The key difference between frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia is that frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia due to abnormal amounts of tau and TDP-43 proteins accumulation in the frontal and temporal lobes, while vascular dementia is a type of dementia due to blood clots that disrupt the blood flow in the brain.
Dementia is the impaired ability to remember, think or make decisions. It affects the daily activities of people. When people age, it is normal to lose some of the neurons. However, people living with dementia have far greater loss of neurons. In this condition, many neurons stop working, lose connection with other brain cells and eventually lead to the death of neurons. There are four different types of dementia: frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Lewy body dementia.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Frontotemporal Dementia
3. What is Vascular Dementia
4. Similarities – Frontotemporal Dementia and Vascular Dementia
5. Frontotemporal Dementia vs Vascular Dementia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Frontotemporal Dementia vs Vascular Dementia
What is Frontotemporal Dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia due to abnormal amounts of tau and TDP-43 proteins accumulation in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. This condition usually develops between ages 45 to 64. Frontotemporal dementia can be triggered by the inherited mutation of genes such as MAPT, GRN, and C9ORF72 genes. The signs and symptoms of frontotemporal dementia may include difficulty planning and organizing, impulsive behaviours, emotional flatness or excessive emotions, shaky hands, problems with balance and walking, and difficulty making or understanding speech.
Moreover, frontotemporal dementia can be diagnosed through family medical history, performing a physical examination, laboratory tests (blood tests), genetic tests, tests to assess memory, thinking, language skills, and physical functioning, and brain scans (CT scans and MRI). Furthermore, treatment options for frontotemporal dementia may include antidepressants, prescription sleeping aids, antipsychotic medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy, and speech and language therapy.
What is Vascular Dementia?
Vascular dementia is a type of dementia that causes problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory, and other thought processes due to brain damage by impaired blood flow to the brain. Vascular dementia usually develops after 65 years. This condition can be triggered by strokes that block a brain artery, brain hemorrhage, and narrowed brain blood vessels. The signs and symptoms of vascular dementia may include confusion, trouble paying attention, reduced ability to organize, decline in the ability to analyze a situation, slowed thinking, difficulties in organization, difficulties in taking decisions, problems with memory, restlessness, unsteady gait, sudden urge to urinate or inability to control the passing of urine and depression.
Moreover, vascular dementia can be diagnosed through physical examination, laboratory tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid disorders, and vitamin deficiencies), neurological exam, brain scan (CT or MRI), and neuropsychological tests. Furthermore, treatment options for vascular dementia may include managing underlying diseases, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes mellitus, antidepressants, lifestyle, and home remedies (eating a healthy, balanced diet, losing weight if you’re overweight, stopping smoking, exercising regularly and cutting down on alcohol), taking medicines to treat high blood pressure, lower cholesterol or prevent blood clots, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dementia activities (memory cafes), and psychological therapies.
What are the Similarities Between Frontotemporal Dementia and Vascular Dementia?
- Frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia are two different types of dementia.
- Both these conditions may have similar symptoms, such as confusion, agitation, speech problems, memory problems, etc.
- Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination, laboratory tests, neurological examination, and brain scans.
- They can be treated through medicines such as antidepressants, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy.
What is the Difference Between Frontotemporal Dementia and Vascular Dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia is due to abnormal amounts of tau and TDP-43 proteins accumulation in the frontal and temporal lobes, while vascular dementia is due to blot clots that disrupt the blood flow in the brain. Thus, this is the key difference between frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia. Furthermore, frontotemporal dementia usually develops between ages 45 to 64, while vascular dementia usually develops after 65 years.
The below infographic presents the differences between frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Frontotemporal Dementia vs Vascular Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia are two different types of dementia that may have similar symptoms, such as confusion, agitation, speech problems, memory problems, etc. However, these are two different types of mental conditions. Frontotemporal dementia occurs when abnormal amounts of tau and TDP-43 proteins accumulate in the frontal and temporal lobes. Vascular dementia occurs due to blot clots that disrupt the blood flow in the brain. So, this summarizes the difference between frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia.
Reference:
1. “Understanding Different Types of Dementia.” National Institute on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. “Vascular Dementia.” NHS Choices, NHS.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Frontotemporal degeneration” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “BrainAtrophy(exvacuo)” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia