FTD in the News

There is lots of progress being made in raising awareness of FTD and in research advances thanks to the involvement of people with FTD and their families. Turn here for some recent news stories about FTD that reflect activity in awareness, in research and in public policy advocacy.

Front page coverage

Several important media outlets have featured stories on FTD in the past few years. These include:

60 Minutes
In May 2019, CBS’s 60 Minutes featured an entire segment dedicated to FTD, which they described as “the cruelest disease you’ve never heard of.” Click here for more information.

NBC Nightly News
NBC Chief Science and Health Correspondent Robert Bazell interviewed AFTD Board Member John Whitmarsh and AFTD Medical Advisory Council Member Dr. Bruce Miller in a short segment on FTD on the Nightly News with Brian Williams on Thursday, June 13, 2013.

The New York Times
A lengthy story about FTD made the front page of the New York Times on May 6, 2012. The story is called When Illness Makes a Spouse A Stranger. 

The Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times ran a front-page article on FTD on Feb. 10, 2012. This article provides a real-life look into what living with FTD is like for both patient and family. Click here to read the story.

The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA)

On May 15, 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease with some specific goals to be reached by 2025. In this plan, the term―Alzheimer’s disease or AD―refers to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, consistent with the approach Congress used in NAPA.

Frontotemporal degeneration is one of the dementias included in this important public policy initiative. Watch for information about NAPA and the National Plan in the news.  Join AFTD to advocate for recognition of the needs of people with FTD and their families.

Click here to read more about AFTD’s current advocacy efforts.