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My father is 59 and was recently given a frontal variant of Alzheimer's disease, that is, until yesterday. His CSF Alzheimer's gene test came back negative. So his neurologist called me and said he'd have to rethink the diagnosis. I had originally thought it was Frontotemporal dementia due to the poor judgment my dad exhibits and now I'm a bit confused.
Thanks.

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FTD or Pick's disease tends to manifest in personality changes - poor judgment can be one of them. Alzheimer's most often (not always) presents first as memory issues. Your doctor is wise to rethink the diagnosis, particularly considering your father's age. Vascular dementia can also be an issue. There are many cases of mixed dementias - more than one dementia present - that physicians are becoming more aware of, as well.
It sounds like you have a good physician on the case.
Take care and please let us know how you are doing.
Carol
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My grandmother actually had progressive supranuclear palsy. Apparently they haven't found a gene yet for it, but there are communities in which it clusters. My father has many of the symptoms but not the eye issues usually seen with the disease. However, my grandmother didn't exhibit the eye problems or falling until the last 9 months of her life. I'll look into the vascualar dementia, thank you. I guess I'll just have to do the whole wait and watch for symptoms routine.
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