Al thanks for your honesty.
You know how we say the only predictable thing about ALS is how unpredictable it is? Well FTD is rather like that too I'm afraid. It's a very similar reason - it all depends on exactly which parts of the brain are being affected and the speed of progression in each part as to what symptoms will be exhibited and how quickly they will progress.
There is also the language variant which may be closer to what you are experiencing. It's very complex as a disease and like ALS has an onset, but often ends up including all the areas. So like someone with ALS may be leg onset and end up with bulbar symptoms, someone with a semantic onset of FTD will still move into, or even include some behavioural symptoms.
Lack of insight may not happen - just as one person with ALS may continue to be able to use one arm or be able to walk til the end. It all depends on which parts of the brain are being attacked.
Possibly Ann could say she has noticed little things creeping along for a long time that you are still not aware of. She may not be fully aware, as Sooner said it took until certain things happened for the penny to drop for her.
I always say to people FTD is about patterns of behaviour - not instances that happen.
Al I know that you have mentioned creeping cognition issues a couple of times over the past year or so. FTD is usually quite insidious and creeps up like a thief.
here is an article on the semantic sides of FTD - use the links on the right of the page to quickly move through more information there
http://www.ftdtalk.org/ftd-factsheets/factsheet-4-what-is-primary-progressive-aphasia/
My Chris moved into this stage in the last months, as if not being able to talk wasn't enough!