In 2020, when Brian Dowden was in his late 30s, he noticed changes in his cognitive abilities while preparing to take the licensing exams required by his profession. “It was supposed to be an easy test for the most part,” he said. “I started studying and immediately began to struggle. I just couldn’t retain the information.”

Eventually, Brian was dismissed from his job as an operations manager, where he oversaw case managers and financial assets. After transitioning to a new company and position, where he led a team of managers and more than 200 employees, Brian continued to struggle with meeting deadlines and remembering his coworkers’ names.

This frustrating experience motivated Brian to visit his primary care physician, who referred him to a neurologist. “I went through initial testing, and after returning six months later, my scores decreased. She recommended an MRI, which turned into me getting a PET scan and a spinal tap, and that’s when I found out.”

In 2023, Brian was diagnosed with FTD at age 45. “My neurologist gave me a packet and I filled out a card to join AFTD’s email distribution list, and that’s how I began to learn more about FTD,” he said.

As his symptoms progressed, Brian realized he needed to “downsize and minimize stress.” He sold his home in Ohio and moved to Florida to live with his mom and stepfather, Dory and Barry Walton. As Brian’s care partners they help him manage the many challenges that come with the disease. “The stuff I could do just a month ago, compared to now, is very different. It’s nice to be able to hear and read stories from others going through this.”

In addition to using AFTD’s website to learn about the disease, our Comstock Quality of Life Grant and Comstock Respite Grants have provided Brian and Dory with vital support and helped them “manage the stress and financial burden of living with FTD.”

Will you make a gift today to support people living with FTD like Brian? A donation of $500 can fund one Comstock Grant, while any amount will help improve the quality of life for those who are affected by a diagnosis, as well as drive research to a cure.

Together, we can support all on this journey. Razem jesteśmy upoważnieni do #endFTD.