What cognitive symptoms are associated with frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are crucial for various cognitive and emotional functions. Individuals with FTD often exhibit significant changes in personality and behavior, which can manifest as disinhibition, apathy, or socially inappropriate behavior. Impaired judgment is also a hallmark of this condition, as patients may struggle with decision-making and planning, affecting their ability to function in everyday situations.

These cognitive symptoms stem from the degeneration of brain areas associated with social behavior and executive functions. Unlike other forms of dementia, like Alzheimer's disease, individuals with FTD may retain their memory abilities in the early stages, which highlights why changes in personality and impaired judgment are prominent characteristics of this disorder.

The other options mention symptoms typically associated with different conditions or types of dementia. Severe memory loss and visual aphasia are more characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Loss of coordination and severe headaches do not align with the cognitive symptoms of FTD, while inability to recognize faces and disorientation relate more to conditions such as prosopagnosia or Alzheimer’s dementia, rather than the specific cognitive profile seen in frontotemporal dementia.