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A Word to Be Forgotten

Don I. Trachtenberg, DDS; John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD

Arch Neurol. 2008;65(5):593-595.

A rationale is presented for the elimination of the word dementia as a diagnostic term. It is viewed as a generalization that is pejorative and harmful based on historical and current patient, caregiver, and physician perspectives. Suggestions for more meaningful and nonstigmatizing terminology are offered. Primary among these is to change the meaning of the abbreviation FTD from frontotemporal dementia to frontotemporal disease. This article combines the personal aspects of the caregiver experience (Dr Trachtenberg) with the professional input of the scientist and physician intimately involved in the field (Dr Trojanowski). This collaboration led to the unified conclusions that are expressed.

Author Affiliations: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine (Dr Trachtenberg), and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Trojanowski), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

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