Introduction
The frontal lobes are the biggest areas of the brain. As a result, they participate in multiple processes. At the same time, due to its size and anatomical location, frontal lobe damage is among the most common brain injuries recorded. When discussing the frontal lobe, it is essential to mention the prefrontal cortex, which is the front part of the frontal lobe. The prefrontal cortex correlates with a variety of essential functions associated with human existence and condition. In this paper, the frontal lobe will be analyzed from the perspective of its structure, function, and potential outcome correlating with its damage, namely, dementia.
Discussion
The frontal lobes, as mentioned prior, are responsible for some of the most important skills and activities a human can exemplify. According to researchers, the brain area that is directly placed behind the forehead is responsible not only for essential movement and language but a wide variety of cognitive abilities (Catani, 2019). For example, the frontal lobe is connected with one’s ability to organize, plan in advance, be insightful, and control certain verbal and physical responses. Without a doubt, the functions correlating with the frontal lobes are among the abilities that are uniquely human and extremely crucial when it comes to interactions with the outside world. Structure-wise, it is to be mentioned that different areas of the frontal lobe are responsible for the functions. For example, the prefrontal cortex is associated with high-level cognition skills, the premotor cortex is linked to movement planning and execution, the motor cortex correlates with movement initiation, and Broca’s area is responsible for language.
As it can be established, the frontal lobe is not only the biggest area of the brain but also one of the most important. Simultaneously, damage to the area is serious and can impact a person’s physical and mental well-being. Multiple outcomes have been linked to frontal lobe injuries, including paralysis, difficulties focusing on certain tasks, language impairments, movement issues, and other barriers. However, the specific condition that has been linked to the phenomenon and will be discussed is dementia. Dementia, while not a condition per se, is linked to symptoms such as cognitive issues, impaired decision-making skills, and memory loss and encompasses diagnoses including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia is one of the diagnoses that has been linked to impaired frontal lobe activity, alongside dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s, and the aforementioned Alzheimer’s (Young et al., 2018). The condition occurs when the frontal and temporal lobes degenerate. Symptoms such as negative changes in social behavior, movement impairment, and language and speech problems are frequent in patients diagnosed with the condition (Battista et al., 2020). Similar to other diagnoses that are encompassed in the dementia category, frontotemporal dementia significantly affects an individual’s ability to think, remember, move, and express themselves. The negative connotations are major disruptors of the lives of people experiencing said symptoms, as well as their caretakers and the healthcare system as a whole.
Conclusion
The frontal lobe is the biggest area of the brain responsible for a multitude of objectives or skills primordial in day-to-day life. Namely, speech, language, motor skills, planning, organizing, and other high cognitive functions depend on the operations within the frontal lobe. On the other hand, damage to the area correlates with major behavioral and cognitive changes. One condition that has been linked to frontal lobe degeneration is Frontotemporal dementia, among others.
References
Battista, P., Griseta, C., Capozzo, R., Lozupone, M., Sardone, R., Panza, F., & Logroscino, G. (2020). Frontal lobe syndrome and dementias. Genetics, Neurology, Behavior, and Diet in Dementia, 617–632. Web.
Catani, M. (2019). The anatomy of the human frontal lobe. The Frontal Lobes, 95–122. Web.
Young, J. J., Lavakumar, M., Tampi, D., Balachandran, S., & Tampi, R. R. (2018). Frontotemporal dementia: Latest evidence and clinical implications. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 8(1), 33–48. Web.