Diagnosis

There's no single test for frontotemporal dementia. Doctors look for signs and symptoms of the disease and try to exclude other possible causes. The disorder can be especially challenging to diagnose early because symptoms of frontotemporal dementia often overlap with those of other conditions.

Blood tests

To help rule out other conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, your doctor may order blood tests.

Sleep study

Some symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (memory and thinking problems and behavioral changes) can be similar to those of frontotemporal dementia. If you also have symptoms of sleep apnea (loud snoring and pauses in breathing while sleeping), your doctor may have you undergo a sleep study to rule out obstructive sleep apnea as a cause of your symptoms.

Neuropsychological testing

Sometimes doctors extensively test your reasoning and memory skills. This type of testing is especially helpful in determining the type of dementia at an early stage.

Brain scans

By looking at images of the brain, doctors may be able to pinpoint any visible abnormalities — such as clots, bleeding or tumors — that may be causing signs and symptoms.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI machine uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of your brain.
• Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tracer (FDG-PET) scan. This test uses a low-level radioactive tracer that's injected into the blood. The tracer can help show areas of the brain where nutrients are poorly metabolized. Areas of low metabolism can show where degeneration has occurred in the brain, which can help doctors diagnose the type of dementia.