DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i04.021

Pages: 348-357

Objective: To synthesise literature that will be published in 2020-25 on the prevalence and management of frontotemporal dementia, to combine non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches, phenotype-specific factors, and health-system outcomes, and to develop goal-oriented, step-by-step care pathway. Design: Narrative literature review. Data sources: Major biomedical databases and key specialty journals were searched for publications dated 1 January 2020 to 31 October 2025. Reference lists of relevant articles were screened. Eligibility criteria: They were included in adult studies and reviews that contained epidemiology, genetics and biomarkers, clinical assessment, management[non-pharmacological or pharmacological], service models or emerging therapies that concern frontotemporal dementia. Single-case reports and non-English items that did not have generalisable data were not prioritised. Data extraction and synthesis: Data were charted by domain[epidemiology, genetics/biomarkers, assessment, management, systems, pipeline]. Appraisal focused on clarity of case definition, sampling frame, outcome reporting, and applicability to real-world care. Given heterogeneity, synthesis was qualitative. Results: The estimates of prevalence were different by region and sampling frame and method of diagnosis, systematic language testing and biomarker-based techniques enhanced the prevalence especially of aphasia variants. C9orf72, GRN and MAPT were the key genetic factors and FTLD-tau and FTLD-TDP were the most common pathologies. Diagnosis, prognosis and stratification of trials Biomarkers such as neurofilament light, structural MRI, FDG-PET, and use of selected digital speech/behaviour measures supported diagnosis, prognosis, and trial stratification. There were foundations such as non- pharmacological caregiver-coached behavioural plans, speech-language therapy with early augmentative and alternative communication, and occupational/physical therapy of the activities of d