Listen: How dementia changes how people act
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in people under the age of 65, and one of its key signs is changes in behavior.
- A neurologist, Bruce Miller, has spent decades observing people with FTD at the University of San Francisco’s Memory and Aging Center to understand how it affects human behavior.
- Miller’s book, “Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science”, shares insights on how to keep our social brain healthy and unlock creative potential.
- The social brain is a key area of study for Miller, who has found that people with FTD often exhibit changes in their behavior, such as altered emotional responses and social interactions.
- By understanding the social brain and its effects on dementia, researchers hope to develop new treatments and interventions to improve cognitive function and overall well-being.
In a new podcast episode, a neurologist digs into the “social brain” and how dementia affects how we act.
When someone we know or love starts to develop psychological issues, we don’t often associate it with a form of dementia. However, this trait is one of the most common signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) —the most common neurodegenerative disease in people under the age of 65.
In his new book, Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science (Routledge, 2025), Bruce Miller highlights his experiences observing people with FTD and what they have taught him about what he calls the “social brain.”
Miller has been observing people with FTD for decades in the Memory and Aging Center at the University of San Francisco, where he is also professor of neurology and the founding director of the Global Brain Health Institute.
In this episode of the Big Brains podcast, he shares key insights on how to keep our “social brain” healthy and how it can even unlock our creative potential:
Read the transcript of this episode.
Source: University of Chicago
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Q. What is frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and how common is it?
A. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects people under the age of 65, making it one of the most common forms of dementia in this age group.
Q. Who is Bruce Miller and what is his connection to FTD research?
A. Bruce Miller is a neurologist who has been observing people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) for decades at the Memory and Aging Center at the University of San Francisco, where he is also professor of neurology and the founding director of the Global Brain Health Institute.
Q. What does Bruce Miller call the part of the brain that affects social behavior?
A. According to Bruce Miller, the “social brain” refers to the part of the brain that influences our social behavior and interactions with others.
Q. How can observing people with FTD help us understand human behavior?
A. By observing people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Bruce Miller has gained insights into what he calls the “social brain” and how it affects human behavior, which can be applied to keep our social brain healthy and unlock creative potential.
Q. What is the Global Brain Health Institute, and what role does Bruce Miller play in it?
A. The Global Brain Health Institute is an organization founded by Bruce Miller at the University of San Francisco, where he serves as professor of neurology and founding director.
Q. How can dementia affect a person’s behavior?
A. Dementia, particularly frontotemporal dementia (FTD), can significantly change how people act, often leading to psychological issues that may not be immediately associated with the condition.
Q. What is Bruce Miller’s new book about?
A. Bruce Miller has written a book titled “Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science” (Routledge, 2025), which explores his experiences observing people with FTD and what they have taught him about the social brain.
Q. How can understanding the social brain help us keep it healthy?
A. According to Bruce Miller, understanding the social brain and its functions can help us develop strategies to keep our social brain healthy, potentially unlocking creative potential.
Q. What is the Big Brains podcast, and how does this episode relate to it?
A. The Big Brains podcast features an episode where Bruce Miller shares insights on how to keep our social brain healthy and how it can unlock creative potential, based on his experiences observing people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
