Recently, a group of Italian researchers examined the risk of suicide among individuals diagnosed with a specific type of frontotemporal dementia called behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia or bvFTD for short. They stress that while the incident of suicide among individuals diagnosed with dementia is rather low, this type carries a much higher risk for thoughts and actions.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is actually a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive deterioration in behavior and language due to misfolded proteins in the frontal and temporal lobes. There are three main types of frontotemporal dementia: behavioral variant FTD, semantic dementia and progressive nonfluent aphasia, which is spontaneous speech marked by hesitancy and errors.
Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD)
It is now known that frontotemporal dementia is the second leading cause of presenile dementia, affecting people younger than 65 and that behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia is the most common type of FTD. bvFTD is characterized by pronounced behavioral disturbances including impulsivity, repetition of words or sounds, disinhibition, loss of empathy, and progressive cognitive impairment.
Recently, it was found that there is a relationship between bvFTD and several psychiatric disorders and that psychiatric symptoms may actually be the first signs of this type of dementia, even years before any behavioral or cognitive symptoms become noticeable.
Risk of Suicide
Even though the risk for suicide is low among individuals with dementia in general, changes in mood, significant cognitive impairment, and awareness of the disorder may lead individuals with certain types of dementia to think about or attempt suicide. According to the study, the first known case of suicide related to bvFTD occurred in 2012 just a few months after the diagnosis. Shortly after, another study confirmed the risk. The goal, then, of the Italian study was to examine possible neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric risk factors involved in suicide and bvFTD.
The Connection
The research team discovered their group had higher risks for both suicidal thoughts and attempts by nonfatal poisoning and jumping from windows. They showed higher levels of functional and cognitive impairment as well as apathy and impulsivity. The group also exhibited hopelessness, depression, anxiety and stress. Another risk factor was age as those who attempted suicide were younger and had the disease for a longer period of time. There is evidence that these findings are similar among individuals diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.
Take Away
Globally, suicidal behavior is a major cause of disability and is the 15th leading cause of death. Suicide is associated with various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including bvFTD. Taken these results, suicide risk should become part of the assessment of individuals diagnosed with bvFTD and related disorders, especially those who are younger and have had the disease for a longer period over time. Early identification may lead to better treatment and reduce suicidal thoughts and actions.