Language, behavior problems are first signs of frontotemporal dementia
Memory disorder can be misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, says UCI Health neurologist
IN THE NEWS: Frontotemporal dementia is less recognized than Alzheimer’s, but it affects 50,000 to 60,000 Americans, contributing to about 12% of all dementia cases, according to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
UCI Health neurologist Dr. S. Ahmad Sajjadi spoke to AARP Magazine about the challenges of diagnosing the condition.
“Frontotemporal dementia typically presents as either progressive problems of language or abnormal behavior. Since both presentations can also infrequently happen in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, there is a chance for misdiagnosis.”
Sajjadi specializes in memory disorders. His clinical interests include Alzheimer’s disease and atypical forms of dementia. As an associate professor of neurology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, his research focuses on neurodegenerative pathologies across the aging spectrum, Alzheimer's disease, primary progressive aphasia, frontotemporal dementia and dementia in the oldest adults.
He is the recipient of multiple National Institutes of Health grants and the author of numerous studies that have appeared in prominent medical journals. He is also the recipient of the inaugural UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) Joan and Don Beall Scholar Award.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,461-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Health — Orange, its flagship hospital, the UCI Health — Irvine acute care hospital and medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Health — Orange provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).