Putting a spotlight on FTD: What to know during World FTD Awareness Week 2026

What is frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia (often referred to as FTD) describes a group of less common disorders that affect the frontal and temporal areas of the brain. These areas play an important role in personality, behaviour, language and communication.

Although FTD makes up 10 per cent of dementia cases and is less common than other types of dementia, it is the most frequently diagnosed form of dementia in individuals under 60.

FTD is not just one condition

FTD is a group of disorders that can affect personality, behaviour and language. The most common form is bvFTD, or behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. Other forms include tau and Pick’s disease. In some cases, FTD can also occur alongside movement disorders, such as ALS or Parkinson's disease.

What are the signs of FTD?

When people think about dementia, they often think first of memory loss. With FTD, however, early signs may appear differently. A person may repeat the same activity, lose interest in things they once enjoyed, or show changes in speech and language. They may have trouble finding the right words or communicating their thoughts clearly.

As FTD progresses, memory, thinking and movement may also become affected. Noticing and discussing changes early can help people and families seek information, assessment and support sooner.

How can you be diagnosed with FTD?

FTD can sometimes be mistaken for depression or another health condition because many symptoms overlap. A diagnosis may take time and often involves a combination of health history, cognitive assessments, brain imaging, and other tests to better understand the changes a person is experiencing.

What causes FTD?

Researchers are still learning what causes FTD. In most cases, the exact reason FTD develops is unknown. In very rare cases, FTD can be passed from one generation to the next; this is known as familial FTD.

Is there a cure for FTD?

At present, there is no known cure and no effective way to slow the progression of frontotemporal dementia. However, support can make a meaningful difference. Learning about the condition, building a support network, and accessing services such as speech threapy can help people living with FTD maintain quality of life and navigate changes as they occur.

How you can help put FTD in the spotlight

This World FTD Awareness Week, take time to learn, share and start conversations about FTD. Raising awareness helps reduce misunderstandings, supports families and care partners and encourages continued research into better diagnosis, care and treatments.

No matter what your dementia diagnosis is, the Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon is here to support you. We invite anyone affected by dementia to contact the First Link® Dementia Helpline at 1800-936-6033 to learn more about our programs and services.