- Study Director: Bruce Miller, MD
- Official Study Title: Establishment of Frontotemporal Dementia Patient Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cell Lines
- Conditions Studied: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other closely related neurological disorders including corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with dementia
Purpose of the Study
This research-oriented study aims to learn more about the underlying basis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and related neurodegenerative disorders. We will obtain human skin cells from established research participants with FTD or a related disorder, unaffected family members and healthy volunteers. From these skin cells, we will make other cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be used to produce cell lines for further basic research studies.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria: Participants must a) have a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or one of the related disorders, semantic dementia, progressive nonfluent aphasia, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD); b) be a healthy relative of a person with a diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease; or c) be other healthy control. Additionally, participants must be already enrolled in any other research study at the Memory and Aging Center.
Exclusion Criteria: Subjects carrying infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis) will be excluded for laboratory safety reasons. Subjects with known wound-healing problems will be excluded.
What to Expect
Testing: A skin biopsy, taken usually from the upper thigh, and a blood draw to allow for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis testing
The Frequency of Visits: One visit
Materials Needed Before Evaluation: None
Costs: No costs will be charged for any of the study procedures. Participants are responsible for covering their traveling and accommodation expenses.
Contact information
If you are interested in participating in this study or have any questions and are already enrolled in any other study at the Memory and Aging Center, please contact the Principal Investigator leading this study, Aimee Kao, MD, PhD, at [email protected], or the Genetics and Biospecimens Program Manager, Argentina Lario Lago, PhD, at [email protected].
