Frequently Asked Questions
What is dementia? Dementia is a progressive cognitive decline from adult levels of cognitive performance that interferes with daily life. This definition of dementia is not restricted to memory, but can also affect (alone or in combination) language, visuospatial functioning, executive functioning, and social functioning. Dementia is associated with many conditions, and some of these are not neurological. For example, declining cognition can be seen in the setting of persistent urinary tract infections, a side effect of different medications or severe depression. There are many neurological causes of dementia as well. Among these are the gradual accumulation of mini-strokes and transient ischemic events ("TIAs"), hydrocephalus ("water on the brain"), meningitis, repeated trauma to the head, and persistent on-going partial seizures. Once these conditions are ruled out, there are many neurodegenerative conditions that can lead to dementia. These include frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's-related disorders, and other conditions involving movement such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Syndrome, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
How is frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) different from Alzheimer's disease (AD)? There is sometimes confusion about the difference between AD and FTD. AD and FTD are two types of neurodegenerative disease that cause impairments in cognitive functioning. FTD typically presents as a change in behavior or personality or as a progressive aphasia (language difficulty). AD affects primarily memory. Age of onset is another key difference. FTD generally affects persons in the late 50’s or 60’s whereas; it is more common for AD to affect persons in later years of life.
How can I make an appointment at your center? You can make a clinical appointment with one of the Penn FTD Center providers by calling the Penn Neurology call center at 215-662-3606 and request a new patient appointment with one of the following providers: Dr. David Irwin Dr. Allison Snyder Dr. Sara Manning
What can I expect at my appointment? You may decide to see a neurologist who specializes in FTD and related disorders. At the initial visit, the neurologist will review previous medical records (such as physician reports or previous neuropsychological evaluations), take a history from the patient and caregiver, conduct a cognitive assessment, and perform a neurologic exam. Some patients will bring previous imaging studies such as MRI pictures on film or disk. These will also be reviewed with the patient and caregiver. An initial office evaluation typically takes about 60 minutes. During the appointment, your doctor will also conduct a brief mental status evaluation, which assesses: · Memory · Problem-solving abilities · Attention span · Number skills · Language usage · Visuospatial skills Your doctor will check your neurological health by testing your: · Reflexes · Muscle strength · Muscle tone · Senses of touch, sight and hearing · Coordination · Balance
How often will I see a FTD Center clinician after my initial visit? A follow-up visit may include a 30-minute re-evaluation by a Penn FTD Center clinician to look for changes in comparison to the previous evaluation, the appearance of new features, and evaluation of medication side effects. Some patients need to have additional testing, which may include a lumbar puncture to rule out infection and cancer. If the patient is enrolled in our research program, they can also expect 1-2 hours of cognitive testing and an MRI.
You can view a glossary of commonly used terms from the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) below.