Gareth Wilmot, from south Yorkshire, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) at the age of just 35.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, FTD is a rare form of dementia thought to account for less than 5% of all dementia cases.
It usually affects people between the ages of 45 and 64, making Wilmot’s diagnosis and death particularly unusual.
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SWNS
Gareth Wilmot
What Is It?
Originally called Pick’s disease after the scientist who first observed the symptoms, FTD is caused by damage to the cells in the front and sides of the brain (frontal and temporal lobes).
“Frontotemporal dementia is caused by clumps of abnormal protein forming inside brain cells. These are thought to damage the cells and stop them working properly,” the NHS website explains.
“The proteins mainly build up in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain at the front and sides. These are important for controlling language, behaviour, and the ability to plan and organise.”
Scientists are yet to fully understand why this damage to brain cells occurs, but they have documented a genetic link.
Around one in every three people with FTD has a family history of the condition.
Symptoms
Much like other forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss is one symptom of FTD, although this usually only occurs in the later stages of the disease.
According to the NHS, early symptoms include personality and behaviour changes (such as acting inappropriately or impulsively), language problems (such as speaking slowly) and problems with mental abilities (such as getting distracted easily and struggling with planning).
Those diagnosed may also encounter physical problems, such as slow or stiff movements, loss of bladder or bowel control and difficulty swallowing.
Symptoms are likely to get progressively worse over time.
Alzheimer’s Research UK says the speed of change can vary widely, but some people live with the condition for more than 15 years.
Diagnosis And Treatment
Anyone worried about symptoms of dementia should contact their GP, who will arrange for a series of tests.
You may be given a blood test to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, before seeing a dementia specialist.
You or a loved one may be required to document your behavioural changes for a specialist to analyse. You may also undergo brain scans, to allow the doctor to identify any changes that have occurred in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Although there is no cure for FTD or any treatment specific to the disease, you may be prescribed treatment to manage the symptoms.
Some doctors will recommend patients attend cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in order to manage their behavioural changes while others may be prescribed antidepressants.
As symptoms can vary from person to person, your doctor will discuss suitable treatment options with you.
Early Symptoms of Dementia
No Initiative (01 of10)
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At times everyone can become tired of housework, business activities, or social obligations. However a person with dementia may become very passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual, or appear to lose interest in hobbies. (credit:John Rensten via Getty Images)
Changes in Personality (02 of10)
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A person with dementia may seem different from his or her usual self in ways that are difficult to pinpoint. A person may become suspicious, irritable, depressed, apathetic or anxious and agitated especially in situations where memory problems are causing difficulties. (credit:fStop Images - Carl Smith via Getty Images)
Mood Changes(03 of10)
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Everyone can become sad or moody from time to time. A person with dementia may become unusually emotional and experience rapid mood swings for no apparent reason. Alternatively a person with dementia may show less emotion than was usual previously. (credit:Mike Chick via Getty Images)
Misplace Things (04 of10)
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Anyone can temporarily misplace his or her wallet or keys. A person with dementia may put things in unusual places such as an iron in the fridge or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. (credit:Oli Kellett via Getty Images)
Problems With Keeping Track of Things (05 of10)
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A person with dementia may find it difficult to follow a conversation or keep up with paying their bills. (credit:Chris Red via Getty Images)
Increasingly poor Judgement(06 of10)
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People with dementia may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers of clothes on a warm day or very few on a cold day. (credit:Jessica Peterson via Getty Images)
Distortion of Time and Place (07 of10)
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We sometimes forget the day of the week or where we are going but people with dementia can become lost in familiar places such as the road they live in, forget where they are or how they got there, and not know how to get back home. A person with dementia may also confuse night and day. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Problems With Language(08 of10)
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Occasionally everyone has trouble finding the right word but a person with dementia often forgets simple words or substitutes unusual words, making speech or writing hard to understand. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks(09 of10)
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People with dementia often find it hard to complete everyday tasks that are so familiar we usually do not think about how to do them. A person with dementia may not know in what order to put clothes on or the steps for preparing a meal. (credit:Anthony Harvie via Getty Images)
Memory Loss(10 of10)
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Declining memory, especially short-term memory, is the most common early symptom of dementia. People with ordinary forgetfulness can still remember other facts associated with the thing they have forgotten. For example, they may briefly forget their next-door neighbour's name but they still know the person they are talking to is their next-door neighbour. A person with dementia will not only forget their neighbour's name but also the context. (credit:Compassionate Eye Foundation via Getty Images)