Traumatic Frontal Lobe Damage
Brain injuries effect a persons ability to think clearly and communicate. It has lasting effects on a person and can change their life completely. The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that you rely on to day-to-day basis. Damage to this important part can cause impairments in judgement, attention span, and loss of motivation. A person with frontal lobe damage will become impulsive and show signs of risky behaviors. (2)
DID YOU KNOW?
Almost 5.3 million Americans are living with disabling effects of Traumatic Brain Damage. (2)
DID YOU KNOW?
Almost 5.3 million Americans are living with disabling effects of Traumatic Brain Damage. (2)
What Causes Frontal Lobe Damage?
Damages to the frontal lobe is caused by car crashes or falls. Here are some ways you can enhance your safety:
- Always wear your seatbelt
- Remove tripping hazards
- Always wear helmet when riding a bike
- Railing on stairway so you don't fall
Phineas Gage: Brain InjuryPhineas Gage, one of the most famous patients in neuroscience, was preparing a railroad bed when an iron rod went through his forehead and destroyed his frontal lobe. He survived the accident, but was turned into a completely different man and suffered a traumatic brain injury. After the accident, Gage couldn't work and spent time traveling to earn money. Gage's case had an influence on neurology. The changes in his behavior helped scientist understand the function of the frontal lobe. Gage's story served as evidence that the frontal lobe was involved in personality. Today scientist understand the role of the frontal cortex and its higher level functions such as reasoning, language, and social cognition. (13)
DID YOU KNOW? After Gage's death, his body was exhumed and his skull and the tamping rod were taken to Dr. Harlow. Today, both can be seen at the Harvard University School of Medicine. (13) |
Frontotemporal DementiaFrontotemporal disorders are the result of damage to neurons in parts of the brain called the frontal and temporal lobes. As the neurons die in the frontal and temporal regions and these lobes shrink. Eventually, this damage can cause difficulty in thinking and behaviors. (3)
Symptoms(8):
|
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a dementia syndrome caused by degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobe of the brain. Personality, emotions, behavior and speech are controlled in these areas of the brain. These disorders cause the brain to lose brain cell function. (14)
There are three types of Frontotemporal Dementia(4):
Cause of FTD
Researchers have identified protein abnormalities inside the brain cells of those who died with frontotemporal dementia, but scientists still don't know the cause of them. There is no exact cause known except for a family history of the disease. (20)
Symptoms of FTD are either behavioral or language-related.
Behavioral symptoms include:
Language-related symptoms include:
Along with all the symptoms of Frontal lobe dementia, these disorders affect a person's life span which is shortened to an average of eight years. The disorders are also progressive and get worse with time.
DID YOU KNOW?
A person with Alzheimer's Disease has a greater risk of developing dementia.
There are three types of Frontotemporal Dementia(4):
- Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia- affects personality and behavior
- Primary progressive aphasia- affects speech and behavior
- Progressive confluent aphasia- lose their ability to recall words easily
Cause of FTD
Researchers have identified protein abnormalities inside the brain cells of those who died with frontotemporal dementia, but scientists still don't know the cause of them. There is no exact cause known except for a family history of the disease. (20)
Symptoms of FTD are either behavioral or language-related.
Behavioral symptoms include:
- Apathetic frontotemporal symptoms- Social withdrawal, and inability to care for themselves
- Disinhibited frontotemporal symptoms- Inappropriate comments, and perform inappropriate acts
Language-related symptoms include:
- Difficulty speaking
- Language recall problems
Along with all the symptoms of Frontal lobe dementia, these disorders affect a person's life span which is shortened to an average of eight years. The disorders are also progressive and get worse with time.
DID YOU KNOW?
A person with Alzheimer's Disease has a greater risk of developing dementia.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Some of the tests used to diagnose FTD include:
- Blood tests
- Neuropsychological testing
- Brain imaging
- MRI
- CT scan
Finding the Major Genetic Cause of ALS and FTD
Scientists are doing everything they can to improve their understanding of frontotemporal dementia and Lou Gehrig’s disease, even if it means injecting this disease-causing gene into newborn mice. By creating a mouse that shows symptoms of these two life-threating disorders, scientists could finally find the actual cause and develop effective treatments. Scientists studied the mice, and observed that as the mice aged, they became hyperactive, anxious, antisocial, and had problems with movement. These were exactly like patient symptoms. The brains of the mice were smaller than normal and had fewer neurons in that area. Scientist are still figuring out more about FTD and ALS, but they are getting closer to truly understanding them. (19)
DID YOU KNOW? Many people with ALS also develop symptoms affecting their behavior or language, and some people with FTD develop ALS. (20) |