frontotemporal dementia

[fruhn-toh-tem-per-uhl di-men-shuh, dih-men-shee-uh]

noun

1. one of several brain disorders caused by degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain and associated with behavioral changes, such as loss of inhibition, or with language impairment, such as difficulty finding words or the loss of one’s ability to speak fluently and grammatically. FTD

Word History and Origins

Origin of frontotemporal dementia¹

First recorded in 1890–95; fronto- ( def. ) + temporal ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

A Westlake Village man living with frontotemporal dementia has something few people with the condition do: the ability to describe his disease.

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Frontotemporal dementia is one of them.

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Three years after his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, Marc’s thoughts are a jumble he can’t sort out alone.

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The Willis family revealed in 2023 that the star had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which, according to the NHS website, is "an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language."

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The Die Hard star, 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia more than three years ago.

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