When someone who has always been responsible suddenly starts making risky financial choices, shows little concern for loved ones or begins using inappropriate language, it can be easy to dismiss these changes as stress, depression or a midlife crisis. However, if such behavioural and personality changes continue to worsen over time, they could be signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Unlike many other forms of dementia, FTD primarily affects the frontal and temporal regions of the brain, which play a key role in personality, behaviour, decision-making and communication.