading causes of dementia under age 65, affecting about seven or eight people per 100,000 with dementia who are under the age of 65.

You may have heard of FTD in connection with Bruce Willis, the star of films including Die Hard. He retired from acting in his mid-60s after developing language difficulties initially described as aphasia. His family later shared that he had been diagnosed with FTD.

Symptoms of Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia shows up in two main ways: serious communication problems and major changes in behavior and personality. Many people with FTD have a mix of both. Early on, these changes can make conversations harder and strain........

© Psychology Today