Giggling and slightly manic? BvFTD

Suzy23

Hi all,

Wondering whether this sounds familiar to anyone. My dad was recently diagnosed (late onset—he’s 77) with bvFTD. 

He frequently seems to find things amazing and hilarious, like his reactions are almost tipsy. This often seems to be in association with how he himself has changed. 

He used to be quite reserved and didn’t talk much, but now at times he will carry on and on about how much he likes a certain dessert, or how wonderful the noise of the wind chimes is.  He is also mentioning a lot more about his own childhood than ever before and giggling about how maybe he would like to have a toy like that again, at the same time seeming to find it funny that he would. 

It actually makes me wonder whether in some way he is enjoying this phase of his new mental state. 

Yes, I have wondered whether the med he is taking might be contributing. He takes Trazodone plus Most recently Seroquel at bedtime, which are a huge help with him sleeping. 

I don’t think these are bad developments, as long as it doesn’t get completely out of control. 

Just wondering. 

Suzy23

Thinking more about this, it seems to be part of losing his social filter. 

He has exaggerated confidence in his own abilities (thinks he should be able to drive and climb ladders onto the roof) and a taste for self-aggrandizement that was never there before. 

So I guess it means we need to watch out for those growing. For instance, he goes for walks and loves collecting change that others have dropped. He brags about how much he finds. But we don’t want this becoming a mania where he goes out in traffic or onto other peoples property. 

Same thing with certain kinds of yard work. He’s obsessed with pulling up weeds and vines. So far he has limited his efforts to his own yard. 

Quilting brings calm

Suzy - my Mom was put on Trazodone last week for her depression and anxiety symptoms.  Before then her voice was subdued- almost a mumble. Everything came out as a question with that tone that made you think the next sentence would be that a tragic accident has happened.  Lots of crying.  I didn’t notice any improvement in my Friday AM visit.  However  beginning Friday night, her phone calls sound louder ( up to a normal volume), and more confident.  Can’t remember anything any better than before.  But a definite improvement in mood so far.

I take her to the doctor later today so I will be able to see what she is like in person. 

We think her dementia is vascular in nature. 

feudman

Hello again Suzy. With bvFTD, I don't think there's much that could be considered "unusual," but what you describe fits the dx, and relatively speaking, pretty low level stuff. A cakewalk compared to what may be in store. 

My spouse, with one of the language variants, would pick up objects and stare at them intently, then chuckle before putting them back. Repeatedly. (If she didnt put them in her mouth.) She laughed so much her neurologist thought it may be PBA, but I think it was just her way of communicating. And she was on both the meds you mention (seroquel at a low 12.5 mg dose).

The weed pulling may be his first of many obsessive repetitive behaviors, and, assuming he can distinguish weeds from plants & flowers, a harmless, beneficial one (way better than a dangerous or socially unacceptable one). As long as you forewarn your neighbors, I wouldnt think this would upset them. I certainly wouldn't chase him off. My weed-pulling parties always suffer from poor attendance.

Carry on!