Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have overlapping features and can be difficult to distinguish based on symptoms, cognitive testing or even MRI. Beta-amyloid is a protein that aggregates in the brain in AD but usually not in FTD. Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB) is an imaging tracer that binds to amyloid and can be detected by brain imaging with a PET scanner. The goal of this study is to determine whether brain imaging with PIB-PET can improve diagnostic accuracy in discriminating between AD and FTD, and thus govern appropriate specific treatment for each disease.
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Clinical Research
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Amyloid PET in AD, FTD & PPA
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Clinical Trial of Memantine for bvFTD and SD
The study is designed to determine whether memantine (Namenda®) is effective in slowing the rate of behavioral decline in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The study will also assess the safety and tolerability of long-term treatment with memantine in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) or semantic dementia (SD); whether memantine slows the rate of cognitive decline in frontotemporal dementia; whether memantine delays or decreases the emergence of parkinsonism in frontotemporal dementia; and whether treatment affects weight change. Participation includes six visits and two phone calls over a period of 8 months, with visits more frequent at the beginning of the study.
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Creation of Stem Cells from Patients with FTD
In this study, investigators will use skin cells from people with either a genetic or sporadic form of frontotemporal dementia, as well as control subjects, to transform them first into pluripotent stem cells and ultimately into neurons that are genetically identical to the affected neurons in the patient. These cells would lead to the development of models to study the disease, for which there are currently no adequate human in vitro or animal models.
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Eye Movement Control in Adults
In this study, we aim to learn about the mechanisms of eye movement control and visual perception, as well as how these functions may change with different neurologic diseases. Subjects view visual stimuli presented on a television monitor while their eye movements are recorded using safe, infrared technology. At times, we may ask questions about some of the pictures shown, and these answers may be recorded.
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fMRI of Autonomic Physiology in FTD and AD
In this study, the investigators are examining how brain activity relates to autonomic responses (i.e., heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration) in healthy subjects and patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other closely related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Images and Emotions
The purpose of this study is to help understand the clinical, emotional, genetic and imaging features of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) as well as the neuropathology of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and related disorders. The investigators will collect longitudinal data to be analyzed with the goal of improving clinical care for patients with FTD. Depending on the individual, there will be 4 to 6 visits to UCSF over a three month period of time, each year for up to five years. Comprehensive genetic counseling, medical consultation and autopsy are available through this study.
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Healthy Aging
The purpose of the Hillblom Aging Network study is to learn more about how a healthy person ages and what changes in the brain occur with aging.
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Measuring Social Behavior in Neurodegenerative Disease
The purpose of this study is to adapt measures of social and emotional cognition to help identify characteristic patterns of altered social functioning in different neurodegenerative diseases, measure specific symptoms found to improve early diagnosis of these disorders, and improve our knowledge of normal social and emotional cognition in healthy older adults. This project also aims to link any findings with structural neuroanatomy to improve our understanding of the neurologic foundations for social and emotional behavior.
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Measuring Attention & Executive Function
The primary goal of this study is to determine the differences in attention and the underlying brain regions responsible for attention, one of the executive functions. Participants will take computer-based tests measuring attention and reaction time for approximately one hour.
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Measuring Executive Function
The purpose of this research study is to determine how to more reliably and validly measure executive function across a variety of diagnoses, ages, education levels and races. Participants take a number neuropsychological tests for 30-180 minutes, either in one visit or over several visits depending upon the participant's availability.
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New Approaches to Dementia Heterogeneity
The purpose of this study is to collect information from various tests of brain function with the goal of improving early detection and clinical care for patients with dementia. Information is collected longitudinally and includes clinical, imaging, behavioral and autopsy data. Depending on the individual, there will be 2 to 4 visits over a three month period of time, each year for up to five years.
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Neuroimaging in Frontotemporal Dementia (NIFD)
This study seeks to determine the best neuroimaging methods to diagnose and track the progression of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and compare these results to other biomarkers of the disease. Objective outcome measures are essential to test possible therapeutics in clinical trials
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FRONTIER
FRONTIER is a clinical research group in Sydney, Australia based at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute (POWMRI), which is part of the University of New South Wales Brain Research Precinct. They study frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and related disorders, notably motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The members of FRONTIER are investigating the cognitive, behavioral, psychological and brain changes associated with this disease and the impact on patients and their families. This research group is led by Professor John Hodges and Dr. Olivier Piguet, who together with their team collaborate with clinicians, scientists and other researchers across Australia and overseas.
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UBCH Alzheimer Clinic
The The University of British Columbia Hospital Alzheimer Clinic is the main tertiary care referral center in British Columbia for dementia assessment. The research unit investigates frontotemporal dementia, biomarkers for Alzheimer's and related dementias, MRI techniques to identify mild cognitive impairment, dementia prevention and clinical trials. Dr. Howard Feldman is the divisional director.