Being a caregiver of a person with dementia, regardless of whether it's Alzheimer's disease, FTD or another type, can be physically and emotionally exhausting. However, frontotemporal dementia can often be even harder on families because:

• The personality changes and behaviors are very distressing
• The diagnosis is often delayed because FTD can be mistaken for other conditions
• There is not as much public awareness about the disease and, therefore, not as many resources
• Patients affected with FTD are usually younger than those affected by Alzheimer's
• Language problems develop earlier, making communication more difficult

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the UCSF Memory and Aging Center holds a free monthly FTD Support Group for family members or caregivers. At the same time is a a free monthly support group called Memories in the Making® for people with FTD. We also offer a support group for the adult children of people with FTD.