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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2008 Apr-May;23(2):125–131. doi: 10.1177/1533317507307961

Patient Care and Management of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

Lauren Massimo 1, Murray Grossman 2
PMCID: PMC2927812  NIHMSID: NIHMS223912  PMID: 18421010

Abstract

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects frontal and temporal regions of the brain. Two proteins indicated in the pathology are tau and the recently discovered TDP-43. Major manifestations include progressive aphasia and a disorder of social comportment. The diagnosis of a patient includes a detailed cognitive exam, clinical testing, and neuroimaging techniques. The current goal of therapy for FTLD is symptomatic management with medications borrowed from other conditions. Nonpharmacologic management such as behavioral interventions and environmental engineering are also efficacious in optimizing quality of life.

Keywords: frontotemporal lobar degeneration, TDP-43, symptomatic management, nonpharmacologic management

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Contributor Information

Lauren Massimo, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, massimol@uphs.upenn.edu .

Murray Grossman, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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