Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which often develops at a relatively young age (40s to 60s) is a degenerative disease that causes gradual and progressive damage to the frontal and temporal regions of the brain. These areas of the brain are responsible for behaviour and language. Disease progression often results in difficulty planning/organising activities, inappropriate behaviour, lack of self-care and increasing dependency on others. FTD-associated syndromes are responsible for about 10% of all dementia. Currently no treatments to slow or stop the progression of the disease are available.

A type of FTD called behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD) can cause early and progressive changes in personality, emotional ‘blunting’ and loss of empathy. A person with bvFTD may have difficulty controlling their behaviour, which can result in socially inappropriate responses or actions. Language may also be impaired after behavioural changes take place and neurological symptoms such as movement and coordination difficulties may develop. Over time, these symptoms worsen. The bvFTD form of the disease is particularly aggressive and progresses faster than Alzheimer’s disease.

TauRx has previously conducted a late stage clinical trial in bvFTD, published here.