When the Brain Changes the Self: Personality, the Frontal Lobes, and FTD

KeywordsDie Hard, Bruce Willis, personality change, frontotemporal dementia, neuropsychology, Phineas Gage, brain disorders, emotional impact, caregiver burden, identity, Bruce Miller, UCSFSummaryIn this episode, Dr. Tom Kiely explores the profound impact of brain disorders on personality and identity, using the iconic film 'Die Hard' and the story of Bruce Willis as a backdrop. He discusses the historical case of Phineas Gage to illustrate how brain injuries can alter personality, and delves into frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a condition that robs individuals of their character and affects their loved ones. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding these changes through the lens of neuropsychology and the need for support for families dealing with such challenges.Sound bites"The brain shapes who we are."Chapters00:00 The Impact of Die Hard on Tom's Life10:12 Understanding Personality Changes in Brain Disorders15:08 The Story of Phineas Gage: A Historical Perspective20:29 Exploring Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)26:23 The Family Experience with FTD29:37 The Role of Neuropsychology in Understanding FTD45:59 Living with FTD: Support and ResourcesASSOCIATION FOR FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION (AFTD):AFTD WEBSITE60 MINUTES SEGMENT ON FTD:FTD: YOUTUBE LINKSUBSCRIBE:🔔 Subscribe to access bi-weekly podcast episodes: [PODCAST LINK] GET IN TOUCH WITH DR. KIELY:PRIVATE PRACTICE WEBSITEPSYCHOLOGY TODAYLINKEDININSTAGRAMPSYCHOLOGY TODAY:https://www.psychologytoday.com/usSUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE: Dial 988https://988lifeline.org/MUSIC:Rock Your Surfboard: Yeti Musichttps://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/rock-your-surfboardLicense code: 343U0UCD8ZHJYTRAmbient Piano: bdProductionshttps://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-piano/10369873License code: 75a61e2f-0346-452d-b744-f539a56697daPop Rock Logo: DmitriySimfhttps://audiojungle.net/item/pop-rock-logo/27226150License code: 5424026d-0261-4ca6-9c5d-019f56fe5116Summer Pop Lemonade: SonicMoodhttps://audiojungle.net/item/summer-pop-lemonade/53371178License code: 14a92b7e-e924-4c82-9de5-f8aa3518b752Country: CustomMelodyhttps://audiojungle.net/item/country/8082106Life Ny Life: Antarcticbreezehttps://audiojungle.net/item/life-ny-life/15333514License code: 7351086c-b195-492a-a775-2ddf27af5707Upbeat Retro Synth Pop: AlexanderRufirehttps://audiojungle.net/item/upbeat-retro-synth-pop/26157896License code: 23a2642f-4df5-49c3-9c87-591eacb43e63