Experts say Ralph Klein’s struggle with a relatively unknown form of dementia called frontotemporal degeneration has brought some needed attention to the disease.

Family and friends of the former Alberta premier publicly revealed his diagnosis of F-T-D, also known as Picks disease, last year.

Klein died at 70 in a Calgary care facility last week after battling the dementia, lung problems and pneumonia.

F-T-D is the second most common type of dementia.