FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA (FTD): INSIGHTS INTO WISDOM AND ALTRUISM

摘要

FTD attacks the frontoinsular brain circuits that mediate wisdom and altruism. By contrast, Alzheimer's disease (AD) attacks posterior brain regions that facilitate memory, navigation, reading and writing. These circuits function in a reciprocal fashion-turning on the frontal circuit turns off posterior brain regions,while turning on posterior circuits turns off frontal brain regions. The symptoms associated with FTD include profound deficits in behavior, social cognition, moral reasoning and empathy. Conversely, navigation, writing and drawing often remain normal or become enhanced in these same patients. Visual creativity is seen in many patients with left frontal or temporal degeneration. In AD, some individuals show enhanced kindness and generosity in the early stages of the illness. The phenomenology of these changes is described, and the aspects of brain aging that protect the future of humanity are noted.