Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which causes muscle weakness or wasting. ALS is a motor neuron disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Corticobasal syndrome, which causes arms and legs to become uncoordinated or stiff. • Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), which causes muscle stiffness, difficulty walking and changes in posture. It also affects eye movements. Symptoms of PSP may resemble symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, in PSP tremor is less common and speech and language problems tend to develop earlier. Both behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and PPA are far less common than Alzheimer’s disease in those over the age of 65. However, in the 45 to 65 age range, behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and PPA are nearly as common as younger-onset Alzheimer’s. Only rough estimates are available, but there may be 50,000 to 60,000 people with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and PPA in the United States, the majority of whom are between 45 and 65 years of age. KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FTD AND ALZHEIMER'S Age at diagnosis may be an important clue. Most people with FTD are diagnosed in their 40s and early 60s. Alzheimer's, on the other hand, grows more common with increasing age. Memory loss tends to be a more prominent symptom in early Alzheimer's than in early FTD, although advanced FTD often causes memory loss in addition to its more characteristic effects on behavior and language. Behavior changes are often the first noticeable symptoms in bvFTD, the most common form of FTD. Behavior changes are ALZHEIMER also common as Alzheimer's progresses, but they tend to occur later in the disease. Problems with spatial orientation — for example, getting lost in familiar places — are more common in Alzheimer's than in FTD. Problems with speech: Although people with Alzheimer's may have trouble thinking of the right word or remembering names, they tend to have less difficulty making sense when they speak, understanding the speech of others, or reading than those with FTD. Hallucinations and delusions are relatively common as Alzheimer's progresses, but relatively uncommon in FTD. HELP IS AVAILABLE The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) is a nonprofit organization that provides information, education and support to those affected by frontotemporal dementia and their caregivers. Call 866.507.7222 or email info@theaftd.org to contact AFTD. The Alzheimer's Association office near you can help you learn more about Alzheimer's and other dementias, and help you find local support services. Call our 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900. CurePSP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the awareness, care and cure for PSP and other neurodegenerative diseases. Call 800.457.4777 or email info@curepsp.org for more information and support. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a "compassionate allowance" program in which workers diagnosed with Pick's disease, PPA or ALS can qualify for Social Security disability benefits. You can also call the SSA at 800.772.1213. Visit alz.org/ftd to learn more about frontotemporal dementia.
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