Bill > AJR77

Introduced Session

This resolution designates the last full week of September of each year as "Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week" in New Jersey. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) refers to a group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the brain's frontal lobes or temporal lobes. FTD is a terminal and incurable neurodegenerative disease that causes impairments to speech, personality, behavior, and motor skills. Approximately 40 percent of individuals living with FTD have a family history of the disease or a related condition like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Due to its broad range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms, FTD is often misdiagnosed as a psychiatric condition or another neurodegenerative disease. An individual living with FTD may lose their sense of social propriety and experience significant changes in their personality. They might also struggle with understanding grammar, lose the meaning of words, become hesitant in their speech, and may eventually become mute. A person living with FTD may also experience physical changes such as muscle weakness which can lead to loss of balance and increased falls. Research at both the national and global level is needed to enhance our understanding of FTD and ultimately discover a cure. In New Jersey there are an estimated 185,000 people living with Alzheimer's dementia. It is unknown how many New Jerseyans are living with FTD. Increasing FTD awareness through public events focused on the impact that FTD has on communities is key to informing New Jerseyans of this often overlooked and incurable terminal neurodegenerative medical condition. Designating the last full week of September as "Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week" would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the effects that FTD has on New Jerseyans diagnosed with FTD.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Margie Donlon (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document