Detecting iron-related brain changes to diagnose and track frontotemporal dementia subtypes
Imaging Iron-Rich Pathology to Monitor and Diagnose FLTD Subtypes
Using special MRI scans that pick up brain iron to help diagnose and monitor people with frontotemporal dementia and its subtypes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299009 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to have a special MRI scan that can detect iron in the brain to help find patterns linked to different forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The team will first scan donated brain hemispheres and compare the images to detailed tissue analysis to confirm where iron-rich pathology appears in FTLD-tau versus FTLD-TDP. Then they will use the optimized scans on living patients to see whether the patterns can tell subtypes apart and track disease progression. If successful, these scans could become a tool for diagnosing and following FTLD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with or suspected to have frontotemporal dementia (FTLD) who can undergo MRI scanning and, if asked, consent to tissue donation for research.
Not a fit: People without FTLD, or those who cannot have MRI scans (for example due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia), are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis of FTLD subtypes and better tracking of disease progression to support more targeted care and trials.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown iron accumulation in FTLD and promise for iron-sensitive MRI, but using layer-specific iron patterns to separate FTLD-tau from FTLD-TDP in patients is a novel and relatively untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tisdall, Matthew Dylan — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Tisdall, Matthew Dylan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.