Carolyn Pratt

Pick's disease, also called frontotemporal dementia, is a rare genetic disorder and form of dementia that most often affects individuals younger than sixty-five years old. Typically, the condition affects behavior, personality, judgment, and language skills. Symptoms include drastic mood swings, repetitive behaviors, social withdrawal and isolation, depression, lack of empathy, and being impulsive. A definitive diagnosis of this disease is made through blood tests, neurological examinations, brain scans, speech tests, and interviews with family members. The average life expectancy is between two to seven years after diagnosis, and some individuals live for a decade. Pick's disease cannot be cured, and treatments are used to manage symptoms.