When Love Meets Dementia: Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) and the Family

by Ada Anbar, Elaine A. Moore (Editor)

Overview

Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) is now recognized as one of the most common forms of dementia in individuals under age 65, second only to Alzheimer's. Shedding light on a little known brain disease, this volume examines FTD from a few angles, beginning with the author's insightful memoir of her husband's struggle with FTD and its impact on their family. Detailed background information on the disease is provided along with discussion of related issues, and information on how to minimize the chances of becoming a victim.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476633763
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	12/06/2018
Series:	McFarland Health Topics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	210
Sales rank:	905,130
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Long time educator Ada Anbar is the author of several parenting books that discuss early childhood development issues and the difficulties that mothers encounter in balancing their needs with those of their young children. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Long time educator Ada Anbar is the author of several parenting books that discuss early childhood development issues and the difficulties that mothers encounter in balancing their needs with those of their young children. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Elaine A. Moore has worked in hospital laboratories for more than 30 years, primarily in immunohematology and toxicology. She is a freelance medical writer and laboratory consultant. For more information, visit her website at www.elaine-moore.com. She lives in Sedalia, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments deletexiii
Foreword by Marwan N. Sabbagh MD, FAAN
Preface
Introduction
Part I: The Personal Story—Sixty Years of Marriage, Then Kicked
1 • The Day That Changed My Life
A Cruise to the Baltic
2 • A Fractured Spine
The Long Flight Home
A Stay in the Hospital
3 • The CNAs Are Coming Home
Fountain Hills
A Bad Idea
The Suicide Threats
4 • Romantic Beginnings
A Personal Security Guard
The Lawyers Are Stepping In
5 • Kicked Out of My Grave
The Need for a Medical Evaluation
6 • The Apartment
The Missing Gold Coins
Life After the Crash
Sunday Visits to Fountain Hills
Part II: The Elusive Diagnosis
7 • An Emerging Pattern
The Chronology of a Disease
A New Homecare Agency
The Race for a New Psychiatric Evaluation
A Tragicomic Scene
8 • At Last a Diagnosis
Difficult Decision
The Silver Lining
9 • Crossing Over
Part III: Lingering Questions
10 • What Exactly Is FTD?
Is FTD Common?
Is FTD a New Disease?
How FTD Got Its Name
The Importance of Scientific Conferences
Diagnostic Criteria
11 • Sub-Types of FTD
Prognosis
Warning Signs
12 • The Clinical Symptoms of FTD
FTD vs. Alzheimer’s
What Causes FTD?
13 • Triggers for FTD Development
The Role of Genetics
The Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing
Other Possible Factors
Part IV: Treatment/Prevention/Management
14 • Basic ­Pre-Treatment Information
Before Treatment Begins
15 • Common Pharmacological Treatments
16 • Non-Pharmacological and Nutritional Support
Supplements
The Healthy Brain Diet
17 • The Healthy Lifestyle
Keeping Active
The Importance of Sleep
A Good Bedtime Routine
Manage Your Stress
Stop Smoking and Drinking
18 • Rehabilitation
The Rehabilitation Team
The Danger of Deconditioning
Pressure Sores
Assistive Devices
19 • The Supportive Environment
A Sense of Calm and Reassurance
Minimizing Fall Risks
General Environmental Safety Issues
FTD and Driving
Part V: When FTD Is Suspected
20 • What to Do When FTD Is Suspected
Confirm the Diagnosis
Convene a Family Meeting
Create a Care Team
Legal Issues
Money Matters
Conclusion
21 • The Altered Relationship
Loss of Insight and Self-Awareness
Loss of Empathy
Apathy and Social Withdrawal
Socially Inappropriate Behavior
Gone but Not Gone
22 • The Care of the Caregiver
The Job of the Primary Caregiver
Helpful Recommendations for the Primary Caregiver
23 • Caregiver Resources
Community Services
The Silverado Story (Model I)
Dementia Village (Model II)
24 • Is Dementia a Normal Part of Aging or a Disease?
The Story of the ­Super-Centenarians
The Blue Zone Areas
The Effect of Our Changing Demographics
Conclusion
25 • The Future of FTD Research
Slow Progress but Much Hope
More Genetic Research
A Search for the Process
Are Rates of Dementia Falling?
The Bredesen Protocol
Autopsy Research
Famous People Who Suffered from Dementia
26 • Personal Reflections
Chapter Notes
Resources
Recommended Reading
Bibliography
Index