What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the most common form of dementia for people under 60. It causes progressive, irreversible changes in behavior, personality, language, and movement. The behavioral variant — the type my mother had — destroys the brain's capacity for empathy, social awareness, and impulse control. There is no cure.
FTD is frequently misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder, depression, or addiction. My mother was misdiagnosed for years before we found the right doctor. That delay cost our family time we can never get back.
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) is the leading organization dedicated to FTD research, support, and advocacy. In lieu of flowers at my mother's funeral, we asked for donations to AFTD.
If someone you love is showing unexplained changes in behavior or personality, the AFTD HelpLine is available at 866-507-7222.
What People Are Saying
Denise, what makes your book extraordinary is its emotional honesty. You do not gloss over your exhaustion, your grief, or the quiet moments of resentment that can accompany caregiving. Instead, you lean into your discomfort with remarkable vulnerability, allowing me, the reader, to witness the raw, unfiltered reality of what it meant for you to show up for those who once cared for you. It is in this space that your story finds its power—not in perfection, but in truth.
Debbie Leahy