Bruce Willis ’ frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis has put the rare disease on the spotlight. As well wishes pour in for the 67-year-old actor, fans – many of whom are only hearing about the medical condition for the first time – are also wondering how it affects a patient’s life.
What Is FTD?
FTD is a type of dementia that strikes the area of the brain associated with language and personality. As such, it can cause surprising changes to a person’s behavior.
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Symptoms
MailOnline shared some of the symptoms of dementia, one of which is a tendency to hand out money.
Giving Away Money
According to research done by USC and Bar-Ilan University in Israel, people at risk of dementia may be more likely to hand out money to strangers.
‘Trouble Handling Money’ Is An Early Sign
“Trouble handling money is thought to be one of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and this finding supports that notion,” Dr. Duke Han, a neuropsychology professor who led the research at USC, said.
Changing Taste In Comedy
Another study at the University College London suggested that a preference for slapstick comedy could signal Alzheimer’s disease.
Preference For Slapstick Linked To Dementia
When friends and relatives of people with Alzheimer’s and FTD were asked whether there had been changes in their loved ones’ taste in comedy as they developed dementia, a common answer was that they began to prefer slapstick.
Laughing At Unfunny Things
The study further said that people with FTD may tend to laugh at tragic or otherwise unfunny things.
Changing Taste In Fashion
Meanwhile, another study done by researchers from the University of Kent and University of York found that dementia could affect how people dressed.
Mismatched Outfits
According to the study, patients would often wear mismatched clothes. They also didn’t dress appropriately for the weather.
‘Screwed Up Clothes’
One woman named Melissa, who was caring for a person with dementia, was quoted by the study as saying, “I’ve never seen my dad scruffy. Never. Until that day I turned up in the home and he’s sitting there in screwed up clothes which really hurt me because I’m not used to that – not at all.”
Declining Driving Skills
Research done at Washington University in St. Louis suggested that Alzheimer’s also made patients lose their driving skills.
Driving-Related Symptoms
Symptoms include driving slowly, parking badly, and changing directions all of a sudden.
Loss Of Memory And Motor Skills
Dementia affects a person’s memory and motor skills, which in turn affects how they drive.
Using Cuss Words
A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles found that people with FTD were more likely to use cuss words.
70 Patients Were Tested
In the study, 70 patients were asked to name as many words starting with “f” and “s” as they could within one minute. The words “f**k” and “s**t” turned out to be common choices.
People With Dementia Lose Their Filter
The explanation for this is that people with dementia tend to lose the filter that prevents them from swearing even in normal situations.
Odd Behavior
People with dementia lose their filter not only when it comes to profane language but also as far as behavior is concerned. They could act strangely and rudely, for example, or even take their clothes off in public.
‘Confusing, Distressing, Shocking’
It is unlikely, though, that they understand what they’re doing.
“These situations can be very confusing, distressing, shocking or frustrating for someone with dementia, as well as for those close to them,” the Alzheimer’s Society said.
Not Done On Purpose
“The person with dementia may not understand why their behavior is considered inappropriate. It’s very unlikely that they are being inappropriate on purpose,” they added.
