In English
Swedish FTD Initiative
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that is characterised by a large variety of genetic associations, underlying pathologies and clinical symptoms. The Swedish FTD Initiative (SweFTDi) was established in 2017 by support from The Schörling Foundation to enable multidisciplinary and innovative research on FTD. Based on experimental and clinical research, the SweFTDi aims to increase the knowledge of the mechanisms of the disease, improve early diagnostics and ultimately contribute to the development of preventive and curative treatments. Some of the research focuses of the SweFTDi include:
- Genetic studies for the identification of hitherto unknown gene mutations related to FTD, and mapping of mutations in known genes of individuals with FTD.
- Proteomic studies for identification of biomarkers associated to FTD.
- Development of specific affinity reagents against key disease-associated proteins.
- Magnet resonance imaging of patients in order to map regional brain damage.
The partly clinical-based steering committee allows for close collaboration with memory clinics in Sweden, creating a platform for transparent communication with patients. Bringing the FTD community together via multidisciplinary research meetings, symposia, and various online- and offline channels for dissemination of information the SweFTDi intends to implement the results of highly complex research discoveries to the clinical day-to-day work with FTD patients and their families. In addition to the 64 memory clinics around Sweden the SweFTDi is in close collaboration with the genetic counsellors at the Unit for Hereditary Dementias at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. The genetic counsellors are responsible for evaluating the family history in terms of heredity of dementias and other connected diseases, to offer genetic testing of high risk individuals, and to offer counselling to families and families-to-be who wish to know more about the genetics behind the disease.
As you can tell, this website is primarily amied to support the Swedish speaking audience as we noticed it was very hard for non-English speaking Swedes to find information about frontotemporal dementia. For the English speaking visitors of this website, we have gathered some helpful links and information folders in more information. There are also some short videos in English throughout this website, please pay them a visit. These videos were provided by the Rhapsody program. The Rhapsody program consists of a [not yet released] series of educational short videos to inform about early onset Alzheimer´s disease and frontotemporal dementia.
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