Genetic Predisposition to Frontotemporal Dementia
Dina,
My sister just passed away. She was diagnosed with FTD. No known relatives had any Dementia before her. Am I at risk of getting FTD?
Print
Email
Researchers found a new risk factor for Frontotemporal Dementia. They were were able to pinpoint variations common to patients with a specific subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, FTLD.
The research team found that a protein called TDP-43 accumulates abnormally in brain tissue from individuals with one type of heritable FTLD. This discovery is an important step in helping to understand FTLD. You can read the details of this research in the article "Three Genes Advance 3 Steps to Curing FTD".
Dina
My sister was just diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia. Do you suppose that our grandmother and our maternal aunt who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's many years ago actually had FTD and they just didn't know much about it? As I recall they never took any medication for it; they were just placed in nursing homes, leaving them to steadily decline over the years.
Hi, Both my grandmother, grandfather, aunt and mother have had dementia. My mother is 86 and the combination of Namenda and Aricept have considerably slowed it down.
My question is how do I find out if I will have dementia. No dr. has specified the type of dementia my mother has, for example. I'm 57 yrs. old and wonder how many working years I have left if I get it. I lost my job and am trying to work at a grocery store and take a Microsoft class in addition. I find it more difficult to learn new things since I was younger.
How and can I find out if I'm genetically prediposed to dementia?
Elizabeth Dubis
Kirkland, WA
PS Am very close to Seattle and the Univ. of WA, and many hospitals
1/29/2012 Welcome Elizabeth,
So very glad that you have found this website and the forums.
First, I did a Google search and found the website for the Univ. of Washington medical school. Since they have both a teaching school and do research there, you may want to contact someone to see if they can help answer some of your questions. Just click on the following:
http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/global/about/Pages/default.aspx
With your family history of dementia, I can understand your concerns. My Mom is 89 and entering the final stages of Alzheimer's. Even with just one close relative with dementia, I sometimes question myself about the future.
Unfortunately, there is no test that I know of that can tell me if or when I may or may not get Alzheimer's. Or, even a different type dementia. G*d has not made me privy to the crystal ball of the future. So, I try not to worry and just take things one day at a time.
What type of dementia are involved in your family's history? Are they different or the same?
There are some dementia that are easier to treat than others. Every person who has a type of dementia seems to progress differently. You are doing just fine now. Research is always finding out more and more about Alzheimer's and other dementia. Many new treatments are being worked on now than in the last 3 years. Some are very promising.
So, concentrate on your education work and your work. If you want, check with the University of Washington. And, try to take Life one day at a time. AND, Life is often too short --- so enjoy Life to the fullest.
Let us know how things go for you.
NancyA (Nancy)
.gif "Milton Watson's picture")
Your comment "Not all people who have FTD develop dementia." confuses me. How could someone with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) not develop dementia?
I have been diagnosed with the behavioral variant of FTD. My mother is in a nursing home and (although she has not been diagnosed), my wife and I believe she also has FTD about twenty years more advanced than mine.
Hi Milton,
Thanks for pointing this out. I ammended my post above to clarify things a bit, I hope it is clearer now.
Please let me know how you are doing and if you have other questions I can help with,
Dina
I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find comfort in that she is now resting peacefully.
To answer your question about the genetic component of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): it often runs in families. Researchers believe that about half of the people who get some form of FTD have an affected family member. Symptoms begin gradually and progress slowly over a period of many years. Not all people who have FTD develop dementia. (Oops - I meant that not all people who are genetically predisposed to FTD go on to develop dementia ). In the case of your sister, it may be that since none of your other relatives have had any type of dementia, that the type she had was not caused by genetics.
In any case, what can you do? In general, a good rule of thumb to follow is , what is good for the heart is good for the mind/brain. So, keeping healthy, eating well, getting enough sleep, exercise, reducing stress etc. are all things that are good for prevention of dementia too.
In our Prevention Center on the site, there are numerous articles about ways to keep one's mind and body fit. It includes articles on supplements such as Omega 3's and curcumin which you may find helpful. You can access this by going to our PREVENTION LIBRARY.
If you want to learn more about FTD you can read an in depth article here.
Keep writing in with any questions you may have,
Dina