First-ever World FTD Awareness Week Launches Tonight at One World Trade Center

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tonight, AFTD, with President of Advance Publications, Inc. Donald Newhouse, will convene more than 250 supporters and community members to host an inaugural event at One World Trade Center. Together, they will kick off U.S. participation in the first ever World FTD Awareness Week, which will be observed from October 4th through October 11th, 2015. An announcement of a major new FTD research initiative is expected.

With events planned across the U.S. and in more than ten countries, World FTD Awareness Week seeks to accelerate the global fight against frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), the most prevalent form of dementia for adults under age 60.

A list of events and ways to participate –- including a global social media campaign – is available here: 

http://www.theaftd.org/newsroom/world-ftd-awareness-week

"In countries across the world, FTD destroys people's lives, robbing them of independence and precious time with spouses and children," said Susan L-J Dickinson, Executive Director of The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). "It strikes in the prime of life when few think of dementia. That makes awareness so important."

By making people more mindful of FTD, World FTD Awareness Week aims to prevent misdiagnosis, foster a cure, and provide urgently needed information and resources to people facing FTD and their caregivers.

About The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration

AFTD envisions a world where FTD is understood, effectively diagnosed, treated, cured and ultimately prevented. For more information about AFTD or frontotemporal degeneration, visit www.theaftd.org, or connect via www.facebook.com/TheAFTD or twitter.com/AFTDCure.

About FTD

FTD is distinct from other forms of dementia in two important ways:

• The hallmark of FTD is a gradual, progressive decline in behavior and/or language (with memory usually relatively preserved). As the disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult for people to plan or organize activities, behave appropriately in social or work settings, interact with others, and care for oneself, resulting in increasing dependency on caregivers.
  
  
• Onset of FTD often occurs in a person's 50s and 60s, but has been seen as early as 21 and as late as 80 years. Roughly 60 percent of cases occur in people 45 to 64 years old, thus FTD can affect work and family in a way dementia in older patients does not.

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SOURCE Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration

Related Links

http://www.theaftd.org