Primary prevention

There are no specific studies on the prevention of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, a number of risk factors in early and mid life have been associated with increased risk of dementia in later life. These include low education levels, hypertension, hearing impairment, vision loss, smoking, obesity, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, infrequent social contact, excessive alcohol consumption, head injury, and air pollution.[62][63]​​ Numerous causative mutations in the MAPT, GRN, and C9orf72 genes have been described.[35]​ Other causative gene mutations that result in FTD phenotypes involve TBK1, TARDBP, VCP-1, FUS, CHMP2B, SQSTM1, CHCHD10, OPTN, TUBA4A, CCNF, TIA1, CYLD, ABCA7, CTSF, and UBQLN2 genes.[60]​ There is also increasing evidence that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be a risk factor for dementia, with one study finding semantic FTD to be the most common dementia among people who have experienced PTSD.[48][49]

Some of these risk factors are modifiable, even in people with increased genetic risk, and preventive strategies have been recommended.[62] Hearing aids may help reduce the risk of, or delay the onset of, dementia among people with hearing impairment, although one cohort study in France that found an association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment did not find any improvements in cognition with the use of hearing aids.[64][65]​​​ Cataract surgery is significantly associated with a reduction in the risk of developing dementia.​[66]​ Studies have found some benefits from lifestyle changes: increasing the frequency and intensity of the daily step count is associated with a reduction in the risk of dementia, physical activity may be associated with better late-life cognition, regular olive oil consumption is associated with a lower risk of dementia-related mortality, and multivitamin supplementation may help prevent cognitive decline in older adults.[67][68][69][70]​ Some studies of multidomain lifestyle interventions in older people have shown improvements in cognition in those with conditions that increase their risk of dementia but more research is needed.​​[71]

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