Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), one of the commonest causes of early-onset dementia, currently has no effective treatments. FTLD encompasses a diverse range of neurodegenerative conditions, each with varying symptoms and brain changes, making it challenging to diagnose, predict progression, and design effective treatments.
We aim to revolutionise FTLD research by focusing on understanding each person's unique brain. This shift in perspective challenges the traditional approach of grouping patients together by looking at “an average difference” that does not exist in the real-world and that overlooks individual differences within the conditions.
Our objective is to describe the diverse patterns of brain changes in FTLD. We will analyse brain scans from nearly 700 individuals (healthy controls and patients living with a form of FTLD), using a novel technique to create personalised maps representing how healthy the brain is for each individual. We will connect these “brain maps” to information collected over time about how the person thinks and behaves, to understand better how FTLD affects each individual's brain and how these variations relate to their symptoms and progression.
By looking at individual brain differences, we can learn more about how FTLD progresses and affects people's lives, and potentially change the way we understand and manage FTLD. This approach will provide a more accurate prediction of how FTLD affects each person, help to design tailored treatments, and shed light on the feasibility of using personalised brain maps in real-world clinical settings.
Our approach is unique because we are using cutting-edge technology to create custom brain maps for each person, representing meaningful and easily interpretable information for the patient. By focusing on individual
differences, we hope to uncover new insights into the condition and bring us closer to personalised treatments.
This could make a big difference for people living with FTLD and their families.