The Cruelest Disease You've Never Heard Of: Frontotemporal Dementia

The next episode of CBS's 60 Minutes to be broadcast on May 5 will showcase frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a particularly devastating disease known to strike in middle age and even earlier in some cases, reports CBS News . FTD's effects include the destruction of the victim's personality, judgment, empathy, and even speech. An especially pernicious aspect of the disease is its ability to take away the power of self-recognition. "This is profound as anything that can happen to a human being," says FTD researcher Bruce Miller. "It robs us of our very essence of our humanity, of who we are." People with FTD can exhibit dangerous or impulsive behavior, which in certain circumstances can force their relocation into assisted-living communities. Some people with FTD are not aware that they have the disease, but certain victims with a form of the disorder that destroys speech and communication can be cognizant.