Benefit: Preparing for your future care needs

Through genetic testing, you may find out if you’re likely to experience cognitive changes (changes in thinking and behavior) in the future. For example, it may be helpful to think about whether your living situation will meet your needs in the future. Some people may choose to move to a one-story home that’s easier to get around, closer to their doctors, or closer to loved ones.

One of the cognitive conditions linked to ALS is frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). Doctors use the term frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) to describe conditions where people lose neurons (brain cells) in certain parts of the brain called the frontal and temporal regions. People with FTD may have many different symptoms, including changes in the way they think, act, move, and communicate.

To learn more about FTD, visit the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website at TheAFTD.org.