Fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) is rarely described in people over the age of 70. We report on 6 cases of late-onset FTD, 3 of which are autopsy confirmed. The diagnosis of FTD was not considered initially in 5 cases, with mood disorder or a vascular dementia being the most likely misdiagnoses. Late-onset FTD appears to have a shorter duration than younger onset cases and presents with prominent neuropsychiatric features. In the 3 autopsy proven cases, co-existent Alzheimer pathology was present and this, together with co-morbid medical illnesses in older people, may account for the shorter duration of illness. FTD is probably under -diagnosed or misdiagnosed frequently in late life, primarily because it is not considered in the differential diagnosis. The existing criteria for FTD should be revised to include late–onset cases and a higher index of suspicion for FTD should exist when older patients present with prominent frontal features.
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