City of Lima proclaims last week of September as FTD Awareness Week

Many times it's been misdiagnosed as a mental health illness. Jack George says it's important for him to share his story so it can help others.

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a variety of symptoms caused by brain changes, with Alzheimer's as the most widely known. But there are many types of dementia, and Lima resident Jack George is bringing awareness to frontotemporal degeneration, which he has been diagnosed with.

City of Lima proclaims last week of September as FTD Awareness Week

You can find out more at https://www.theaftd.org/.

The neurodegeneration causes uncharacteristic personality changes and struggles with decision-making, movement, speaking, or language comprehension. Many times it's been misdiagnosed as a mental health illness. George says it's important for him to share his story so it can help others.

"So that people understand that there is more to dementia than memory loss. It affects a lot of different people in a lot of different ways, and the more you know about it, the more you can be aware of it and look for signs and symptoms in your own family," said Jack George, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration.

City of Lima proclaims last week of September as FTD Awareness Week

Lima resident Jack George is bringing awareness to frontotemporal degeneration, which he has been diagnosed with.

Onset of FTD can start as early as age 21, with most being found in individuals between 45 and 64 years of age.

Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith presented a proclamation stating the last week of September to be FTD Awareness Week in the city. You can find out more at https://www.theaftd.org/.

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